04-12-2024, 08:13 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Coral Springs, Florida
Posts: 556
|
Engine Number
What was the reason/purpose for sanding off an engine numbers in the first place?
|
04-12-2024, 09:19 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santee Calif.
Posts: 516
|
Re: Engine Number
Engine purchased from a rebuilder that came from some other car. When installed in your car the factory #’s do not match your paperwork or registration
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
04-13-2024, 06:29 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 4,002
|
Re: Engine Number
A lot depends on which state you live in. I read on the forum that at least one state makes it illegal to change the serial number of an engine. Other states are fussy and even original stamping may be rejected because the inspector is not familiar with Model A stamps. When I bought my car here in North Carolina, the seller knew the officer at the DMV so it went through without any problem, even with a different number on the engine than what is on the title.
One technique that people use is to peen the surface with the pneumatic tool that is used to remove heavy rust. It has a number of pins. The surface then resembles a cast surface. Original or reproduction stamps can then be used to re stamp the serial number. Sometimes the garage that installed a used engine would grind off the old serial number and then stamp the serial number of the car in it's place, or a non Ford serial number. These re stampings can get rejected by some DMV inspectors. The rejection by DMV offices is an effort to eliminate registration and title transfer of stolen cars. Many years ago, when Model A's were just an old car, getting your car registered was easy. Now that antique cars are worth much more it has gotten more difficult and will only become more of a problem.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. Last edited by nkaminar; 04-13-2024 at 06:44 AM. |
04-13-2024, 10:09 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santee Calif.
Posts: 516
|
Re: Engine Number
There's something that California still has going for it, if you need the "vin" number verification they want to see the frame number. They could care less about any numbers on the engine
|
04-13-2024, 04:30 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,822
|
Re: Engine Number
I take a slightly diff view then nk on the subject. Many dmv people have aged out and often the newbies dont know their arse from their........... well you understand.
so many of these guys, cops included, have no idea what they re looking at . If you spin a tale, most smile and enjoy the yarn. |
04-14-2024, 06:02 PM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: SoCal
Posts: 604
|
Re: Engine Number
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
I had a Studebaker that had been registered by the engine number when new in the 50s. That engine was long gone. Fortunately the Studebaker records still exist showing which engine went in which body. I was able to take a copy of the card to DMV and they changed the VIN from what had been on the engine to the body number. |
|
04-14-2024, 07:34 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Waynesboro Va.
Posts: 237
|
Re: Engine Number
Luckily so far where I live in Va, the numbers aren't even checked. I guess they assume you're smart enough to confirm your self or you risk never being able to get rid of it if someone more particular tries to buy it.
They do check the numbers on the title to confirm it's not stolen. Last edited by Ayers1; 04-14-2024 at 07:47 PM. |
04-14-2024, 07:35 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,871
|
Re: Engine Number
My Town Sedan is registered with the engine numbers... in California. I doubt it is the same as my frame number but I can't say for sure.
|
04-15-2024, 01:38 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: SoCal
Posts: 604
|
Re: Engine Number
Your car has probably been registered since before the early 70s in CA. Today if you register one built from parts or brought from out of state you'll probably get a new tag from the state.
|
04-15-2024, 02:28 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,130
|
Re: Engine Number
Quote:
Regardless, title matches the frame matches the engine. Previous owner (that I bought the car from) made a YouTube video of his adventure getting the car registered in California. He claimed in his description of the video, and in his ad, that "...has the original engine to frame". I think he didn't notice the restamped number.
__________________
JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan |
|
04-15-2024, 02:46 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: San Antonio Texas
Posts: 242
|
Re: Engine Number
How does the Burtz block folks do it? What number do those engines come with ?
I read that changing a VIN is a felony. I don’t know if that would be interpreted as extending to the engine number, though. The Wretched Roadster is currently getting a replacement block and I’m curious what the engine rebuilder will do about the serial number.
__________________
David in San Antonio 1930 ('31?) Deluxe "Wretched Roadster" Restored 1957 Alamo A’s Club |
04-15-2024, 03:14 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,010
|
Re: Engine Number
|
04-15-2024, 03:32 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Concord CA
Posts: 648
|
Re: Engine Number
Best to have rebuilder stamp the new block with the number on your title.
|
04-15-2024, 08:41 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Campbell,CA, USA
Posts: 325
|
Re: Engine Number
Quote:
|
|
04-15-2024, 09:31 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santee Calif.
Posts: 516
|
Re: Engine Number
Changing a vin number is something that you do not want to be involved with
Adding an "extra" set of numbers somewhere is not a problem In Calif, it's all the frame numbers when it comes to the legal end of it with registration. You might find a DMV guy who will just look at the engine number and be fine with it , but if that frame number is different from your paperwork things could get difficult for you Your state may be different |
04-15-2024, 10:20 PM | #16 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,130
|
Re: Engine Number
Quote:
I would suggest that you ask the rebuilder to grind off the old number (which is simply that - an embossed number on a metal part) and restamp another number. That the number happens to appear on your title isn’t changing anything. If you are concerned about it you can find some good stamps at restostamps.com. I think I’d avoid claiming that as an original, numbers-matching engine, though.
__________________
JayJay San Francisco Bay Area ------------------------ 1930 Murray Town Sedan 1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan |
|
04-16-2024, 03:45 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Concord CA
Posts: 648
|
Re: Engine Number
When I had my '31 Roadster P/U inspected my CHP at DVM's request to confirm the 31 yom plates were to be installed on my 31 RPU. The CHP guy looked at the engine number (that matched the title) and put one of their blue tags on the door jam, showing the engine / title number!
|
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|