Hi everyone. I have acquired my late great uncles 39 Mercury 8. I have attempted to ***le it here in KY and in order to do so it must be inspected by a sheriff. I took it yesterday and it didn’t p*** due to the sheriff not being able to find an ID number. I researched and the only thing I can find is some raised numbers where the engine meets the transmission. I was under the impression that that 1939 mercs had an A-99 in the sequence. I also read that there’s a five digit number that includes 5 point stars before and after the number. The stamping I found start with a letter H which makes me wonder if I’m looking at the right number. I would appreciate any help and sorry for the novel!
Depending on the condition of the frame rail (rust, dirt, pits) a wire brush should make the location by the steering box show up. Of course location two and three are under the body----.
Why woukd they put the number plate in such a hard to reach location?on the firewall would 've been a lot easier.
The complete serial number is also stamped into the top of the transmission case, near where the trans meets the block. There is a rectangular pad cast into the trans up there, and the number is stamped there. Note that the transmissions can be changed over time, so if that number doesn't match the ***le, it is probably because the trans is not original.
These are not 'number plates, but stamped directly into the ch***is metal.The purpose was to frustrate crooks who would change or obliterate the numbers to conceal a stolen car. The second and third locations were generally not well known and were often referred to as 'confidential numbers' to aid law enforcement. Ray
The Jalopy Journal
