Editing How to identify a Ford V8

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===1938-1942===
[[File:1938-'48_59A_FORD_BLOCK_BELLHOUSING_DETAIL.jpg|thumb|left|350px|1938-’48 Ford 59A]]<br style="clear: both" /> 
*24 studs hold on the heads.
*Two water pumps on the front of the block.
*Water necks on the heads located in the center.
*Distributor is front-mounted and still driven off the cam, coil mounts on distributor with 2 screws side by side, 37-41, 42 coil mounts on bracket top of passenger side head, "crab"-style distributor cap and conventional rotor.
*Marked 78, 77, 81A, 81T, 41T, 99T, or 21A on heads.
*Full floating bearings.
*Bell housing is cast in as part of the block.
*Ford engines had 221 cubic inch displacement.
*Mercury engines had 239 cubic inch displacement.
*Ford engines retain the same bore and stroke.
*Mercury engines receive a 3.1875" x 3.750" bore and stroke.

===1946-1948===
[[Image:Engine.JPG|border|400px]]
*24 studs hold on the heads.
*Water pumps and neck retain the same location as above.
*Distributor mounts on front cover at camshaft, new 2 piece-distributor cap.
*Heads are marked 59A, or 59AB.
*Both Ford and Mercury engines have a 239 cubic inch displacement.
*Bell housing is cast in as part of the block.
*Ford and Mercury engines share bore and stroke 3.1875" x 3.750".

===1949-1953===
{|
|[[Image:53_Ford_4_dr_4.jpg|thumb|center|420px|1953 Ford flathead engine]]
|[[Image:1950fordflathead.jpg|thumb|380px|center|1950 Ford flathead engine]]
|}

The new engine was actually introduced in '48 when new truck line is introduced, car use began in '49. Major changes are made to the flathead:

*Water passages are enlarged for improved cooling.
*Water necks are now thermostat housings and bolt onto front of the heads.
*Water pumps remain in the same location.
*Heads are held on with 24 bolts rather than studs and nuts.
*New conventional style distributor is used.
*Distributor is now driven by a gear off the cam.
*Bell housing is now a bolt-on stamped steel piece for cars, cast iron for trucks.
*Modern insert bearings are used.
*Ford engines marked 8BA, EAB or 8RT on the heads.
*Mercury engines are marked 8CM, or EAC, on the heads.
*Ford engines remain 239 cubic inch displacement.
*Mercury engines are increased to 255 cubic inch displacement.
*Ford retains the 3.1875" x 3.750" bore and stroke.
*Mercury receives a 3.1875" x 4.000" bore and stroke.



===1937-1940 V8 60 flathead===
*17 bolts hold on the heads.
*Much smaller than the normal flathead V8.
*Has full floating bearings.
*2.60" x 3.20" bore and stroke.
*136 total cubic inch displacement.
*1937 engines have tin sided blocks, while '38-'40 are full cast blocks.
*Distributor is the same as the '37-'41 full size flatheads.
*Two water pumps screw into front engine cover.
*Oil pump is built into front main bearing housing.