Cadillac ID locations

Hey all:

I've run into a bit of a problem with the '40 Cadillac Series 62 I'm working on. Trying to build a traditional hot rod (well, kinda- the engine is staying in the body rather than being transplanted to an A or something similar and there's no chopping, channeling, etc. involved. Too pricy!) but I still want to find out what she was originally. I can send off to GM to find out the original options that came with the car if I can find the data plate. So I've been told that it's either on the engine side of the firewall or on the left frame rail opposite the steering gear by my 39-41 Cadillac-Lasalle manual. I just spent about 15 minutes crawling around under there trying to find it and it's just not materializing. Is it inside the frame rail? Is it stamped on the rail or is it a plate?

To give you an idea of what I'm trying to do here with this car, it's currently a stock 1940 Cadillac with the original 55,000 mile 1940 flathead in it that I am replacing with a '48 Cadillac flathead for higher compression ratios as well as trying to find a 2x2 intake (aargh!). It's going to look pretty 1940 on the outside (dark green and black, maybe?) but I'm planning on ****oned leather for the interior.

Thanks.

-Stizz

 

Oops, photos got dropped.

 

If its on the frame rail it will be stamped on top. may have to clean the frame good near the steering box.

 

Yeah, this thing hasn't been cleaned since it left the factory. I'll give it a try. Good to know that it isn't a removable plate. I was concerned it had been lost.

 

Top of the frame rail, about a foot and a half back from the actual steering BOX. You'd be surprised what a little gas and a wire brush could do! Thanks!

I'm ***uming that is the VIN. How about body number? Any idea where I could nab that?

 

The only place for the body number is the plate on the firewall. Regarding getting the info from Cadillac on your car, you are correct in that they want both of these items yet I'm not sure why. I'm sure they can uniquely identify your car from the VIN number which you have already located. The body number, however, would not be unique to all the cadillacs manufactured in 1940. If you do find the body number, I would love to know what it is as I'm compiling a list the remaining 6227c cars out there (with yours I've found 36 but I'm sure there's more).