250 Engine Block

This is a picture of a early 250 block (three bolt pattern). How early I don't know. Does anyone know if the later four bolt patern blocks had the same raised and offset area on the back of the block where the cylinder heads are bolted down? In otherwords, is this a standard 250 block, the same that you would find on a 1960 GTE?
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This (post #1) - to me - looks like the original block of 212 Inter Coupé Vignale 1951, engine number 0173 E with internal engine number 68 E, as owned in 2008 by DK Engineering in England. Not a 250 GT. See also stamping on bellhousing (internal number) and on the horizontal surface of the raised boss on the right side.

Marcel Massini
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I beleive you are correct. I just looked at the book that I got the picture from and it has a quote from David Cottingham from DK Engineering. If anyone knows, do the 250 blocks have the same cylinder head offset in the rear like the 212? Pictures! please post pictures if you got them!

 

The 250 block has the same offset in the rear of the block. The driver's side (or left side is about 25mm rearwards.

I became interested in this after comming across a pair of 250 head gaskets. I was surprized that the gaskets were exactly the same length and orientation as to where the cylinder were aligned. At first I though I was looking at two left or two right gaskets. I wondered how exactly did this work?

I looked at a few hundred pictures but it was hard to see anything. I then looked at my gmp 1:6 model of 250 TR and it shows both cylinder heads butted thightly up to the timing cover. Then in the same place at the rear of the block the cylinder heads stop at the bottom and buttress out a bit to meet the top cam cover. This is where the distributors are mounted. I then measured the model (calculated scale) compared to the gasket and in the model there was not enough room for the cylinders to be staggered appropriately in the given space aloted. Given that there has to be a slight stagger of pistons in a v12, I wondered if the model was wrong. AND how this V12 was set up.

As usuall I was not surprized NOT to find any technical drawings from Ferrari or anywhere for that matter. So I have done my best to try to figure this out on my own from the information I have gathered from books, pictures, F-Chat and others.

From what I have been able to gather, the right side cylinder head does meet the timing cover at a 90 deg angle. The rear of the right side cylinder head then goes back on the bottom 573 mm, and 600 mm on the top, creating approximately 70 degree angle outwards. The model appears correct.

However, on the left side, in order for gasket to line up with the cylinders, there would have to be a 25 mm gap between the timing cover and the bottom of the cylinder head. There was also a problem that the last two cylinder head bolts would be off the level part of the block onto the rounded area at the rear of the block. Based on confirmation that the back of the block gives a little more room to stagger the head rearwards, I am speculating that the back of the left side cylinder head is 90 deg. In essence, I beleive the right and left heads are opposites. The right is 90 square in front and 70 deg outward (bottom to top) in the rear. The left is 70 deg (bottom to top) outward in the front and 90 deg in the rear.

When I drew it all out on paper, including lining up the valves, using some old 250 cam caps or (rocker retainers), it all lines up. However, I have no way of proving that my diagram is correct unless I submit it to the scutiny of my peers.

So here is a diagram of what I found, please feel free to add to it or prove me wrong. However, please note that I am a lawyer and not an engineer, so be gentle.
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Your 600mm is almost right. It should be 594mm. total width of head measured between the inlet and exhaust ports is 166mm. This is for a 250 head. 212 should be similar.
It might help if I told you that the right and left cylinderhead use the same casting. Only the machining is slightly different.
Bart340

 

Thank you Bart340 for the new information. If they use the same caseing molds, is it fair to say that all the ends of the cylinder heads are identical?

 

Have you asked for the blue prints for whatever specific engine type which you are asking about? I have asked for, and gotten some rather remarkable things-some from posters-but no names, please...

I think you would be stunned at who has what. Availability sort of depends on exactly what your intent is when you have the goods in hand, so to speak...
If you don't ask, you don't get...typically, if you have a car, or ar working on "the car" you can shake the tree and fruit frequently will yield....

I have no experience aside from this perspective...

 

I think you would be surprized at how highly coveted this information is. I don't think anyone has an actual blueprint other than Ferrari. Most companies that make parts reverse engineer information, but that means you have to have the actualy part first. Anyways, if I had the info I might be tempted to make and acurate model, bigger scale, possibly with some moving parts ie valves, clinders....something to take to car shows to show kids. It blows my mind how kids who are not even old enough to know what a Ferrari is are drawn to them like moths to a light.