MTFCA Forum

Hello,
I was curious if anyone can shed any light on a question regarding my 1919 engine?
On the engine block where the generator would normally mount there is no cast boss or provision to have ever mounted a generator... I am aware that there is a casting that could have been bolted in place if a generator wasn’t used on some models but this engine has nothing... I have included a picture... I was curious to know if this was something ford was doing on certain models in 1919? I have researched around and can’t find any information on it. The serial number on the block comes up as a May 1919 build and doesn’t look to be altered in any way. Thanks in advance for any help. George

1919 was the first year that a generator was offered on the model T Ford. In the beginning of the year, even touring cars and runabouts were not offered that option. TT trucks were not offered the generator option until 1920 model year. While Ford switched to the generator block early in the 1919 model year, many cars continued to get the carryover non-generator blocks through much of 1919.

I am having issues with your photos. Loaded three times, sometimes get some? Sometimes get less?
It looks like a flat firewall (no cowl?). Is it a TT truck? Ford tried to use up the non generator blocks on TTs a bit longer than they did on the open cars.

Here is a pic of the T ... it’s an open cab express build ... it’s nicely done ... not 100% accurate but I’m really in love with this style.

Whoops sorry about the sideways photo... not sure how to fix that?

You cannot fix it, but if you click on the picture it straightens it out and it is upright. Software issue.

On the other side in the area of the water inlet, there should be a casting day. What is it?

Sometimes an upgrade can be done to a non-electric engine by just adding a mounting system. A dear friend of mine had safety first priority without over modifying things. Simple, strap on generator with turn signals, accessory terminal block, and add on wiring which taps onto existing circuit terminals. Clean and can bring her back to the original 1917 with ease.


All the Best,

Hank

George,
My 1919 is s/n 3,013,894 and was cast on April 4, 1919. The serial number puts the production date as April 7.
It has NO provision for the generator. Of course closed cars had the option, but not open cars. According to archives, on April 18, 1919, the earlier (non-generator) style block like mine (and yours) was discontinued and the cover plates were put where the generator would mount on the non-electric cars.

What is the casting date on your block? The serial number "production date" could be much later than the casting date.

: ^ )

Keith

Thank you everyone for the helpful replies... I will get the numbers off the block and post them tomorrow. George

Nice looking little truck! I like it.

There are several Replacement 6 volt lED bulbs now on the market that work well for Headlights and other lighting. The current draw is about a 10th of the regular headlight and tail light bulbs and would allow You to use use a Mag Charger set up using the magneto for charging Your battery without adding a generator. You may be using a Mag charger now but with the power reduction from using LEDs.You should be able to keep the battery fully charged for starting without a generator. LEDLIGHTS.com sells the ones pictured for Headlight replacement. Price about $7.50 + $3.00 shipping. Dual filament direct replacement works with either type of headlight socket vertical or horizontal pins on base.
Good Luck

According to Bruce McCalley's Encyclopedia, the last non-starter engine was built on May 29, 1919. Starter type blocks were first made on Dec. 11, 1918, so both types were in production for about 6 months. The serial number of the last non-starter engine was in the 3,136,XXX range, so from your cast date and serial number it appears that your engine was one of the last of the old style engines to be built.

I went out and looked at the cast date on the block today and it is 4-4-18 but I forgot to write the darn serial number down so I will try again tomorrow... based on the serial number list my serial number falls on May of 1919 so my block seems to have been cast and sat around for a almost full year before it was put in my car.

I would go with, someone had this block and could have stamped the number to match the paper work when they put it in your truck. April 4, 1918 would be a little long sitting around to have not gotten in a car before sometime in 1919.

I had considered that someone may have re-stamped the serial number but I would think they would have to grind the old number away removing a good chunk of material causing the raised cast spot to be much lower where the numbers get stamped... it doesn’t look that way to me but I’m sure anything is possible..

Could also have been a replacement block. They were not stamped with a number so when placed in customers car the old number could be stamped on it. Who knows what was done in the last 100 years. Not saying that is the case here, but putting it out there that it could have happened.

I also have one of the 1919 non starter engines, with no generator mounting provisions. My serial number 2968569 has a build date of mid March not sure of the exact day. The Casting date is 3-8-19. Also it does not have a flywheel ring gear. I assume the others also do not. The car is a touring, I know this engine is not original to this car, so the engine could have ben originally in a TT.

Bill Goodheart

I have a 4th month casting of 19 with no generator hole and it is an original block and numbers. They are out there!