A Model 'B' Ford engine built by Terry Oberer for a 1932 Ford entered in the Great American Race, 1997. This photograph, taken by Grant MacLaren, shows the 'B' with its crank installed and an 'A' crank in front of the engine for comparison. (Notice the fuel pump opening in the side of the 'B' block.)

The Model 'B' is the 4 cylinder engine Ford made from 1932 through 1934, concurrently with the V-8. It's a few pounds heavier than the 'A'. The 'B" has pressurized main and cam bearings, fuel pump and redesigned: head (marked with letter 'C'), oil pan, crankshaft (after 11/32 had a balanced crank with counter weights -- see below), camshaft, water pump, and carburetor. You may hear of a Model 'C,' but there was no such designation by Ford for that engine.

Question: 'What's are the differences in the Ford A, B and C engines?'

Answer by John Hargrave, Technical Director, MAFCA in the May/June 1990 issue of The Restorer:
The 1932 V-8 was introduced as the 'Ford Model 18.' The four cylinder model was designated the 'Model B.' Although the V-8 was a national sensation and sold very well, there were many four cylinder Model B's produced. Compression of the Model B engine was 4.8; the A was 4.2. The Model B engine produced 50 hp at 2800 rpm; the A produced 40 hp at 2200 rpm. The Model 'B' mains were 2" diameter; mains in the 'A' were 1-5/8". 'B' rods were 1-7/8"; A rods were 1-1/2". The 'B' camshaft provided an increase in valve timing duration which contributed to the 50 hp at 2800 rpm. A diaphragm type fuel pump was mounted to the lower right side of the engine block. The water pump mounted with three bolts instead of four. The oil pump forced oil directly to the main bearings under mild pressure. Along with other valve chamber modifications, the oil return pipe was eliminated. Model 'C;' The 1933-34 Ford four cylinder engine has been unofficially dubbed the Model 'C.' This designation cannot be found in Ford literature or correspondence. It is strictly a user connotation. Changes from the 'B' to the 'C' engine includeed: a crank shaft employing integrally forged counterbalances, a shortened three bolt water water pump housing and a 39 pound flywheel compared to a 62-1/2 pound flywheel provided with the Model 'A.' (The counterbalances make up the difference.) There were 263,765 Model 'B' (and 'C') engines produced between March 9, 1932 and late 1934.

Date: Wed, Apr 10, 1996 9:44 AM EDT
From: Aerocraft@aol.com
Subj: Re: BPA update
To: GMacLaren@aol.com
cc: Jim.Van.Dervort@dragonbbs.com

Grant:

For years I believed that there was a four cylinder Ford engine that carried the label 'C' . It seemed logical that Henry made the 'A', then the 'B' and obviously the 'C'. I was able to prove that in my own mind by the fact that I have in inventory a 'B' with a crank similar to the 'A' and also another Ford four that had a counterbalanced crank and the cylinder head even had a 'C' cast in place'

All of the above logic is rubbish. Ford never made a 'C' engine! I have talked with the most knowledgeable Ford judges at various Antique Automobile Club of America , Model A Restorers Club, and Early Ford V-8 Club shows around the country and they all agree that the 'C' engine is a myth.

The ultimate authority for the 1932 thru 1937 Ford production years is Edward P. Francis and George DeAngelis. They have written a book called The Early Ford V-8 As Henry Built It. I would like to quote from that book. The following is from the section that describes the details of the Model B engine which was in production until March of 1934.

''The Cylinder Block
The Model B block was a modified Model A block. Major changes were the addition of a boss on the side of the block for mounting a fuel pump, larger main bearings, and an improved lubrication system, which eliminated the exterior oil return pipe.''

A paragraph further down page 29 the data continues as follows:

''Cylinder Head
An improved combustion chamber, providing a compression ratio of 4.6 to one, and an improved water outlet were the new features of the cylinder head for the Model B. For identification, it had a letter 'C' cast on the top surface of the head. There was no Ford script cast on the head.

''Crankshaft
The crankshaft was made from a steel forging similar to the Model A, but had larger main bearing areas and connecting rod bearing areas. Main bearings were 1.997 to 1.999 inches in diameter and the cranks were 1.872 to 1.874 inches in diameter. In November 1932, a new balanced crank with counter weights was put into production. This was a running change and was not made at model changeover. THE MODEL B ENGINE IDENTIFICATION WAS NOT CHANGED.''

The so-call Model 'C' crank on right
Photo by Grant MacLaren

The caps in the last sentence are mine. Let's put the myth to bed and forget about the never-produced C engine!
Gar Williams

Another web page
by Grant MacLaren