M replacement block casting numbers and questions

CenTexFarmall · Jul 13, 2008

Previously, with D Slater's help, we were able to figure out that I had a replacement block on a '52 M. Has "C-248" cast showing displacement, also casting date is 10-27-E which if I understand correctly translates to 1959. Is that correct?

Big questions is does anyone know (without a teardown) if these replacement blocks were cast to use regular M sleeves or were the bores cast bigger and used thicker sleeves to make it a 248?

D Slater · Jul 14, 2008

At least some of those blocks have the same block bore as SM through 450 blocks even though they cast C-248 on side of block. Never found one with the bigger bore and 3-7/8 pistons myself. Don"t have time to say more now, off to work.

John M · Jul 14, 2008

I have 2 Ms with the IH replacement engines, niether of them have 248 cast on it, but that would have been the standard size, accually its 247.7, but they both had the 3 7/8 bore. Ones casting code was B, the other D. I would assume, that the bores were still the same as the regualr M, but I would also think IH cast then with bigger bores, ground off the 248 when needed and sold it for whatever it was to be used in.

El Toro · Jul 14, 2008

I think most of the M blocks could use the 4-inch
sleeve kit without any machining required. They sell those kits here on this forum. That would give you 264cid. Hal

FarmOliver · Jul 14, 2008

Here's how I was taught to read the castings on IH tractors from that era. In your "10-27-E" casting, the "E" stands for the year while the "10-27" means that that particular piece was cast on October 27th of that year. That's how I was told you could check to see if a tractor is original or cobbled together. If the casting numbers around the tractor fit within a month or so (but usually less) then they are probably original pieces. So if it were me I'd try to find a block with as close to "10-27-E" as possible.

The reason I can't tell you what year "E" stands for is that my experience comes with H's and W4's. They started out in 1939 with "I"s, then 1940 models (like my H) were "J"s, 41's were "K"s and so on. My 1949 W4 has "S"s all over it. So you get the idea.

I'm not sure where E fits in to that system, but just about any big piece of cast iron on the tractor (axle housings, trans. cover, etc.) should match up pretty closely.

If anyone else sees something incorrect about my logic here, I'd love to know because this is something I've taken as truth for a long time.

D Slater · Jul 14, 2008

Lot of replacement blocks have the casting # or size # ground off for some reason. Some are restamped with numbers by hand and some not. Most don"t have a engine serial # stamped back on them. Replacement blocks can be found with C-248, C264 or C 281 cast on the side. Latest blocks I have seen were cast 10 years after they were put in regular tractors. IH sold a replacement block with casting # 365586 R1 that can be found with C-248 or C-264 or C281 on the side that uses the same sleeves as a C264 or C281. Last one I had was dated 7-5-M, 1967. Its a mystery to me why they cast C-248 on them when regular production C-248 blocks didn"t have. Figure IH decided in later years that there was no point in making 2 bore size blocks since most M tractors got changed to 4 inch bore by the mid sixtys anyway.
I'm not saying that other combinations of replacement blocks don't exist, Just that some are bigger than stated.

M replacement block casting numbers and questions

CenTexFarmall

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D Slater

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John M

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El Toro

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FarmOliver

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D Slater

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