Vin #?
 

My 39 Deluxe that I have been working on, had a problem with the clutch. Not knowing all I should when I first pulled it down, I did not look at the number Stamped in the transmission. Now that I have it back out I found the number stamped in the housing. That # is 18-338845. Can anyone tell me any thing about this number?
Thanks,
Wick

Re: Vin #?
 

According to Van Pelt's site it is a 1937.
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm
I screwed up, rockfla is correct 1933 number.

Re: Vin #?
 

Look again more closely. You are missing a digit.

Re: Vin #?
 

Since you have the transmission out, please post a close up picture of the number

Re: Vin #?
 

Based on the number you have posted it’s a June of 1933 transmission/engine assembly!

Re: Vin #?
 

The missing number will prove to be the number 3 if an early 1937, or 4 if as late as 1939. Look closely after the 18, the next digit (missing) is your 3 or 4. Those numbers were hand stamped, which may have been lightly stamped, or accidentally omitted. I see no other reasonable explanation, seeing that the (exterior) tranny cases of those years were identical.

Re: Vin #?
 

Looks like I left off an 8. Should be 18-3388845

Re: Vin #?
 

18-3388845

January of 1937 engine/transmission assembly number

Re: Vin #?
 

It has an 8BA. Motor. So I wonder what clutch and pressure plate I should use.

Re: Vin #?
 

1937 engines are nice to have. One in my '36 and one in my '35.

Re: Vin #?
 

Wick:
In my 1940 Ford I used a 1949-50 Mercury 10 in. clutch, pressure plate and Mercury flywheel when I installed an 8ba IN MY 40 in 1970. USED THE ORIGINAL 1940 THROWOUT BEARING and rear sump 1949-50Merc oil pan. The 10 in Merc pressure plates are getting hard to find . Read thru this:
https://www.bing.com/search?q=insta%...ANAB01&PC=HCTS

Here's good info. on Fordbarn. https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...+8ba+1940+ford

Re: Vin #?
 

What can be decerned from this vin # 18-5150182? This is what I got when I bought my '39 Deluxe.

Re: Vin #?
 

Not much. Only an approximation of when the engine was built. The serial numbers for 1939 engines ranged from 18-4,661,001 to 18-5,210,700. Someone who has a list of monthly or daily s/n lists may chime in with a more precise date. This is just a hint as to when your car was built.

Ken

Re: Vin #?
 

It is not really a VIN as we know them today, it is simply a serial number. Nothing more than a sequential record of when the engine and transmission were put together and marked in the book as the next down the line. When they were eventually mated to a chassis, days or weeks later, that same number was stamped on the frame.

Re: Vin #?
 

Thanks,
Where on the frame did they stamp it?

Re: Vin #?
 

Check out VanPelts website.
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm

Re: Vin #?
 

Re: Vin #?
 

The prefix 18 is indicative of the 221 V8 engine family. The new 99A 239 engine for Mercury and the V8 60- horse engines had their own prefixes so it was largely an engine indicator. Trucks were different than cars so their BB prefix was there too. It's mostly all in the VanPelt Sales information. Canadian Fords were also different.