Technical 1940 Ford serial number?

I got a Ford pickup with Serial number 18 45358328 stamped in. but in the "vin decoder" it is a 1938?
Where can I search with the digits and get some answer??
Thanks
Jørn Myhre

 

Found this on Fordbarn.com hope it helps you! You may have to copy and paste it in your browser.

www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm

 

Where are you getting the S/N from? The frame or the trans? Either could be from a '38. You gotta remember anything could have been changed in the past 75 years.

 

You've got too many numbers in there, should be 18 followed by 7 digits, not 8

 

Right, and it the first digit, the "4", is not real, the numbers suddenly becomes a '40 number.
Is this the frame in engine compartment or trans??
Proper complete format would be * (star)18-tiny double arrow dash #######*
Sometimes, no 18 on the frame, is it there on yours?...could that 4 be a star? Have you removed the access on floor and looked at trans, which would be the original #--though of course trans is easy to change.
Are numbers Ford type characters, with I for 1 in 18? None of the other funny characters, 6 or 9, present here.
Ultimately, frame will tell under close scrutiny if is '38 or '40...such things as the different brakes, different pedals, different clutch, etc. will leave a bunch of extra or wrong holes if frame is not '40.

 

How about a picture of the truck too?

 

The truck in my avatar picture is a '38. '38 Fords with the 85 HP engine start at *18-4186447* and go through *18-4661000*. Ford used an upper case I for the numeral 1, and the 6 they used looks sort of like a lower case b. The 60 HP vehicles have a 54- prefix on the serial number. The serial numbers were ***igned to the engine/transmission units and stamped on the bell of the trans just above the clutch inspection window. All engines and transmissions were built at the River Rouge plant in Michigan and shipped out to ***embly plants around the country. When the engine/trans unit was bolted into a ch***is, they literally had a guy there with a big hammer and a set of number stamps who copied the number off the bell of the trans onto the top of the left frame rail. Pickups were built on a p***enger car ch***is up through '41 (Ford called them "commercial cars" and the truck designation was saved for heavier capacity vehicles that had a different frame. The larger trucks will have BB between the prefix and serial number, like *18BB-4186447*. The star before and after the serial number has no meaning, it is simply there to make it a little harder to alter the number.

 

I was wondering if I could get some help decoding this vin. Vin star f30199##. I was told it was for a 41 Ford truck. But the numbers aren’t even close to what I have found. The frame is an old style X frame so I do believe it’s from a 30s to early 40s truck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Where are the numbers located on the frame? Stock location would be left front frame rail near the front crossmember. That number could have been a state ***igned number because as has been said, early Fords had a Star then 18 prefix.

 

The numbers were stamped in the location you mentioned. And I’m also aware that the bin should start with the star than the 18 prefix. But, there are no other numbers except for the one I posted. I’ve owned a few F1’s And their Vins are a combination of letters and numbers.

 

The "star" stamp is readily available on Ebay for about $10.

There is a guy in Poland who sells Ford logo stamps as well. Go figure.........

 

I was curious about vin numbers on a 1941 ford 1/2 ton I’m helping my parents ***le. It starts out with the star, but the next fidgets are “BB” than the 18. Anyone know what this is for? Thanks

 

Here is the stamps

 

Checked it out allready but thanks, but no mention of the “bb” .

 

Jebo, check post #7 by 38fordpickup. He explains the BB thing.

 

I read right by that, thank you.

 

Thank you I read right by that. Thanks again

 

BB before the 18 means its a truck with the granny gear 4 speed.