Engine/Frame numbers .. possible stamping goof or ...?

Jim.Morris2831

Jim.Morris2831

Member
My Deluxe Tudor is being restoring and the body came off a couple weeks ago. The frame number and engine number don't agree, but an interesting take on this is that the two numbers use the same numerals except two which are out of sequence and leave me wondering if the guy doing the stamping on the assembly line might have had a hangover.
Engine number: A 4357417
Frame number: A 4375417 (the first 4 in the frame number is missing, rusted out ...or?)
I've tried to attach two links, this may not work, but if it doesn't I'll re-post.
Any comments?!
Jim
 
Here are the photos of engine and frame #s.
 

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I agree that it may have been a frame number mistake at the factory. If the frame needs to be inspected for the number, I'd restamp those 3 digits to match the engine number.

Isn't it nice that the most rust is right where the number is on the frame.:mad:
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I agree that it may have been a frame number mistake at the factory. If the frame needs to be inspected for the number, I'd restamp those 3 digits to match the engine number.

Isn't it nice that the most rust is right where the number is on the frame.:mad:
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I would give all of the facts to the DMV and let them decide. You might need to go through the pain of a bonded title. Does the title match the engine number? If the title matches the engine number you might want to put the body back on, have them verify the engine number and attach a plate to the door. Restamping the number could get you in trouble.

Charlie Stephens
 
I live in NY and titles are not required for A's so I luck out. The car is registered. I just find these two numbers a tad mysterious as it might be that the guy who stamped the numbers reversed two digits when he hiccuped. It's an adventure in many ways when you take a car apart!
 
I have seen two frames with the number stamped wrong,and then restamped over the wrong number to correct it
 
Jim,

In regards to the early style number on your engine and the late style on your frame, it looks like your engine was built just before this change was made. Ford had a surplus of engines at that time.

When the engine was eventually installed in the frame the new style numbers were being used and that is when the engine number would have been stamped on the frame.

My AA also has a Feb 1931 style on the engine but the truck was not built until April/May with the new style numbers.

Larry
 
It's interesting how human error creeps in. Jim Boehmke's Coupe was presumably titled by the serial number on the engine (which is how Ford would have recorded it) but his original engine was gone. When the body was finally lifted it was discovered that the LAST digit was one number off! I'd bet that the newly opened Richmond plant had batch of engines (first in, last out) and the chassis before his had the same number stamped but WITH the corresponding engine.
 
With the two numerals on my engine and frame transposed, 57 and 75, I'm thinking that the guy who stamped the frame goofed so the two numbers don't reflect an engine that was not original to the car but rather they indicate a brain spasm on his part. I'd bet that errors of this kind were not uncommon given how mind numbing it must have been for the assembly line workers to have one car after the other passing by them for, in this case, frame stamping...day after day after day after day after.....
 
heres another frame that was stamped wrong
looks like he restamped the 7 over a six
tom
 

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Same type mess ups happen with titles also. My never before apart Vicky project had same matching number A******2 on both the engine and the frame. The vehicle title ID was A******7. It only took about a year to get that straightened out.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
I agree that it may have been a frame number mistake at the factory. If the frame needs to be inspected for the number, I'd restamp those 3 digits to match the engine number.

Isn't it nice that the most rust is right where the number is on the frame.:mad:
Click to expand...

My early 28, i took off the cab to get the frame numbers, but it was all pitted out, the engine was restamped when it was over hauled
Joh
 
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