Interesting 1922 Engine Block, part 1

[richc]

I bought a 1922 engine block at Chickasha this year entirely because it had two rather interesting features. This post will cover the first point of interest – it has a casting date. The CD version of Bruce McCauley’s “Model T Ford Encyclopedia” has a list of engine numbers and their corresponding casting dates likely compiled from owner’s cars who apparently had responded for such information. Bruce noted, “No engines were found with casting dates after December 1921. This was at the time the one-piece valve door was introduced and perhaps the dating was discontinued with this redesign of the cylinder casting.”

From a previous buy I have another early US 1922 block with a casting date of 2-13-22 on it along with the letter R and it has a two piece valve cover. The one piece valve cover was first introduced on Nov 1, 1921 with the last two piece cover being made Apr 13, 1922. I have also seen one or two other 1922’s with dates casted in them. So, an update to the Encyclopedia regarding casting dates on post 1921 blocks has come to light. New information is always good.

Now about my Chickasha block… As mentioned it too has a casting date, 3-6-22 in this case, again with the letter R. The R in the date has been a subject on the forum before and may be to identify blocks cast at the River Rouge foundry, starting in 1921. However this block has the new one piece valve cover! I wasn’t expecting to see that. Like Bruce, I had presumed the change in the castings from the two piece valve cover design to the one piece cover would also include the demise of the casting date. Not so, at least not on some of the early 1922 blocks. Here are pictures of this interesting block.

In another post coming soon I will show you the other interesting feature on my Chickasha 1922 block.

Rich C.

[Mark Gregush]

Does it say made in Canada on the other side? The date as I recall was on blocks made in Canada till the end of production.

[richc]

It is correct that Made in Canada Model T engine blocks used casting dates until the end. The block in question is a Made in USA block - you will see the entire left side of the block in my Part 2 in a few days. Remember, Canadian block serial numbers start with a "C".

While briefly on the subject of Canadian blocks, I also have an early 1922 Canadian block cast 2-3-22 and it is a two piece valve cover specimen.

Rich C.