Hey guys my buddy got this engine a few years ago and I've been storing it at my house so his wife wouldn't see it. I don't know how he acquired it but he's looking to get rid of it now. I see 112-29b on the bottom end and what looks like a patd number ended in 23 on the heads. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Mods please move if I'm in the wrong section

 

Early Harley numbering system is - like the 29 would be the first year they used that part and it’s possible depending on the length of time and changes made at some point lets say a 34 was the next and a change in the engine of the same type and size - some parts go until they discontinued it in favor of something else

its a early block the generator is mounted up right on the left side front of the engine - it has a name for that engine but it slips by what they call it right now

 

Left side engine block center is the machines serial number - blank off the last couple numbers and picture up what the front numbers of letters are will tell what it actually was

 

All the numbers you have posted are part or casting numbers. We need to see the VIN pad, that will tell the story.

 

This is the only other number I see stamped on the bottom.

 

The first picture is your VIN # pad, but with no numbers?!?!?!?

Bottom picture is belly numbers, you should have a matching number on the other half of the case. 1929 it is based on the first two digits.

 

He has a hundred year old hot engine lol

 

oem replacement block came blank in that era and the dealer re stamped it when they were not fixable - as far as i now the 20 series engines were never after market re cased - could some one have made one maybe but not likely

its not unrealistic to assume it was bought from a dealer going out of business

 

This is a 29 J-D but not a flathead. Still pretty old. 40s were probably the most produced flatheads.

 

my guess its a DL engine case this is what the machine looks like