Ill post picks soon. My first question is the Vin number on the block. There is not one, it is smooth cast like. Not filed or ground down, like it was never stamped. Reason I ask is I have to file paperwork for the title which requires a Vin inspection. We all know where the Vin is and the dmv lady said if the engine number matches the Vin I have on the registration, she would let it fly. Would there be a reason there is no number there, factory replacement motor?
I believe Model A #'s are on the frame only. Not sure when they also added the # to the trans, but never on the engines. RB
Vin number was always on the engines in Model A's starting in 1928. Maybe replace with commercial or ag engine.
It was a one owner until the Dad past away a few years ago, I got it from the son. Stored since 1965, not always in a barn....... It has rust in the usual places but it is 100% complete from what I can tell. Already has 16 inch wires on it, with an additional solid 40's era steel wheel. It has oil in it that is a little murky. I literally just walked in and loaded the picks. I don't have too much plans for it. Basically clean it up and get some rubber under it.
If it's important enough to you, I'd also lift it to verify. Lot of work, but.... I would not lift the body if the rest of the frame has too much rust like here in the Northeast...because it won't be readable.
It should be on that little non red spot in picture number 7. Maybe if you wish hard enough a leprachan might stamp it when no one is looking.
Hmmmm...I can't THINK of another car type, than early Fords, for living long useful lives, and for having so many vehicles getting engine swaps done to them over the years. How could a DMV bureaucrat expect and require a 75-year-old Model A to have its original motor in it? In the late 1940's, early 1950's you could find ads all over car magazines offering Model A, Model T, and V8 Ford shortblocks for cheapo prices. THOUSANDS of motors were exchanged. Wow.
I am really trying to avoid lifting it. We will see. Can someone confirm as to wether the number would be stamped in or cast out? The motor in the gray 30 has the raised area ground down so I can't use it for reference. But I just realized the green coupe should have it, ill check there in the morning. Anyway it is a pretty cool little pickup.
The dmv doesn't require it to be original, but if it is and its was stamped matching the Vin on the 47 year old registration renewal, that is good enough for her to believe that that vin# matches that vehicle. And in turn saves me a lot of headache.
wow thats cool, get it running and leave it just like that. running, car wash, driving, chase pussy. repeat as much as necessarily.
A number, matching or not, should be found stamped on the motor. I recall that the A motors were numbered and shipped to their final assembly factories and the frame was then numbered to match.
the numbers are stamped not raised if its a b block they never had numbers stamped there if you have to raise the body and the numbers dont match then you have a whole new can of worms to deal with. not saying i would ever do this, but save yourself alot of hassle and stamp the numbers in the block tk
The engine number will be stamped and should have a star at the start i'm pretty sure.. but could be at the end. It'll be on that spot that was mentioned before.
My '29 has a VIN stamped on the block (STAR)A1691234(STAR) http://www.mafca.com/data_eng_production.html
I better check there again, maybe I need to look a little closer, maybe it will be there! I have a tudor and the chopped coupe, and a 56 nine passenger belair. I really don't need another one. I just couldn't let it go. The grey one in one of the pics is slated to be a fresh arrival to Austraillia very soon. I'll keep it for awhile and then send it down the road. But at least it won't get parted out.
This is correct, per Ford's on historical records. If it has no number, then it is a replacement engine, that did not come from the factory in a car, or it was from a piece of engine-powered non-car equipment.
Stamp the number! Or pull the floor board and see if it's stamped on the top of the flywheel housing.