So I've been trying to identify what year frame is under my old stock car... The original builder thought it was a '36 Ford truck frame, but it definately looks like a '33 or '34 frame to me. Anyways, there's only one serial number left on the frame, the other two are no longer visible. The numbers are still pretty readable, but they don't seem to fit into any of the categories from this site: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm My serial number reads: * 849324 * But all of the others all start with a one... I did see a post while searching on here that a guy said his frame serial number was missing the "18" in front of the rest of the numbers. Could that be a possibility here?
I've looked all around the serial number and can find NO markings for a 1. The metal was in good shape, so unless the original stamping was really shallow, it was never there....
Don't know about other years but 32s that started with 18- were flathead powered. Banger powered vehicles didn't start with 18-. My understanding is the 18 comes from the first year of the V8.
The 18- prefix was sometimes omitted on the frame. My '38 pickup has the full number on the bell of the original trans case but omits the 18- prefix on the frame. Check the rest of the number minus the prefix against the list. '32-'34 has the springs on top of the axle, '35 and later has the spring ahead of the front axle and behind the rear axle.
If you still have the stock front crossmember, you can quickly tell the difference between the 33-34, and the 36. The 36 will be wider. Don't know the measurement off the top of my head, I'm sure someone here walks around with those in their head. I have a friend with a 33 stock car. He used 35-40 rails, but made his own tube center section.
The frame on my current '36 project is plainly marked in three places along the left rail, but only the front one near the steering box location has the '18' prefix. The other two places are only marked with the balance of the serial number. You didn't say at which location you could see the number, but this may be the same case on your frame. If it looks like a '33-'34 frame, it probably is.
That seems like the best possible answer to me, thanks! The springs are in front of the front axle on the car, but it's a definate possibility that it's been changed around.... I'll have to take some meaurements and see... I did forget to mention that, it was on the rear section of the frame. The middle section is covered over by the floor they made, and the front isn't evident anywhere (there's was a fair amount of rot on the front that was cut out, and they also cut out quite a bit to set a radiator in between the frame rails).
So going off of what 38fordpickup suggested, I looked up number I had. Looks like it comes out to be a '34 frame. The body is definately a '33 because of the little hoop where the hood latch connects that isn't there on a '34. Maybe the old guy just got his years mixed up? He didn't sound too positive it was a '36..... Any easy way to tell the difference between a car frame and a truck frame? Thanks again guys!
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