Technical 1939 flathead HP

Hello, trying to determine the hp of my flathead when stock. I read that the stamp on the bell housing of the motor can help. I know its not a Mercury motor. I read it can be 60 hp or 85 hp depending on the stamp. This is some info I found online,”The integral cast-in bell housing continued all the way through 1948 (except for the Ford trucks, which received in 1948 the newer '49-53 style engine with separate bell housing). All engines during this period had front, block-mounted water pumps (with wide belt pulleys), and twenty-four stud heads with center-located water hose outlets. Original cylinder heads for 1938 to 1942 were generally marked with "81A" for Ford or Mercury engines thru 1941; "81T" for truck engines from 1938 to 1942; "41T" heads were sold for 85/90hp trucks built from 1938 to 1942; "99T" for 100hp Ford Truck and Mercury in 1939 to 1941; and "29A" for Mercury in 1942. Heads marked "59-A" or "59AB" were used on all 90/100 hp (Ford & Mercury) engines from 1946 through 1948. The 59AB heads were sometimes used on earlier blocks in replacement rebuilds. 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.” See picture, does not appear to have this info, thank in advance for the help.

 

Don't know numbers, but a 60 is way smaller than an 85 or any other pre 8ba. 60 parts are 60 only, nothing intercahnges that i'm aware of.

 

Simple identification is: 60 hp has only 17 bolts to hold cylinderheads. 65hp from 1932 and up to 125hp from 1953 Mercury are bigger and have 21 or 24 cylinderhead bolts.

 

Those casting marks are pretty much meaningless now; as deuce said above, count the number of head studs.

 

24 studs, safe to say 85 HP?

 

Yep, I don't believe there were any 24 stud flathead V8s under 85 horsepower.....

 

Is there a purpose for the question?

 

Yes, I sent an email to Reds Heads asking what headers to purchase. Was asked if it was the 85 or 65 HP motor.

 

85 horse. The question they should have asked is what chassis are you putting it in?

 

Okay, that makes things much more straight forward. Answer as above.

 

In my email to Reds Heads I let them know the chassis the headerssre going into. Boling Brothers Model A chassis in case your wondering...Thanks

 

Okay, well, in 39 there was the regular V8 which you have, and was 24 stud by then and also the option of the V8-60, which was a different and physically much smaller engine (and not that common). Probably would have been easier is they asked was it a regular 24 stud V8 or a V-60, or just how many studs.

Anyway, you know now.

 

Yes, and thanks for the info.