MTFCA Forum

Just scratching through the spare block department looking for a useful 26/27 one.
This is a candidate but without a serial number. ( Aussie Serial Numbers are generally preceded by C xxxxxx from Canada factory)
I understand that unmarked blocks were used as replacements and that the service agent was supposed to stamp the number of the block being replaced , which was sometimes not done.
The casting date appears to be 12/1/C.... were these blocks cast in 1925, as the C would indicate?
What is the significance of the S7 casting in the block?

Does it have all the valves still in it? Must still have the cam in it. Maybe if was a used replacement that wasn’t stamped for a reason. Probably won’t know for sure.
Kind of unusual if it was in a running car and not being stamped. Interesting scenario for sure.

Could it be an NOS block assembly? It looks NOS in the picture.

12/1 would be a December build so if the C is 1925 that would be right cast for the 26 model, The S7 is more than likely a cast mold number. Not that uncommon to come across no engine number, seen a few, I just finished a re-build of a 26 with no number.

USA and Canadian policies were similar, but sometimes varied a bit.
The intention was that no stamping blocks should replace a damaged block, and the damaged block's original serial number should be stamped in the appropriate space. A lot of USA replacement blocks had the "Ford" script stamped onto the smooth space twice. Once, angled near the front of the space, and once alternate angled near the back of the space. But not all replacement blocks got those stampings!
Of course, it may be possible that someone ground down the entire space at some point in time to remove the original number? Usually, that can be determined by either poor workmanship, or checking the height of the embossment (they are remarkably uniform!).

USA blocks stopped being date coded in 1922.And I don't know Canadian coding enough to speculate on the year from the date code.

And yes, the S 7 are most likely either mold or pattern codes to track and correct defective castings at the factory. The exact meaning to the numbers and letters appears to have been long forgotten. Once a block passed through several levels of QC and machining? The numbers and letters were of no use anymore.

The two bolt embossments on the back of the block pin it down to being a 1926 or 1927 model year block. It could of course have been used to replace anything back to the beginning of the model T. However, as a replacement for a 1926/'27 car it is as appropriate as you can get!

Good luck!

I agree with Frank,
“C” is the 1925 Canadian Cast Code for 1925 (D=1926)

Alan In Western Australia

The USA last month of 1925 engines for the original block was the end of June 1925.

The USA 1926 Model Year started on 3 August 1925 with the new blocks that had the ears on the transmission, but the July month of 1925 had the 1926 engine blocks with the transmission ears and coil box on top.

When Canada made the change is not well known.

Some one has ground the serial number off of it, can see grinding marks!

The "S7" is probably the pattern number, so if they had flaws, they would know which pattern was causing the problems. Patterns have only a limited life, based on how hard they are used.
I have some REO running board brackets that actually show the wood grain from the pattern, as they were too cheap or too careless to bother with touching up patterns that had sections missing. This was also an indication that the parts were just cast iron, rather than being forgings.