I only have the Vin numbers on the center of my 32 Frame.5 digits all numbers. They have no pre- fix number. I know it is an early car, cuz of the style of cowl vent. Is there a way to tell if it is a B- car or a 18- ? Ago
The B's started with 5 million probably to avoid overlap with the A's. Therefore it's not a "B". The V8 started with 1. You can check when it was made at http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm. The prefix was usually left off of the numbers under the body. Charlie Stephens
Depending on how much car you have.... if the fuel line runs down the drivers side, it is a v8. if it runs down the p***enger side it is a 4 banger
Take it easy, your going to confuse the new guy. The serial number is the number used by most DMV offices on older cars as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Charlie Stephens
Kind of like saying all adjustable end wrenches are crescent wrenches. Some DMVs still recognize there are both VIN and serial numbers, depending on the year.
Ford factory VIN were prefixed and ended with a star , and were stamped into the frame, usually between the firewall and radiator. I have seen some '40, and '41 pickups with the VIN stamped into the "clutch cover", (bellhousing part of trans case) and visible thru that hole in the trans cover. I hope this helps..... 4TTRUK
The main serial on ALL '32-48 was on the trans, which I ***ume is gone on this... The actual issue, as Charlie says, is simple...if number is between 1 and somewhere in the 200,000 range it si a V8 and actual serial is 18-whatever, if it is 5,000,000 and up it is AB- or B dash depending on when made.
The s**** itself was the same. The mechanism that the s**** attached to was longer on the B than on the V8 to place the throttle lever in the correct location depending on the engine. Charlie Stephens
The serial number actually belonged to the engine/trans unit and was stamped on the bell of the trans case above the clutch inspection window. When that engine/trans unit was bolted into a ch***is, they literally had a guy there with a set of number stamps and a big hammer who copied that number from the bell of the trans case onto the frame. My '38 Ford pickup has the full serial number with the stars at both ends and the 18 prefix on the bell of the original trans case which I still have. However, it does not have the stars or the 18- prefix on the frame. What it does have, unlike any other old Ford I ever saw is the model designation 81C stamped below the serial number next to the steering box. 81C denotes '38 1/2 ton with 85 HP engine. I think that individual ***embly plants had their own ways of doing things when it came to things like stamping serial numbers.
I will post a picture of my nice, no-rust bellhousing. There has never been any number on it. Bruce dont you have a B? My B engine and transmission were taken out of my friends grandfathers truck more than 50 years ago and kept inside. The number boss on the engine has a 'B' and 4 digits, no number on the bell housing
Heres the transmission picture. I moved the inspection plate so I could clean the entire area. It has never been rusty
Two things. Ford did not number the engines. The number boss that was used for a Model A was not stamped for a Model B. It is anybody's guess where the number came from. Maybe a rebuilder? Maybe some person trying to satisfy a local DMV As far as the bell housing on a Model B it did not have a number (the V8 serial numbers were stamped into the bell housing). The number was stamped into the flywheel housing (the piece between the bell housing and the engine). Charlie Stephens
Thank you Charlie, I found it right where you said it would be. Kinda destroys my belief in what Bruce Lancaster says Can you point me towards more Model B information? I cant get the search to work on this forum
Specifically, the number is stamped into a sort of flat above the starter area on the flywheel house. Next layer of casting... I have two B's, a pickup and a a roadster.
As you can see by his later post Bruce just had a momentary lapse. He really knows his stuff. "The 1932 Ford Book" from the Early Ford V8 Club (earlyfordv8.org) has more than you ever wanted to know. There is a lot more Model B information at http://www.fordgarage.com Also on fordbarn.com the early V8 forum and earlyfordv8.org. What are you looking for? Charlie Stephens
I'd say the 18-4674577 would be the right one.......thats close to what my 32 had...it started with 18-???????
I thought the serial number was stamped in three places on the top of the left frame rail. One just in front of the firewall, another mid frame and another on the rear kickup. The only one left on mine when I went looking was on the kickup. I don't recall it having the stars or 18 prefix.
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