1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Does any one know who i would get in contact with to identify a chassis by its number?.not sure if the chassis i have is 33 or 34?. Is there a differance?. thanks Martin

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

The numbers might define it, but if they are near or at the transition from the '33 models to the '34 models, they might not. The physical characteristics of what you have may be a more reliable indicator.

For example, how do the front shock absorbers mount on the frame, inside the frame or outside? (If there's a large hole between the two shock mounting bolt holes, the shock mounts inside the frame which suggests that it is a '33 frame; if there's only the two shock mounting bolt holes, the shock mounts outside the frame and it's a '34.)

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

1933: 18-203,127 to 18-457,477
1934: 18-457478 to 18-1,234,356

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

I have 2 chassis.the one that came with the car has been molestered badly (front and rear chassis horns removed,front cross member removed and mustang front end added,rear cross member has large hole cut for coil overs) I started to fix this chassis by removing mustang front end and replaced with original cross member,and replaced the rear with a uncut original,the number on this chassis is *8<->4####1*.but then i found a original rolling right hand drive chassis which i would rather use as it is complete,its numbers are completely differant,*13-f1#####6*.I dont know if there is any differances between the 33-34,but i want to put my 33 coupe body onto what i think is a 34 chassis,i have seen in a M.A.C.S.catalog that the 34 wheel base is 6 inches longer will this cause a proplem with placing the 33 body on a 34 chassis,the front shocks on the rolling chassis are mounted on the out side,thanks Martin

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

33 and 34 wheelbase is same. 32 is shorter.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

yes your right BrianCT about the wheel base being the same,it is the 1933 4 cylinder model that was 6 inches differant.David j thanks for the pics,my molested chassis has the hole where the shocker is but no original cross member came with it,cheers guys learning every day,thanks Martin

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

1933 Chevrolet Mercury series was 107" w/b and the Eagle was 113", you may be thinking of that.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Or perhaps recalling that a '33-'34 four-cylinder rear axle is shorter than the V-8 version, but it's not six inches worth. The body will fit any '33-'34 112" wheelbase chassis or frame (they were all 112" except those for the big trucks) without modification to either the body or the frame. A RHD frame that was original to Australia would normally be stamped with a number that begins with either C18F (for V-8s) or BF5 (for fours).

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Regarding 'features'... The front shock hole is an 'indicator', but not an absolute identification feature. The 'transition' cars, mentioned above, can also have the front shock hole, but originally came with 34 shocks. I have such a car. And, regarding the frame numbers... I've been watching the barn for many years, and have occasionally seen posts where the numbers are discussed. But, I've never seen any documentation that lists the Canadian numbers (by year), the same way that we have a pretty good definition of 33-34 US numbers ???
If one takes a close look at the car that I have, it only leads to confusion, or perhaps, mine is a 'transition' car. It has numerous 33 features, and some 34 features, and excellent indicators that the car is an original car, not pieced together from parts. Examples... Original paint visible on all parts, including doors, tub, hood. Hood is 34, and latch cutouts in cowl appear to be 'factory'. Cowl vent is 33. Original dash is 34. No hood-rest-notches on top of cowl (like 34's have). Doors and window features are 33. One bumper is 33, other is 34. Grille is 34. And, frame has front shock holes, but came with 34 shocks. Fenders appear to have always been black - generally associated with 33, and body-color generally associated with 34 (I know, there can be exceptions.).
Just opinion, just observation....

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Here are the Canadian '33-'34 V-8 numbers from their Archives. I forgot that there is letter between the 18 and 'F' in their sequence of numbers for V-8s which were in blocks of 5,000 numbers (the 'F' only used for those engines destined for RHD chassis).

1933 model V-8s: C18H 1 to 5000, C18N 1 to 5000, and C18X 1 to end of model
run which was less than 5000

1934 model V-8s: C18A 1 to 5000, and C18E, C18G, C18K, C18L, C18M, C18P, C18S,
C18T, and C18X all in blocks of 5,000 engine numbers except C18X which ran to the end of the model run and was less than 5000.

For RHD vehicles, an 'F' was added to the prefix (e.g. C18HF).

As the original subject is Australia, only the V-8s carried Canadian engine numbers while the fours came from Ford of Britain which used the U.S. numbering system (assigned to Dagenham in blocks of numbers by Dearborn).

Speaking of built-in-Canada '33s, unlike in the U.S., body-colored fenders, fender aprons, gas tank cover, and spare tire cover was an inexpensive production option available for their passenger cars. Too bad that option wasn't available in the U.S. as some wish.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

David, this is off the subject, but is your Canadian number-list really in the order it was used ?? You seem to say that C18X was used last. The reason for me asking... My car carries the C18XFxxxx number, and if it was assembled towards the end of 1934, I'm really puzzled as to why it has so many 1933 features. Your comment above seems to suggest that my car was assembled VERY near the end of 1934 production (C18XF35xx).

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Bob,

I could have misread my list and I'll double check it as it is highly unlikely that they used the same prefix (C18X) two model years in a row. Note that C18X was the last '33 series of numbers which would seem to fit your car characteristics of the 'twilight' transition period between the '33 and '34 models.

David

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Scratch the C18X prefix from the '34 engine number list; it only belongs in the '33 engine number list. Sorry for the confusion.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

how come my numbers dont match any of the numbers you have supplied?.one chassis is Americain and one is Aussie,thanks Martin

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

In some jurisdictions over the years when a rebuilt engine was installed, a new number was assigned to the vehicle and in some cases, Ford's original numbers were obliterated by law. There are no doubt other possible explanations, such as your one example where the 13 prefix could be 18 with a poorly stamped '8', but Ford was very consistent in applying its own engine numbers to the chassis when the engine was originally installed.

Perhaps your RHD chassis was originally produced in the U.S. and in that case the prefix would be 18F in the case of a V-8 chassis (and in the case of the RHD V-8s, that prefix remained the same throughout both the '33 and '34 model years and simply 18 for LHD V-8s).

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

The 4 cylinder "propshaft" is shorter, and you turn the gearboxmount 180 degrees to move the engine and gearbox back and forth.
V8 tube on the top.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

For 1933 and 1934 (there was no separate series of numbers for 1934 models) the series were: CBT 1 to 5000 and CBW 1 up to (but likely below) 5000.

No records have survived that list the BF5 servies of numbers and as the engines were numbered sequentially with either the B or BF prefix (or BB or BBF), it is likely that such a record was not maintained in the first place.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

:confused: I have just got a 34 come in from California and my chassis is stamped in 3 places all with the same number which is nothing like any of the previous. It is as follows

star 5188... star ( last 3 numbers are hidden on purpose ;) )

there is no evidence of 18- anywhere?, so basically it is a 7 digit number with a star at either end. I am presuming that it is a truck chassis as there is no running board mounting holes along the sides . Anybody any ideas ?

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

I have had these lists for a long time now. They detail the Australian engine numbers. See attached file. I hope this helps. David

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Thanks for that David, so i take it is a 33, 4 cylinder pick up frame I will measure up later .

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Manual has 1934 cdn chassis with English engine. Us serial number The F is right hand drive

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

according to "The Early Ford V8" book by Francis and De Angelis V8 engine numbering is as follows: "engine numbers for V8 was preceeded by a star then by prefix "18" followed by a dash.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

The engine numbering referred to in the DeAngelis book pertains only to V-8 and four-cylinder engines produced at the Rouge engine plant in the U.S. and not to those produced across the Detroit River in Walkerville, Ontario, Canada. The latter's production began and ended with a star (at least in theory) and started with a "C", etc. as shown on the neat chart that you provided above. The four-cylinder engines produced at the Dagenham, England plant were numbered from groups of numbers allocated from the number series used by the Rouge Plant so they began either "AB" or "B" depending on the point in time the engine was produced. This is also borne out by your chart.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

My New Zealand new 33 sedan chassis starts with C18 MF then the three digit number ,my 34 coupe from NZ as well has C18 MF then a four digit number
Lawrie

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

I have just looked with my glasses,the 33 sedan is C18 NF and three digits
The 34 coupe is C18MF and two digits
Lawrie

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Cdn serial numbers for v8 were C18 and a letter(plus F for right hand drive) 1933 had 2 series H,N,X with the high number X being changed to 1934(factory) numbers only went to 5000. My ute only has 2 numbers early in the series. C18SF

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

I know this is an old thread. I had a 1933 and a 1934 crossmember out of a frame and wanted to take a comparison photo for future reference.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...psrtb9g8zx.jpg

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1311572480
That is a great photo that Mr42 Posted showing the comparison of the different lengths of the Tail Shaft between the 4 and 8 cylinder 33/34 Fords. Thanks for posting.

Re: 1933/34 ford chassis identification?.
 

Found a shot of a very early 1933 front crossmember for sale today. Thought I'd add to the difference list. The early had the motor mount locations like a 1932 crossmember.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps8up79rjf.jpg