Is it possible to use the banger's VIN ( I know...it's actually a serial) when ***ling a Model A where the frame serial is worn away and the upper firewall was replaced?
Knotty trail to the truth... The engine number was the original, stamped on engine when it p***ed run-in at the Rouge. Engines went to ***embly plants, as each one hit its new home the number was stamped onto frame. Then life got complicated...engine wore out, was replaced...some cars remained registered under their od number, which made sens as that was still on the frame. Others, based on local parctice, got renumbered to whatever block the rebuilder had dragged out of the junkyard, and you can probably see the potential for multiple layers of future trouble in that. Upper firewall...I ***ume '28-9...carried date stamps, no use in registration. Some bodies from outside builders also had a body sequence number, not related to anything. Many A's have another number stamped on body crossrail right in front of seat...it has no legitimate use, as it is just the first letters of ***embly plant name and a sequence number, BUT it is a nice official looking number and easy to use IF the state does not have a reference book covering proper appearance of ancient numbers...not that I am suggesting anything, mind you!
Yes, but it could be sticky if they want to press it and the frame doesn't match. I'd look into ways to raise the frame number. What rubs on that part of the frame to wear it away?
Ha! If ONLY I had those numbers on the crossrail...but alas, I don't. The replacement upper firewall has a longer number stamped on it, but the only things I can make out are *73*39** The "*" means I can't make it out or it's too worn to make out anything at all, but looks like there was something there. Perhaps I'm reading the 2 as a 3? Kinda hard to mix those up though. I'm looking at having to (unfortunately) register this thing in CA....TN if I play things right...but most likely CA. If I can legitimately use the banger's number as long as it's not already in use, is that a "least of all evils" option as it relates to dealing with ***ling it?
There's a remnant of the number, but it's completely unreadable. It looks like time and wear have worn it away.....being outside for decades probably didn't help, either.
Yeah, but there's a difference between what they will "let" you use and what you "make" them use. If you make life legitimately easier for them (and legally), pay them their sin tax, then they tend to let you go on your merry way.
You might dig around on your state's motor vehicle web site. Different states may use different numbers. Somewhere at one time I found the vin designation for texas. IE, for Ford 1932 thru 1948 the state uses the number on the frame for the vin. And my example may not be correct for the years, but only serves as an example. Some makes and years used motor numbers, and also body numbers. But it was a complete break down of makes and years and what the state used as the vin. Since those originally used the motor number and tranfered it to the frame your dmv may allow it's use. Some times it depends who does your paperwork and what kind of day they have had..............
If you are having to register it here (CA), you will most likely need to have a visible frame number - at least I always have. I don't know of any one that has been successful trying to register an engine number here. No frame number? they will Blue Tag it with one of their own. As Bruce pointed out, no numbers on the firewall have anything to do with a VIN number - irrelevant.
Yeah, what a rigmaroll. I think I might have Bruce drop by before I roll out in 2 weeks and perhaps help me out with the acid method he linked to above. Only fair since he suggested it, right?!?!? There's remnants of it there, I think we can get it cleared up quite possibly.
All you need in Ca. is someone that is qualified to verify the number. I have a buddy here that builds woodies starting with only the cowl section. The last one he did he used his birth date and last four of his SSN. Don't you have a relative that's a cop somewhere in the state? All they really want to know is that it's not stolen and that they are getting their ounce/quart of blood for what you spent on it. Fill out their paperwork for a "lost ***le" and have receipts for the purchases you made (or **** some up)
I'm moving out there in 2 weeks, we already have our place in Burbank waiting on us I think my landlord might know some folks, he's a retired Burbank firefighter.
I wondered if that was possible. Everywhere I read online, they say it's *only* in that one place. I've heard of guys saying it's stamped on the original trans crossmember, but that piece is long gone :/ I'll see if I can pull the body this weekend.
My 30 had the number on the driver's side frame rail, right under the forward body mount. Matched the ***le and engine. I didn't see any numbers anywhere else, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. My new engine has a blank serial number pad. Ready to stamp whatever I want on it, but Louisiana didn't check any of that. Kind of hard to verify a VIN that is under a bolted on body!
my numbers were beat to **** on my frame, and mine had a 31 engine in it (mine is an AR 1928 sedan so that engine number thingy wasnt going to work) I did a light sand blasting with real fine sand, then i took acid and a copper brite pad and kept wiping it across the numbers..wala ..they all showed up..in black..only for a short time ..seconds..each time i wiped em I wrote em down and had them checked by the SOS..(secretary of state) they came back clean.. you can file off numbers on a gun..but because they are stamped in..they never really go away..the molecules of the steel are affected by the stamping and that never goes away ..unless the steel is completely gone I see now,, yeah just like in post #9..thats how i did it..and where I got the idea..Bluto wear a face shield, and rubber gloves
I had a '27 Roadster once, I just made my own plate and stamped in a number. I looked up production numbers on the net. and just went up a couple thousand numbers.
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