1933 vs. 1934 Ford Frame VIN#'s locations

The Zoomer

The Zoomer

Senior Member
Guys,
I'm buildng a 34 tudor and bought the frame several years back... The big question is, how can one distinguish between a 33 and 34 car frame, becuase I can not find the VIN on this what suppose to be 34 frame. I have heard that in 33 some frames did not have any vin#'s is that true? I know the previous builder could have easily grinded the numbers away, but it's hard to believe he would becuase he was a pretty prominent builder who prepped this frame up and doubt he would have just taken the #'s away...I have looked up front, running board area, and over the rear hump all along the left side of thr frame, any other areas I'm missing? All comments are welcome , thanks
 
As best as I can remember look at the front crossmember next to the engine mount hole. The '33 only has one rivet while a '34 crossmember has a longer flange and three rivets in that area. Naturally this assumes the 'member is original.
 
There are two tabs that are riveted to the front crossmember and the frame rail that mount the radiator. On a 34 the radiator tabs have 6 rivets and a 33 has 4 rivets.
 
The standard belief is that the vin is on the tranmisson bell and the left front frame member next to steering box only. I have found two other places ... between the front and rear door (Fordor) on the top left frame and on the top of the left frame hump (where it arches over to clear the rear axle). BOTH were very very faint ... but the numbers all match in all four places.
 
One other thought... because the numbers are so faint a coverage with very thick primer and paint could have filled in the detail.... you might try aircraft type paint remover (at auto paint store...regular is too weak) at the hump etc.
 
Pic one is 33 and pic 2 is 34 . My first question was about the hole for the shock shaft on 33's and you can clearly see this in the first pic as the shock has been removed . 34's do not have the large hole in the middle as the shocks sit outside on 34's . The front crossmembers are WAY different as are the radiator mounting plates . This is general info as the last 33's and first 34's get a little mixed up and we don't need to open that up here . David J
David J said:
Is there a hole between the front shock mounting bolt holes "
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Tinker, When i spotted this primered frame standing up right at a local early ford store, and asked how much was it and heard a $300 response, and was already boxed, prepped for SB engine with motor mounts and rear parralel springs, I didnt even think about the VIN numbers.... :)--
Thanks guys for all the input I might just take the body back off it and scrub real good with paint remover in other two areas, Ed Solari states. So is it true that some 33's did not come with VIN#????
 
I am not aware of 33's not having VIN's on the frame . David J
The Zoomer said:
Tinker, When i spotted this primered frame standing up right at a local early ford store, and asked how much was it and heard a $300 response, and was already boxed, prepped for SB engine with motor mounts and rear parralel springs, I didnt even think about the VIN numbers.... :)--
Thanks guys for all the input I might just take the body back off it and scrub real good with paint remover in other two areas, Ed Solari states. So is it true that some 33's did not come with VIN#????
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gearhead1952 said:
There are two tabs that are riveted to the front crossmember and the frame rail that mount the radiator. On a 34 the radiator tabs have 6 rivets and a 33 has 4 rivets.
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Looked further, and previous guy boxed in and installed a complete new horn on the left rail, possibly taking out the VIN#:(. The cross member is now all welded in, but you are right it looks like 4 rivets where once there, sounds like this cold be a 1933 frame...
 
If you lift of the body, there should be one number at the center and one at the rear crossmember of the left rail , usually they are missing the 18- prefix.
 
It's worth looking anywhere along the left frame rail between firewall and crossmember.
Just launch in with a wire brush on an angle grinder.

Personally I've never found any numbers at the middle or rear hump, but have only had a small number of frames.
 
I have a 34 and I'm trying to do some research. Numbers on the frame rail start with 97, does that make any sense to anyone?
Thanks.
 
Thanks Mike,
Strange the numbers stamped on my frame don't show up anywhere. This is odd. 7 Digit number in total but starts with 97 which isn't on that web page anywhere. It cleared reg so I'm good but it would be nice to know more about the origin but maybe just be happy with clean title and move on?
Thanks again.
 
Musta done some rootin to find this old thread , On your frame # do you have stars before & after the numbers ? ALL should have . The 97 doesn't work from any angle . A 34 4cyl car would have a 7 digit number but it would start 52 - not 97 . A 34 V-8 car would have a 8 or 9 digit number starting star 18 - followed by 6 or 7 digits followed by a star . I have a 33 that has the 18 on the ****** but NOT on the frame . That is the only way to get a 6 digit number on a 33 . I also have a 33 with star 40 - and both these examples are not unique . Don't recall ever seeing this on 34's though . IF you have a 34 that the 18 was left off of & if it is June 34 production or later you could possibly have a 7 digit number but it would start 10 up to 13 . Your 97 doesn't fit any of these scenarios . Where are these numbers ? By the steering box ?
lfs11 said:
Thanks Mike,
Strange the numbers stamped on my frame don't show up anywhere. This is odd. 7 Digit number in total but starts with 97 which isn't on that web page anywhere. It cleared reg so I'm good but it would be nice to know more about the origin but maybe just be happy with clean title and move on?
Thanks again.
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I have a 33 and the numbers are near/just back from the steering box. They are stamped quite lightly and due to oily residue in that area there is no rust. The numbers are very faint and take a good looking at to see.

Mart.
 
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