Why engine and frame numbers

R

RichardW

Senior Member
Why did Ford put engine and frame numbers on the cars? As I understand it most places then didn't have titles as we know them or VIN's either. And why put the frame number in one of the hardest places on the car to see after it was completed?
 
Ford began the double number practice in 1926 with the Model T. There are several reasons. First engines were often swapped at garages and the number did not get re-stamped on the engine. Next a hidden location stopped most forgers from messing with the frame number. Ford also took other steps such as unique number stamps in later production.

This practice continues today. The Oklahoma City bomber was caught through a hidden VIN on his rented truck.
 
Hi i have a 1930 tudor and someone told me that the vin # is on the frame under the cowl, is it on the driver side and can you see it without lifting the body?

thanks
Scott
 
visionary said:
Hi i have a 1930 tudor and someone told me that the vin # is on the frame under the cowl, is it on the driver side and can you see it without lifting the body?

thanks
Scott
Click to expand...

Location is correct. You need to lift the body although in a few rare cases people report seeing it without lifting the body.

Charlie Stephens
 
Charlie Stephens said:
Location is correct. You need to lift the body although in a few rare cases people report seeing it without lifting the body.

Charlie Stephens
Click to expand...


....and in many "not-so-rare" cases, people reported they still could not see the number when the body was lifted!
LOL.gif


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[QUOTE rare cases people report seeing it without lifting the body.QUOTE]

what cases would that be, briggs cowl, frame # location off, shorter mounting blocks or no blocks ?
 
They used to register cars with the engine number. If you changed the engine you reported the new number to DMV. The number on the frame was to help in the recovery of stolen cars. They still have hidden numbers today. I am not sure what is done today but the California DMV used to accept the engine number as proof of ownership if it matched the paperwork. They would then attach a VIN plate to the door and use that in the future.

Charlie Stephens
 
When I registerd my car in Ca., they used the sticker in the door jamb that Or. put there years ago. The sticker has my old engine number on it, and I was not about to tell DMV that they don't match. I could see them telling my to remove the body and I not ready to do that just yet.

Mike
 
Im not sure, but it didnt start off as Vin Numbers.
More likely like serial numbers....to help keep track of how many were being produce, model and make identification.
I would suppose the same reason the started labeling guns with numbers and manufactures back in the 1800s
 
1930artdeco said:
When I registerd my car in Ca., they used the sticker in the door jamb that Or. put there years ago. The sticker has my old engine number on it, and I was not about to tell DMV that they don't match. I could see them telling my to remove the body and I not ready to do that just yet.

Mike
Click to expand...

Although I can't speak for DMV I don't think you have a problem. Once the VIN tag is applied I think it becomes the official number for the vehicle and the engine number is no longer relevant. I would have expected Oregon to have used something unique to the Oregon DMV. A phone call should confirm this.

Charlie Stephens
 
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