where to find the VIN number on my 34 5 window Ford coupe

[Vics Stuff]

Hey guys ! i have looked on top of the frame between the cross member and firewall on the drivers side with a microscope and can not find any markings / stamps. My body is still on the frame so looking for the number under the drivers side floor or the rear kick up on the frame is impossible without pulling the body off the frame .
Any help is appreciated. I am about 3 years out to start this project and do not want a car setting here taken apart.
Vic

[Lawrie]

Down by the steering box on the top of the chassis
Lawrie

[al's28/33]

Directly on top of the hood shelf in front of the firewall, the fender has a slight cut-out exposing the top frame, there might be several layers of paint

[petehoovie]

From 1932 through 1948 vehicles, Ford Motor Company stamped the serial number into the top of the driver's side frame rail in three locations. ... Of the frame-stamped serial numbers, only the forward-most stamping was visible when looking down into the engine compartment (located between the front cross member and the dash (firewall). The two other frame locations are visible only when the body is removed from the frame. The serial numbers were metal stamped with numbers/letters approximately 1/4" in height....The number (including the prefixes shown) was always preceded by (and followed by) a stamped "star" similar to an asterisk...


http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...ialnumbers.htm

[tubman]

My old '36 3-window that I bought out of Longville, Texas in the early nineties had no serial number on the frame in that location. I had purchased the car with an "appropriate" number on the title, and everything went through the Minnesota DMV fine. A few weeks after purchasing the car, I was going over it in detail, checking everything out, and I could not find a stamped serial number. I talked to a guy I knew back then named Bruce Johnson from the western suburbs of Minneapolis, who had quite a collection of pre-war Fords and was constantly buying and selling them, mainly through the V8 Times. He was the de facto expert on these cars back then, and told me to bring the car over, and he was sure he could find it. After a couple of hours of scraping, sanding, cleaning, and even an inspection with a high power glass, he had to admit that he could not find it. If you would have seen my front frame rail after he was done, you would have to agree that he did a thorough job.

So it seems that there were some cars that got out of the factory without that stamped number, or (more likely) some folks went to great lengths to remove them. After owning the car for about 10 years and getting familiar with it (and old Fords in general) it was apparent to me that it was what we called a "put-together" car. The car looked good and ran good, but that (and a number of other factors) is why I sold it when I got the proverbial "offer I couldn't refuse".

To this day, it is one of a few cars that I had that I don't regret selling.

[Vics Stuff]

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As mentioned , the top of the frame between the front X member and Firewall foot area has been thoroughly cleaned and no numbers. I was told that the serial number could have been stamped on the passenger side of the bell housing on the block. I could not find that one either . I really hate to start taking the car apart just to find the other two locations .
I had thought I could find something on top of the frame farther back but the body sets directly on the frame as most of you know.
Vic

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by Vics Stuff

As mentioned , the top of the frame between the front X member and Firewall foot area has been thoroughly cleaned and no numbers. I was told that the serial number could have been stamped on the passenger side of the bell housing on the block. I could not find that one either . I really hate to start taking the car apart just to find the other two locations .
I had thought I could find something on top of the frame farther back but the body sets directly on the frame as most of you know.
Vic

Try the Driver's side of bell housing - was there on a '33.

-

[Vics Stuff]

Randy in Ca. I had a typo miss spelled word. I meant to say I had looked at the drivers side bell housing and can not find anything. Where at on the bell housing would a guy find a number stamped ?
Thank you for responding
Vic

[deuce lover]

Above the inspection plate on the trans is where the numbers were stamped which matched the chassis number.Over the last 90 yrs the trans could have been replaced .

[Vics Stuff]

Is that on the top center of the transmission ?
Thank you
Vic

[Vics Stuff]

i will try to look behind the engine with a mirror.
Thank you
Vic

[IMoveMetal]

I went through this recently on my '34 sedan and found it as mentioned above on the frame rail in the first location. I was also fortunate to learn later about a matching on the transmission right above the inspection plate. Not sure how many still match this many years later. Sharing some pics.

[Flathead Fever]

I had an original '32 Ford frame without any numbers on it. It was definitely an original riveted together 32 frame. I always thought that maybe it had been ordered from Ford as a replacement frame for a vehicle accident.

[Vics Stuff]

Thank you IMoveMetal ! This will be helpful in locating my serial number.
Vic

[34fordy]

[QUOTE=IMoveMetal;2446760]


Not sure how many still match this many years later. Sharing some pics.

Many cars and pickups got more than 1 rebuilt engine but the transmission with the VIN stayed with the car most likely. If the car was not "hot rodded" it probably didn't get a 1939 transmission. IMHO

[rotorwrench]

The first thing I want to know is whether this is a B model 4-cylinder car or a Model 18 V8. The B cars had the number on the top left side of the clutch housing behind the starter. The B type transmission is unique in that it has the left side starter location for the 4-cylinder. Otherwise it's got the guts of the Model 18 V8 transmission. Those transmissions have a really big clutch access opening in the bell portion of that transmission case. I don't know if it had room for the serial number above that big opening like the V8 case did or not.

It may have been a model B car with a V8 put in it later so It would be good for us to know. The frame may have to be searched for one of the other possible VIN locations. Another possibility could be a replacement frame with no stamping. Folks that replaced the frame may or may not have stamped it at all. Ford dealers had stamps but the average Joe didn't.

[Vics Stuff]

rotowrench , this car has the V8 but would not guarantee that is a correct engine. This car was a hotrod from back in the 50's
Vic

[Mart]

Sometimes shining a light at a very low angle helps to reveal a stamped number.

[Vics Stuff]

Yes Mart ! I have tried that also. I have found that with my other early Fords , the VIN number is barely visible . I will keep on pecking away , before I have to remove the body.
Thanks for every ones input and help.
Vic