i got a flathead stamped 99t. it has no keystone shaped wather passages nor has it a raised intake deck. it is sleeved and possibly originally a mercury block, because there is some turqoise color looking trough the orange. i wonder if it is real deal or not?
I'm no expert but I'm under the impression that 99T engines were pre-war and 59 series blocks were post war.
Yup. Somebody stamped that prewar number on your later block. But they did use official Ford punches, so it was probably done at a dealer.
Some states required the vin number be applied to an exchange engine when the engine was replaced. Seeing the engine is dressed with '42-'48 pulleys & dist, it was changed out more than once. After all it's been around at least 70 yrs.