Serial number missing or hard to find

Sixseven

Sixseven

Well-known member
I understand the serial number is located in three places on the frame. Two aren't visible unless the cab or bed are removed. The other location is supposed to be on the front, top, left frame rail, but I don't see it. Do I get a stronger magnifying glass or is it possible that it is not there? The frame does not look like it was ever ground or otherwise defaced to remove the serial number. The frame is also cleaned of all grease and rust. Could I have a car frame under this pickup, though I didn't think they were different.
 
The serial number is also on the transmission above the clutch inspection plate, however, it may not be the correct number if someone changed the transmission in the past. One of the three serial numbers on the top left frame rail in the engine compartment is usually near the steering box mounting. If your pu truck is sitting on a passenger car frame used in production it would have the serial numbers in the same locations.
 
look near the steering box mount area, on top of the frame rail, if the frame is rusty you may not find it.
 
Shine a light at an angle to the frame. You will see some shadowing where the numbers are. From that you can also make a pencil rubbing.
 
I have found a lot of the serial numbers on the top of the frame at the front xmember. Wire brush good and haold a flash light on an angle. G.M.
 
I have retrieved #'s by lightly rubbing soap stone over the area and brushing away the area leaving a readable #
 
The numbers on my 1939 pickup were just barely visible after sandblasting. My front number was on the left frame rail at the front cross member. I could not see all of the numbers as they were very faint.
 
THE # on my 39 pkp. is on the frame near the steering box it was alot clearer after comparing with # on transmission bell housing SUNSHINE
 
Truck and car frames were numbered the same. If the number on the transmission is the same as the paperwork I would think they would accept it and then assign a number with a plate on the door jam. Since we are in different states whether or not they accept it is only my guess. Call the DMV and ask them. Maybe they will want you to see if the number on the frame can be raised with acid but it is anybody's guess.

Charlie Stephens
 
I thought the same thing on both my '36 coupe and my '35 pickup. I couldn't see either one no matter how hard I looked. The '36 was painted. The '35 was somewhat rusty but not too bad. I started with the '36 and just lightly sanded a few places by hand. I missed it a few times because I didn't know exactly where to look. Then I hit it. Once I found that one, the '35 was easy.

I can send you some pics of where they are on these cars if you need it. I should point out that they are in slightly different positions.
 
Well I'll be darned, I found it holding the light at an angle. It's a weird number though suggesting that I have a 1937 frame based on number sequence. Could that be? The other oddity is the fourth number is tilted onto its' side. That would make it seem that each number was stamped individually. That also means the likelihood of have a mistake exists where two frames could have the same number or a number could have been missed.

If I indeed have a 1937 frame is it the same as the 41?
 
the numbers were stamped individually. the 1937 frame is mostly the same as 1941 pickup. 1935-1940 car are basically the same with some changes to the cross memeber for different brake setup. 1941 pick up use the same frame as 1940 pickup. A little heavy than the car frame but the truck would bolt on to it. 1941 car did not use the same frame as the 1941 pickup.
 
Charlie Stephens said:
Truck and car frames were numbered the same. If the number on the transmission is the same as the paperwork I would think they would accept it and then assign a number with a plate on the door jam. Since we are in different states whether or not they accept it is only my guess. Call the DMV and ask them. Maybe they will want you to see if the number on the frame can be raised with acid but it is anybody's guess.

Charlie Stephens
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Keep the DMV out of it until you find the answer. A friend died and I sold his 37 phaeton for his wife. I noticed a funny number on the title and discovered the husband used the body style number tag as the vehicle ID number. I'm a Florida dealer and can verify out of state cars to their titles as is required for every out of state car. I pulled the floor board and the trans number matched the frame so I took a picture of it made a tracing of the frame and trans number. Called the DMV which was the same guy that comes around every year for my license renewal for the last 10 years. Showed him the material and the car and he wanted to see the engine number. I explained the problem Ford had casting the V/8 blocks and Ford decided to put the number on the trans and it was part of the engine unit. He said all cars have engine numbers and didn't buy it and made me pull the floor board so he could see it and came back a few days later to see it. I printed the info on the problem and serial numbers for 37's and he still didn't want to sign the paper to change the number on the title to match the frame. He said just leave it like it was. I said here's a guy buying a $35,000 car and decides to sell it at a Florida auction and your the guy from DMV at the auction inspecting numbers and find the frame don't match the title and he can't sell the car. He said I guess your right and signed the form to get the tile changed. He just didn't want his name on a serial number change form. G.M.
 
There is a process to get a vehicle older than 1985 registered in this state (GA), but like your story GM, the title serial No and the frame No. do not match. I don't know if I have a 1937 truck that looks like a 1941 truck or if I have a vehicle than can be registered.

The vehicle has not ever been registered to my knowledge either. I certainly don't have any past registrations. I know the truck was assembled from three vehicles, all 1941s, somehow an older frame was used years ago. I wonder if I should get a 1940 or 41 frame and make it right so to speak.
 
Hold on, I just reread the number in the daylight, but with the flashlight on it at an angle. It is a 1941 frame. I had misunderstood the "1" laying sideways and had not clearly seen all that I had. The VIN range for 1941 Ford V8 truck models ran between 18-5896295 to 18-6769035 and I am at 18-6566411. Phew, now to attempt a registration and title.
 
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