The Ford Barn

wickcopland · 10-12-2025, 12:48 PM

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

Bob C · 10-12-2025, 01:24 PM

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.

V8ER · 10-12-2025, 02:04 PM

Look again more closely. You are missing a digit.

Steve in Denver · 10-12-2025, 02:33 PM

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

rockfla · 10-12-2025, 03:11 PM

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

ford38v8 · 10-12-2025, 08:39 PM

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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.

wickcopland · 10-13-2025, 07:41 AM

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

rockfla · 10-13-2025, 07:54 AM

18-3388845

January of 1937 engine/transmission assembly number

wickcopland · 10-13-2025, 12:25 PM

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

VeryTangled · 10-13-2025, 01:27 PM

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

19Fordy · 10-13-2025, 02:15 PM

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

wickcopland · 10-23-2025, 07:57 AM

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

Kens 36 · 10-23-2025, 08:02 AM

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

The Art Doctor · 10-23-2025, 08:07 AM

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.

wickcopland · 10-24-2025, 07:28 AM

Thanks,
Where on the frame did they stamp it?

corvette8n · 10-24-2025, 07:50 AM

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

petehoovie · 10-24-2025, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corvette8n

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

rotorwrench · 10-24-2025, 06:56 PM

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.

10-12-2025, 12:48 PM	#1
wickcopland Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 121	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

10-12-2025, 01:24 PM	#2
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,598	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. Last edited by Bob C; 10-12-2025 at 09:30 PM.

10-12-2025, 02:04 PM	#3
V8ER Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 457	Re: Vin #? Look again more closely. You are missing a digit.

10-12-2025, 02:33 PM	#4
Steve in Denver Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 607	Re: Vin #? Since you have the transmission out, please post a close up picture of the number __________________ Steve in Denver

10-12-2025, 03:11 PM	#5
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 5,164	Re: Vin #? Based on the number you have posted it’s a June of 1933 transmission/engine assembly!

10-12-2025, 08:39 PM	#6
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,634	Re: Vin #? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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. __________________ Alan

10-13-2025, 07:41 AM	#7
wickcopland Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 121	Re: Vin #? Looks like I left off an 8. Should be 18-3388845

10-13-2025, 07:54 AM	#8
rockfla Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 5,164	Re: Vin #? 18-3388845 January of 1937 engine/transmission assembly number

10-13-2025, 12:25 PM	#9
wickcopland Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 121	Re: Vin #? It has an 8BA. Motor. So I wonder what clutch and pressure plate I should use.

10-13-2025, 01:27 PM	#10
VeryTangled Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC Posts: 3,400	Re: Vin #? 1937 engines are nice to have. One in my '36 and one in my '35. __________________ -Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum?

10-13-2025, 02:15 PM	#11
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 11,916	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 Last edited by 19Fordy; 10-13-2025 at 02:22 PM.

10-23-2025, 07:57 AM	#12
wickcopland Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 121	Re: Vin #? What can be decerned from this vin # 18-5150182? This is what I got when I bought my '39 Deluxe.

10-23-2025, 08:02 AM	#13
Kens 36 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 571	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 __________________ https://www.nirgv8.org

10-23-2025, 08:07 AM	#14
The Art Doctor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 226	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.

10-24-2025, 07:28 AM	#15
wickcopland Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2024 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 121	Re: Vin #? Thanks, Where on the frame did they stamp it?

10-24-2025, 06:56 PM	#18
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,006	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.