The Flathead’s serial number is located on the transmission flange at the rear of the engine block. Look at the top of the bellhousing.
Where is the serial number on a Ford flathead V8?
Locate the engine serial number. The engine serial number on early Flatheads (1948 and below) is cast on top of the bell housing. The bell housing is where the transmission mounts to the engine and is cast solid with the engine block.
What is a 59AB Flathead?
Heads marked “59-A” or “59AB” were used on all 90/100 hp (Ford & Mercury) engines from 1946 through 1948. You can find the Ford part numbers (basic 6049 and 6050 number with prefixes and suffixes) in the face of the heads and sometimes on the side edge of the head next to the intake manifold.
How much horsepower can you get out of a Ford flathead V8?
It was meant to be a carthorse, not a racehorse. Nevertheless, the flathead is the little engine that could. Despite having three rather than five main bearings, the flathead has stayed the course. With some exotic tuning, it has been known to produce 700 hp, and not just for short bursts.
What was the last year of the Ford flathead V8?
1953
In 1953, Ford made the final flathead V-8. It displaced 3.9 liters and made 110 hp. As engineers sought more power, Ford scrapped the design in favor of an overhead-valve engine.
How do I identify a Ford V8?
Ford V8 Engine Identification
- General Identification. Ford’s trademark engine color is “Ford blue.” All of Ford’s eight-cylinders were originally this color, but may be hard to see after years of use.
- Bolt Counting. Count number of bolts on the valve covers.
- Casting Clues.
What is the highest horsepower flathead V8?
700 horsepower
At an amazing speed of 302.204 m.p.h., a car powered by a supercharged 700 horsepower Ford flathead V8 holds the land speed record for its class at Bonnyville salt flats. The car was developed and driven by Ron Main of Chatsworth, California.
What was the biggest flathead V8?
337 CUBIC INCHES / 5.5L, 1948-1951 The largest of all the Ford Flathead V8s, the 337 was designed for heavy truck use, but was adopted by Lincoln for their passenger cars in 1949.
How do you read Ford casting numbers?
In order, here is what each digit in a Ford part or casting number represents:
- DIGIT #1—DECADE OF MANUFACTURE: A – 1940.
- DIGIT #2—YEAR OF THE DECADE:
- DIGIT #3—CAR LINE:
- DIGIT #4—ENGINEERING OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR ORIGINAL DESIGN:
- DIGITS #5-9—BASIC PART NUMBER:
- DIGITS #10-12 (SUFFIX)—DESIGN CHANGE:
- TYPICAL DATE CODE:
- 9A21.
How much HP can you get out of a Ford flathead V8?
When did the Ford flathead V8 engine come out?
The Ford Flathead V-8 engine powered Ford and Mercury vehicles from 1932 to 1954. The Ford Flathead is a valve-in-block engine and the valves open adjacent to the combustion chamber, rather than from the top, as in later engines.
How many cubic inches is a Ford flathead engine?
The Ford Flathead is a valve-in-block engine and the valves open adjacent to the combustion chamber, rather than from the top, as in later engines. The four different V-8 flathead displacement sizes between 1932 and 1953 are 136, 221, 239 and 337 cubic inches. Step 1 Count the number of studs on the cylinder heads.
Where is the serial number on a Ford flathead engine?
On late model flatheads without the bell housing cast into the block (1949-1954), the number is located on the right-rear corner of the intake manifold gasket surface. It is visible with the cylinder heads and manifold on the engine. Decode the engine serial number.
What kind of engine does a French Flathead have?
The French Flatheads. 1935, two years before the 17 stud flathead hit the US marked, Matford (France) introduced a 2.2 l flathead V8 with 17 stud. Matford was a joint venture of Ford (60%) and Mathis (40%) till 1940. The same engine was used by Ford after WW2 till 1947.
