I have a orignail 1934 Ford frame, are there vin numbers on the frame? If so were are they located on it? I did a seach and could not find anything about this. Any help would be great. CBB
The serial numbers for 33/34 ford cars and trucks are located on the top of the drivers side frame rail about where the steering box is located. Should have a star and start with 18!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, I looked at both side's figuring that is were it should be and saw nothing. But there is a lot of old paint on it. CBB
The ID numbers on a 34 frame are in three different locations. One set of numbers, and the only ones you can see with the body bolted to the chassis, are right above the steering box. If your working with a bare frame, body off, the second set are right in front of the B-piller, the third set of numbers are at the start of the frame kick-up, over rear axle. All ID numbers are on the drivers side frame rail...Ed
Ed, yes it is a bare frame right now. Wow, there are three sets of numbers? I just dug the frame out this week, I need to get out there and get a good look at the frame. I dont remember ever seeing any. Thanks for the head's up, CBB
If you can't find the numbers by the steering box, let me know and I'll take a picture of my frame tomorrow...Ed
Thanks, Ed. I will let you know if I cant find them, it does make me feel better that they are in more than one place. CBB
So, I went out and wire wheeled the top of the frame rail and found nothing. What is up with that? CBB
I thought the same thing, so I cleaned from the front crossmember to were the rear kickup starts. I didnt see anything.......... Anybody have any idea's? CBB
I've got a 34 and trying to do some research. Numbers stamped on the frame rail do not start with 18 but 97? Anyone have any ideas as I'd like to know more about the car. Thanks
The engine serial number was the identifier Ford used, once the engine was installed in the frame the engine serial number was stamped on the top surface of the left frame rail in three locations shown in the attached figure. V8 passenger cars had 18 for the prefix and 4 cylinders used the letter B. 1934 V8 serial numbers ranged from 18-457478 to 18-1234356. I do not have the 4 cylinder serial range but the serial following the B was seven numbers beginning with 52. The frames I have looked at only have the prefix on the stamping next to the steering box, the center and rear stamping do not. I've heard some frames do not have the prefix on any of the locations, do not know if this is true. For what it is worth the 18 on my '34 is stamped much shallower than the rest of the number and is very hard to see. Regarding the frame starting with 97. If the 97 is the first of 6 numbers then the frame does sound like it very well could be a '34 V8 that was built in mid-June.
Thanks for the info!! I'll look closer for the prefix as the only numbers I found were by the steering box. Curious, where did you look up the info for the 97? From what I can see it's 7 numbers long to add to the complexity. Thanks again!! L
The numbers can be almost impossibe to see sometimes, I have also seen frames that were not stamped!......Keep in mind that these cars were built by men, working hard to keep the line moving.....It is very possible that your frame never got stamped. Also alot of hot rodders when they would use a aftermarket frame would grind the original numbers away, So that whoever ended up with the original frame did not try and reuse the number. That could also be why You can't find any numbers.
All the numbers are configured with a five-pointed star, 18(if V8) or B(if 4cyl), a dash, the sequence numbers, a five-pointed star. On the original car this number set would be on the bellhousing of the original transmission, and 3 places on top of the driver's side(LH here in USA) frame rail. The numbers under the body may or may not have the stars and 18 or B prefix. They should have but many do not. Often sandblasting is the only way to "bring" the numbers out on a frame rail, but I had a 40 frame that the numbers were deep and distinct, all three, though the frame had been in the weather for decades.
To throw a twist in the subject, I have a Canadian built 34 phaeton and the vin number clearly starts with a *C18_ - _ _ _ _*
do NOT use rotary wire brush just use 80 grit or lesser, wire brush takes paint OUT of the numbers, you want paint to stay in numbers to be seen with slight sanding . paint it again with thick coat then sand lightly my '34 frame had number on rear crossmember as well as other three locations.
A lot of those numbers were stamped pretty light and are all too easy to damage with a wire brush or other too.
Mine by the steering box were barely able to be seen, the others were not, even with scraping and sanding. When I sandblasted the frame all three were there. None start with 18 or B, just a star, six numbers, and a star. All match.
Yes. I have a right hand drive Australian assembled 33 Model B, it is stamped on the right side chassis rail above the steering box and also on the block, star B51 etc.
I was the first to take mine completely down since brand new. It was in '99 when I took the body off the frame. I only found but the one set of numbers, and that was at the steering box location. They start out with (2) stars stamped very lightly with the first almost not visible and getting deeper as they proceed. I hand brushed the entire top parameter, power wire brushed the rest.
The locations may vary some because the numbers were stamped by a guy with a hammer and a set of number stamps. The serial number was assigned to the engine/trans unit. When that engine/trans unit was bolted into a chassis, the guy with the hammer and number stamps would copy the number off the bell of the trans case onto the frame rail.
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