Have 47 convertible, body off frame so trying to find VIN to get title applied for. saw post on where 40 is located. any info on where for 47? can email any responses to my email of dericwi@aol.com. Thx, Eric
Where's the VIN on a 47 frame?
- Thread starter dericwi
- Start date
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
On the frame rail next to the steering gear bracket, on the bell housing of the trans case above the clutch inspection cover, and many times on the rear left frame rail where it kicks up over the rear axle (my 46 had it there, and my 36 has it there)
My 47 has the front number on top of the frame rail on the steering box side about 3" in front of the cross member. It is also on top of the frame rail at about where the rear of the coupe door is and on the hump as it goes over the rear axle. In all places, very hard to find until the frame was sandblasted and cleaned up. Even then they are hard to read.
David
David
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Lamar Wadsworth
Senior Member
The locations varied because they were stamped by hand. The serial number technically belonged to the engine/transmission unit and was stamped on the bell of the car's original trans case above the clutch inspection window. When that engine/ trans unit was bolted into a chassis, they literally had a guy there with a big hammer and a set of number stamps who copied the number off the trans case onto the frame. The clarity of the stamping depended entirely on how hard the guy swung the hammer and hit the stamps. Of course, hope the guy wasn't dyslexic and didn't transpose any numbers.
Bruce Lancaster
Member Emeritus
We had one guy on here a few years back who looked and looked til he found a number, and then got his car registered from it. It was the part number from his front crossmember!
thx to all responses. I appreciate the help. Found a set of numbers between 2 stars 799A ------ (5 numbers) on the left front rails between firewall and steering box. Does this seem right length? I'm only asking because my 46 Coupe, which is titled and registered had VIN length of only 1GA followed by 6 numbers and is clearly marked as such. The suggestion on the bell housing for the 47 turned up an 879A followed by 6 numbers. The rest of the frame area is too rough and nothing could be found. I don't see a pattern of consistancy here.
I also found the following webpage that was extremely helpful in understanding why my v8 convertible had one vin length and my straight 6 car had a completely different vin. Posting it so others can benefit from it.
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm
Bruce Lancaster
Member Emeritus
The serial part is simply a sequence number marking yours as having the Xth 239 engine (99 series) built by Ford since 1939, when the 239 was introduced. This number should be within the range of engine numbers built in the model year...the number ranges are conveniently listed here: http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm
The 7 and 8 before the 99 indicate year, the A indicates engine is in a Ford passenger car and not a Merc (M) or commercial or truck...your '47 has a transmission that once lived in a '48 Ford, and so carries the serial of a different car!
Your '46 has a 6 cylinder with 1GA number, and so is in an entirely different run of numbers.
The main numbers (front frame number, number on trans) are bracketed by star stampings to prevent alterations.
And of course since the serial number IS a sequence number, there is no correct number of digits except as dictated by the production numbers...there were '39's with a SINGLE digit and '48's way up in the 2 millions. They did not fill in with zeros or anything to make up a length.
The 7 and 8 before the 99 indicate year, the A indicates engine is in a Ford passenger car and not a Merc (M) or commercial or truck...your '47 has a transmission that once lived in a '48 Ford, and so carries the serial of a different car!
Your '46 has a 6 cylinder with 1GA number, and so is in an entirely different run of numbers.
The main numbers (front frame number, number on trans) are bracketed by star stampings to prevent alterations.
And of course since the serial number IS a sequence number, there is no correct number of digits except as dictated by the production numbers...there were '39's with a SINGLE digit and '48's way up in the 2 millions. They did not fill in with zeros or anything to make up a length.
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RustyDavis
Junior Member
One place Kurt in NJ didn't mention, on top of the frame rail right about where the left cowl sits. In other words, three places on the left frame rail and on the transmission case.