Engine Identification

The (1932 - 1948) Ford V8 engine year of Canadian manufacture is identifiable by the code cast into the top of the bell housing, or on later engines (1949-1954) at the flange where the bell housing bolts on. Engine numbers that are preceded with the letter "C" are engines that were made in Canada. The Ford Motor Company of Canada produced engines used in all British Commonwealth countries except the British Isles. If you believe that there is an error in this table, please let me know so I can make the necessary corrections. Note that the "1954 " above is not a mistake. Ford V8 flatheads were produced outside the USA well into 1954. If the engine is still in the vehicle, you will need to remove the transmission cover from the inside to see the code.

The engine numbers are cast into the block as shown above and have been highlighted to make them more visible. Notice that the engine numbers are raised above the surface of the block. The numbers are not indented in the block.

The difference between the Ford and Mercury engines is not apparent from the outside. The important differences are INSIDE. The easiest way to determine if the Canadian made engine you have is a Mercury is to look at the crankshaft front counterweight. The longer stroke Mercury has a dimple as you can see in the picture below. The shorter stroke Ford crankshaft does not have the dimple. The connecting rods are the same on both engines. The pistons on the Mercury are not as tall from the center line of the piston wrist pin to the top of the piston as the Ford pistons. Do not install Ford pistons in an engine with a Mercury crankshaft or vice versa!

The engine serial number is not stamped anywhere on the engine. The engine serial number is stamped into the top of the flange of the transmission where it bolts to the bell housing. This was done to simplify registering the vehicle in jurisdictions where the engine number is recorded on the vehicle registration form. By stamping the serial number on the transmission, the owner did not have to change the registration when he replaced a worn out engine. So that means if the engine is of the correct year for the vehicle it is installed in, it is a numbers matching engine.

YEAR	ENGINE TYPE	MODEL DESIGNATION
1932	V8-85	18
1933	V8-85	40
1934	V8-85	40
1935	V8-85	48
1936	V8-85	68
1937	V8-60 V8-85	74 78
1938	V8-60 V8-85	82A 81A
1939	V8-60 V8-85	922A 91A
1940	V8-60 V8-85	022A 01A
1941	V8	11A
1942	V8	21A
1945	V8	59A
1946	V8	69A
1947	V8	79A
1948	V8	89A
1949	V8 V8	8BA 8EQ*
1950	V8	0BA 8EQ*
1951	V8	1BA 8EQ*
1952	V8	2BA 8EQ*
1953	V8	3BA 8EQ*
1954	V8	3BA 8EQ*

* The 8EQ Engine was used exclusively in F-7, F-8 trucks and Lincoln cars, and it was a monster! This engine can easily be identified by the location of the distributor, which is at the rear, on top of the block, next to the fuel pump and by the external water bypass tubes. The 8EQ engine displaced 337 Cubic Inches and developed 145 horsepower!

The list above was complied from data found in many places. You may find variations of these numbers, totally different numbers or no numbers at all on your engine block. The numbers above are known for automotive applications. Ford built these engines for many other uses too. From powering standby generators in telephone exchanges and hospitals to generate electric power during commercial power outages; Lincoln arc welders; and inboard engine motorboats to name just three. If you come across an engine with codes different from the table above, it might well be a non-automotive application engine. And then again, maybe not. I'll leave it up to you to research it, and then when you have the answer, let me know too.


Canadian made 69A engine	Canadian made 1BA engine	Canadian made 8BA engine