Engine numbers to car years?
- Thread starter old31
- Start date
Dollar Bill
Well-known member
There should no more than a 3-4 month difference between engine manufacture and final car assembly.
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Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
My April or May 1931 slant windshield non indented firewall Town Sedan has the original November 1930 engine.
Our 29 Sport Coupe has a firewall date of June 18, 1929 and the engine (matching number) has an approval date also of June 1929.
I think the only real answer is, “matching numbers”. If they match, end of story. From what I have read over the years. Engines could sit in storage after approval for days or sometimes months. Enjoy.
I think the only real answer is, “matching numbers”. If they match, end of story. From what I have read over the years. Engines could sit in storage after approval for days or sometimes months. Enjoy.
Steve Plucker
BANNED
Does the engine have it's "original" number or is it a "restamp"?
Pluck
Pluck
Railcarmover
BANNED
engine 938XXX,build date 1/29/29..the engine and assembly were within a week of each other,Bet you could figure which assembly plants could have built the car by figuring travel time,basically draw a circle based on 'rail days'. Reckon mine was assembled close to the Rouge,yet as far as I can trace it was a CA car.
What would be interesting to know is the time engines were waiting to be shipped,assembling thousands a day its highly unlikely they stayed at the Rouge any longer than it took to load them in a rail car.Imagine in 1929 rail was still efficient,nowadays you get a three day window on freight cars being dropped at a siding.Ford had enough control to demand efficiency based on volume.Unit trains could have been made up and left the Rouge directly for the assembly plant,eliminating the need for the railroad taking cars to their yard and humping them to build a unit, shortening the time from the motor building to the assembly point.
The use of rail for warehousing is common,load the engines into cars,the car becomes the warehouse.Store the cars in a marshaling yard for as long as you can.Wonder how many engines Ford put in a rail car...
What would be interesting to know is the time engines were waiting to be shipped,assembling thousands a day its highly unlikely they stayed at the Rouge any longer than it took to load them in a rail car.Imagine in 1929 rail was still efficient,nowadays you get a three day window on freight cars being dropped at a siding.Ford had enough control to demand efficiency based on volume.Unit trains could have been made up and left the Rouge directly for the assembly plant,eliminating the need for the railroad taking cars to their yard and humping them to build a unit, shortening the time from the motor building to the assembly point.
The use of rail for warehousing is common,load the engines into cars,the car becomes the warehouse.Store the cars in a marshaling yard for as long as you can.Wonder how many engines Ford put in a rail car...
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Steve Plucker
BANNED
It depends...if it were the Rouge plant, probably about 1-2 days...If it were Seattle, Portland, San Francisco or Los Angles about 2-3 weeks on an average...maybe more...maybe less.
Pluck
Good question I would not know how to tell the difference. What are the signs of a restamp?
The Model A Ford Garage has a good article on this. Should give you all the needed information.
As far as a re stamp goes, look for grinding marks. You should be able to tell if there is a problem. Frame and engine should have the same VIN if engine is original to car.
I have never owned a car that did not have matching numbers. Enjoy.
Cape Codder
Well-known member
WHN So my question to you is have you had the bodies off all of the cars you have owned? I have often wondered what "numbers match" really means.
I don’t really understand the point of your question.
On Model A’s the engine number is put on frame at time of assembly. Therefore both should be the same to confirm, as much as you can, car to be original.
Other makes have VIN’s on frame, engine, transmission, whatever.
We have always checked our A’s, lifting body corner to check frame. Having only owned Sport Coupes so it has been a little easier. Door off, top off to replace, gas tank out to slosh, fenders off along with running boards to paint, not a problem. Enjoy.
Cape Codder
Well-known member
WHN My question was do you lift the bodies to verify? So are you saying is the seller allows you to lift the body for inspection? I know that the number was also on the frame but cannot be seen until raising the body.
I haven’t bought a car lately that you could not see all needed numbers without removing anything.
28 and 29 Model A’s have manufacturing date on firewall above steering column.
If engine number and manufacturing date don’t make some sense, or if engine number is different from title or DMV info I would pass on car. Lucky so far.
I wouldn’t ask someone if they minded me taking car apart to check numbers. There are plenty of Model A’s out there. Everyone doesn’t feel the need for a numbers matching car. Enjoy.
Cape Codder
Well-known member
WHN Thanks for the response. Now I understand! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you also.
Being retired now, it’s nice to have people with like interests to communicate with. I try to help as best as I can. Enjoy.
Steve Plucker
BANNED
That is the current thought on the subject.
I think the closer the car was assembled to Dearborn, the date on the gas tank and the true assembly date of the vehicle will be real close.
BUT the further away the car was assembled to Dearborn, the date on the gas tank and the true assembly date of the vehicle will be further apart.
See the following data:
http://www.plucks329s.org/pdf/studies/Model A Firewall Date Study.pdf
I would really like to update this if anyone has an ORIGINAL assembled vehicle with the needed information...please let me know.
Pluck
