39 coupe identification number location.

[37coop]

Hi. I,v just finished a long restoration on my 39 deluxe coupe, I imported it from USA 28 years ago to here in the U.K. The paperwork I got with the vehicle all them years ago are different to what is now required to register the car for our road use ,I first contacted the DVLA (the relevant government agency )4 months ago and for various reasons my application has been rejected several times ( over here they are famously difficult to deal with) the latest episode is I had a vehicle inspector look at my car and report back to them....it has been rejected once again with all my forms and paperwork returned to me ,the reason this time is the chassis number should start with 18,it was read by the inspector and the 1 has pretty much worn away and the 8 has partly worn and looks a bit like a 3 so as far as they are concerned this chassis is not the correct one for the vehicle. the question I am asking is there another number stamped on the chassis elsewhere which is accessible? all this nonsense is making my head spin....pen pushers and paper shifters ...don't you just love em , thanks jim.

 

[1938 Coupe]

My 38 has it in two locations. On the driver side frame in the engine compartment and on the same side but on the raised frame over the axel. I believe the body has to be removed to see the id number in that location. Not sure?

 

[37coop]

I forgot to mention ,the number was stamped on the chassis beside the engine on the driver side .

 

[V8COOPMAN]

If it might help in some small way, the "1" is actually stamped using the capital letter "I" on these old Fords.

Click the link below for frame locations in '39. DD

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/1939ford-project-teardown-13.htm

 

[Charlie Stephens]

This site might help: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm

The serial number also appears on a pad on the transmission case but motor vehicle departments usually don't like to use it since it is easy to change the transmission. The "18" actually identified the engine type but is usually assumed to be part of the serial number.

Charlie Stephens

 

[Kahuna]

Try the "Pencil" method.
Take a piece of paper and,
above the number, then
scratch the number .
Do this after making sure the area
is clean
Hope this makes sense?
Jim
Also, try using a camera at different angles to see the number clearly

 

[19Fordy]

37coop: Here's what to do.
http://www.csitechblog.com/2011/07/how-crime-labs-restore-obliterated-serial-numbers.html

 

[37coop]

Thanks for your help guys ,I,v gone on the recommended sites and it looks promising,fingers crossed it will be seen out and about this summer.

 

[JSeery]

As far as the years go, the last digits of the frame numbers are in order from one year to the next. There is a beginning and ending to each model year in the sequence. That should prove that the frame is the correct year for the car. As already pointed out the first few digits are to ID the engine type. Only the number by the steering box (and the transmission numbers) have this information. The other two set of numbers on the frame will have these omitted. There are a fairly limited number of options on the first digits, so should be able to prove which one of these it is.

V8 60hp would start with 54- ? to 506,500 (this is a little mixed up with the 38s)
8 85hp would be I8-4,661,001 to I8-5,210,700
Merc 90hp would be 99- 001 to 99-101,700
LZ V12 would be H-64,641 to H-85,640

Should be fairly easy to narrow it down from there. There are several methods to "raise" the numbers if it continues to be an issue. But a 7 digit number will only go with the I8 (18) prefix.