I have some question about my new 13 touring. Engine # IS 198XXX. Could not find a casting date. Engine has ford on right side, no made in USA. Screw in core plugs, alum intake, exhaust manifold has no flange same as the pipe. Hogshead is 12 type. Head has Ford with the small Made in USA. Should it have a casting date and where would it be? Engine # is above the water inlet. Any input about casting or lack of one would be helpful. Thanks, Dan.
That partial serial number indicates Monday January 27, Tuesday January 28, or Wednesday January 29, 1913. The encyclopedia says "Made in USA" was added to both block and head on 4-16-12, so I don't know what to tell you about the lack of it on your block. Pages 16 & 17 in the second Rodda book show the various heads.
Dan, my 1912 van has one of the B series engines, so it probably is a 1913 according to Ford. The casting date for these is immediately above the engine number boss over the side water outlet. It is jammed between the boss and the block deck. Perhaps yours is too.
Hope this helps.
allan from down under.
Allan: I called myself looking there, but when I go to pickup the car I will look again. The wife said she thinks her husband got the car from Canada. Thanks, Dan
Update: Got the car home and cranked. Have looked high and low and still no date. Have found on the block where ford is the small Made In USA that has been ground off. Was this done on cars that went to Canada? I was told or read that was done. Has anyone ever seen an early block with out a casting date? My 11's has them above the H2O inlet. Were they ever on the back of the block? Thanks, Dan
Dan - does the ground off "Made in USA" look like this?
Our '13 Canadian is a late '13, but still, the block was cast 5 months before the car was assembled. Maybe yours is a very early '13 that has a block cast in late 1912 production (before the casting date was added).
Mine looks like it was done with a grinder, in fact who ever did it hit the bottom of the F in Ford. The Made in USA is the small size about 1/4" tall. It has the # over the H2O Inlet, but no place for the casting date. My 11 has the date over the inlet and # on the other side. I guess mine was one of the first where they moved the # and had not placed the date beside it. Has anyone seen any other blocks like that? Dan.
btt