Once again, there was no stumping the BangShift readership as Jim Forbes knocked it out of the park yesterday nailing the little four cylinder block we showed as an old Ford ‘banger out of a Model A from the late 1920s/early 1930s. There were some other interesting guesses along the lines of Continental and even old sprint car engines, but it was a tried and true flathead Ford four cylinder that’s going to land in a restored Model A when completed. The engine in factory form measured out to about 200ci, made 40hp, and used a blazing compression ratio of 4.2:1. The tough little mill used poured bearings and interestingly no counterweights on the crank. We’ve read that Ford used a flywheel that weighed more than 60lbs!
Today’s challenge is a softball, or a least we think it is especially after the last two. Tell us the year and make of the block along with what it would have been found in. This lump of iron and the ancillary pieces to rebuild it were showing up at the shop when I was pestering the guys about the other stuff so this is a bonus round, basically. I’ll need to get back over there soon for new material as these guessing contests have proven quite popular.
As always, thanks to Dana Hard of Custom Auto Machine for the shop access and ability to zap these photos!
Ford Boss 302
OOps!! revise answer to Ford Boss 429
It says 429 on the front!!
BOSS Ford of some kind with the screw in freeze plugs… I don’t know my Fords well enough to know if it’s a small or big block.
It is without question a “385 series” Ford block. The presence of screw in freeze plugs and four bolt mains says “Boss 429”.
Here is a reference from Mustangs and Fords magazine on the block ID.
“Boss 429 blocks were unique “C9AE-E” castings with screw-in freeze plugs and four-bolt main caps. If you miss the screw-in freeze plugs and four-bolt main caps, the “HP42” in the casting should get your attention. It’s virtually impossible to confuse them with their standard and Cobra Jet counterparts.
Read more: http://www.mustangandfords.com/techarticles/engine/big_block_engine_guide/viewall.html#ixzz29ZTPJ1pj
Oh yes, following instructions, it was originally installed in a ’70 Mustang.
I knew it was a BBF by the screw in freeze out plugs but which one? I though it might have been a cammer block.
its only fair if i abstain