Hot Rods Model A identification question

I kinda wondered about that cause I read somewhere that about 4 million Model A's were made.....but you cleared up the fact that it wasn't the same "18" that represents the 32 and later engines. Its a lot clearer now.

What makes you think that? It looks original to me, but I'm far from an expert on the stamps.

I'm hoping that it will be something that someone wants a good steel body for a Hot Rod and doesn't care about matching numbers. When I bought it, there was no negotiaion on the price. I tried, and the guy whipped out his cell phone and it was "blown up" with people calling about it. He had just listed it that morning and I stumbled across it. He was only about 10 miles away, so I got there first. Seems the guy who owned it had passed away and had a whole bunch of desirable cars. His heirs only wanted money and didn't appear to have any interest in keeping any of them.The only thing they knew (?) was that it was running when he parked it because they had rode in it as kids. That was about 20+ years ago. Engine does turn over freely though.


Does anyone have a picture of a 1932 Ford engine stamping and maybe a correct Model A stamping? I'd like to see one that is "for sure" correct.

PS: I appreciate all the help you guys are giving me.

 

I have owned several Model A's and was a National Judge in the '70s and '80s and the numbers stamped on the block are the correct early style numbers. If you sell everything separately you don't have an issue. You're selling a motor, a frame and a body.

 

What's the price on it Mike? Might know a guy that's interested

 

I’m far from an expert as well but from my (limited) experience Ford stamps look like this
The 9s/6s look like a lower case “b.” But maybe they didn’t start that until later?


Now I just went to look at the A motor I have and it looks like this…
I have no idea on its origin.

 

As @woodiewagon46 said above^ the characters are the early style. Ford changed the 1 and 6/9 characters, with the letter I being substituted for the number 1 and the “b” (in appearance only) for the 6/9 in February, 1931.
I think that was an attempt at preventing car thieves from restamping Fords.

 

Here is a photo of the location on the frame of a 1931 A - the area with the chalk on it.

John

 

If you read my original post, it tells you that on February 18th, 1931 Ford changed their script. They made a change in the numbers 1, 6, and 9. The photograph of the silver stampings shows the new numbers.

 

1932 B four cylinder motors were stamped with a continuation of the Model A numbers in the 5 million range. Only V8 were stamped 18 xxxx.

 

Also the manifold heater you have is an aftermarket accessory but period-correct. There were many different companies that made similar ones that bolted on. They put out good heat and kept the toes warm, no problem as long as your exhaust manifold didn't have any cracks and the gasket between manifold and block was good. Otherwise carbon monoxide could be an issue.

 

I know you mentioned how you want to sell it, but seems since you have a title, there’s a chance it’s correct for the car. If it is and you can verify it matches, seems an afternoon of work could bring in some more $$ for it.
Could be a wasted afternoon, but what the heck?

 

No dog in the fight but everything that I have read says that the engines were stamped with the serial number in the engine factory while the frame and trans numbers were hand stamped to match the engine number on the assembly line. Hand stamped by who ever it was that had the task assigned that day or hour.
According to this the numbers on the block were stamped freehand and the spacing isn't always perfectly the same. Model A Ford Garage ~ Model A & B Ford Engine Serial (VIN) Numbers

I'd hazard a guess that who ever sat there and stamped those engine block numbers all day long may have had some sort of fixture to do it with even though they were hand stamped or the just got real good at getting them lined up.

 

I missed @woodiewagon46's post above as I was replying to the quoted question. Thanks for the clarification!

 

Yes, I have had first hand experience with that long ago. Never again!

 

Is it possible that any of the frames did not get a number stamped on them ? I saw mention of that somewhere that frames didn't always get stamped but don't know if it is accurate or not. I managed to raise the body and runningboard about an inch or so and cleaned some residue out. Could not see any number or remnants of a number.

 

Model A's from Canada don't have a frame number stamped in them, just on the motor.

I have heard the occasional story of someone finding a frame number on one from one from Canada but I suspect it was either added later or the car was built in the US and brought to Canada later.

 

Raising an inch may not be enough. That’s a pretty shallow angle to see stamped numbers.

 

I had a bright light and a mirror and I could see the surface pretty well. I cleaned it out with a wire brush and then ran a rotary tool across the surface to make it somewhat shiny but not remove any metal. I could see a somewhat pock marked area on the far side but other than that it was just flat and smooth. I would have seen something if a number was stamped in it, but there was nothing there. Its way too much work to get the running boards unbolted along with the body.

Thanks for the info Gregger

 

Here are 4 of the pictures I took. Blew them up larger with Microsoft Paint which really enlarges them. Couldn't find a trace anywhere, but my eyes aren't the best either.

 

They are not all in exactly the same spot. Seems they can be anywhere within about a foot or so.

Dave