| mr37 | -- 03-13-2017 @ 3:50 PM |
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New guy on the forum. Have been e-mailing with Bruce Nelson regarding build dates. He explained the "bugs" on the original glass and he also noted that there was a book that lists motor numbers by month and year. He suggested I go on this forum to see if anyone has this book and could look up this info. I was an ole Corvette guy and always liked tracing the history of my cars. Got tired of Corvettes and bought a '37 Ford business coupe. Of course its been upgraded somewhat!!!!!!Any help appreciated
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| 39 Ken | -- 03-14-2017 @ 6:30 AM |
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Without knowing your specific engine/frame number I can only give you the following: Job-one for the 1937 production was in the 3rd week of 1936 and the intro to the public was November 6, 1936. The numbers ran from 18-3,331,857 to 18-4,186,446. If you can provide your number (i.e.. 18-3,904,xxx) we can ball park the month that your car was produced. Don't use your last three numbers, just use xxx so as not to give any one the idea of using your number on a faux '37.
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| CharlieStephens | -- 03-14-2017 @ 9:42 AM |
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This is probably the book he was talking about, you should have a copy. It will answer questions you didn't even know you had. Absolutely a must. https://www.earlyfordv8.org/Shop.cfm?id=59&pid=2 "The Early Ford V8 As Henry Built It" also has the information but I would go with the club's book. If you post your serial number from the frame of the car someone will probably look up the information and post the answer (you should be able to see it looking under the hood on top of the left frame rail, probably near the steering). Use XXX for the last three digits of the serial if you are concerned about showing your serial number. Note that the motors were not numbered, the number appears on the transmission case but the transmission is frequently changed so use the number from the frame. Remember that the engines were all built at the Rouge plant and shipped to the various assembly location. The Model A Ford judging standards says to allow up to 3 months for installation of the motor into the car. I have never heard this number (may have missed it) for the V8 cars but up to 3 months sounds good. Charlie Stephens This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 3-14-17 @ 9:43 AM
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| mr37 | -- 03-14-2017 @ 1:26 PM |
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Thanks to all from the new guy! Anyway, on the drivers forward frame rail is my number. I'm no using the * that is shown. But it is 54-2I83xx I think I'll look into the book that is recommended from the club. Whom do I order that from?
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| nelsb01 | -- 03-14-2017 @ 1:50 PM |
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Ah.........your 1937 started life as a Standard 60 hp vehicle. That could explain the 'up-grades' that you mention. If it was an 85 hp V-8 engine in the vehicle the number would have started with 18- The Thrifty Sixty numbers started with 54- This message was edited by nelsb01 on 3-14-17 @ 8:26 PM
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| CharlieStephens | -- 03-14-2017 @ 2:53 PM |
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The book is ordered from the "online Store" at the site you are on: https://www.earlyfordv8.org/Shop.cfm?id=59&pid=2 Charlie Stephens This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 3-14-17 @ 3:59 PM
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| 37 Coupe | -- 03-15-2017 @ 10:27 AM |
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My '37 coupe is serial # 542584** and the original glass is dated 4-37. I have always believed it was final assembled in May of '37. I don't remember where I got that information from the '37 restoration book or wherever. Mine had the cast iron side or full cast iron 60 hp engine and according to the V8 Club '37 book the cast iron block/non tin sided were began to be assembled 3/11/37 but not 100% of production until 4/23/37.Of course this will not help if you have no 60 hp engine to look at. I like my Fords original but just like a lyric from an old fifties song,The All American boy I told my coupe "You can stay boy but that's gotta go."
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| TonyM | -- 03-15-2017 @ 12:40 PM |
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Regarding the numbers from the De Angelis book: Notice the error going from December 1936 to January 1937. The first number for December 1936 is 3445809 and the last number for December 1936 is 3216674. That is going backwards. The first number for Jan 1937 cannot be 3216675 because that is really a 1936 Ford number (August 1936). My 1937 Ford is numbered 3518143, making it a December 1936 engine/trans combination. If I am remembering right, the correct January 1937 numbers appear in the club's 1937 FORD Book. Ford did not produce a "Business Coupe" in 1937. There were three types of coupes in the V-8 line: Coupe; De Luxe Coupe; Club Coupe. No Business Coupe offered that year. http://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/fileattachments/Ford%20Engine%20Numbers.jpg Attached FileFord Engine Numbers.jpg (347 Kbytes) . . . 78-730B This message was edited by TonyM on 3-15-17 @ 1:03 PM
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| mr37 | -- 03-15-2017 @ 1:34 PM |
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Tony, If there were no business coupe in '37, the owner whom I bought it from led me a little bit astray. He called it a business coupe so I've been calling it a business coupe. So, since I had the 60HP engine, how can I tell which of the coupe names I should call it??
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| TonyM | -- 03-15-2017 @ 2:03 PM |
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According to the Early Ford V-8 Club of America's excellent reference work THE 1937 FORD BOOK there were three types of coupes for that year. Ford De Luxe Coupe came with a chrome plated grille, two windshield wipers, two tail lights, two horns, stainless steel windshield frame, De Luxe steering wheel, stainless running board trim, de luxe interior trim and handles, 999 mile trip odometer. Ford Coupe (sometimes known as a "Standard") The Regular Ford Coupe had painted grille and body color windshield frame, one tail light, one horn, one windshield wiper, NO running board trim, regular steering wheel, chrome interior trim. The vast majority 60hp cars were Standards as opposed to De Luxe (but not always). The Club Coupe is a Coupe with a small back seat and is a completely different body than a regular Ford Coupe. Club Coupes were available in De Luxe trim only. Not sure if there are any V-8 60 Club Coupes. My guess is no. Good luck with the car. . . . 78-730B This message was edited by TonyM on 3-15-17 @ 2:12 PM
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| TonyM | -- 03-15-2017 @ 2:16 PM |
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Additionally, some cars will have a body number tag on the left side of the outer firewall (or dash as Ford calls it). That tag will tell you the body type (730B in my case). . . . 78-730B This message was edited by TonyM on 3-15-17 @ 2:25 PM
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| mr37 | -- 03-15-2017 @ 3:31 PM |
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Tony, Thank You for this information. I'll have to look closely at some original photos of the car the previous owner gave me. I suspect I now need to call it a "coupe" and drop the "business". I do remember one photo showing only 1 tail light. I also need to copy a lot of this discussion and digest it all. Also I need to order that Ford book mentioned in these posts. Everyone has been such a great help and I appreciate it. I also need to look at the 1937 monthly totals. I glanced at these but don't quite understand this. Is this the units produced per month?
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| TonyM | -- 03-19-2017 @ 1:51 PM |
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Mr37, Okay, the numbers in the De Angelis listing (link) are the individual engine/transmission combinations produced by Ford Motor Company by month/year. For instance, the first engine/transmission combo produced in February of 1937 was 18-3610120. The last engine/trans combo produced in February of 1937 is 18-3699375. This number is stamped on the transmission case when mated with an engine. The engine / trans combo is then shipped to a Ford Assembly line; when that particular engine/trans combo is installed in a frame, then that number is stamped on the frame in two or three locations. I hope this information is helpful. Good luck with your 1937 Ford. . . . 78-730B
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| TonyM | -- 03-19-2017 @ 1:58 PM |
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Here is a photo of the Body Plate Number. This type of Body Plate was affixed to automobiles assemble by Ford Sub Contractors like Briggs Co. and the Murray Co. This plate is located on the driver's side of the outer firewall (called a dash by Ford). Mine was covered by a voltage regulator. When I removed the VR, I saw the tag. This tag will tell you the body type and its manufacture number. Bodies manufactured by FoMoCo don't have this body tag. . . . 78-730B
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| mr37 | -- 03-23-2017 @ 8:42 AM |
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Thank You TonyM for all of the information. I've looked over the info provided by this forum and order the clubs '37 book. I've not received it as of yet. Probably will bring up questions. So, in your DeAngelis listing reference for February 1937. The differences between the two numbers is 89,255. That is the number of cars produced in that month or just the number of transmission/engine matings ? If it was the number of cars, how many plants were running? Again, Thanks You for all of the help.
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| mr37 | -- 04-02-2017 @ 8:10 AM |
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Tony M & 37 coupe...I got my '37 book from the club. All I can say is WOW. It is terrific. As I said in my 1st post, my car has been modified but I have the original frame, body etc. I figured out what I was originally looking for, the build date. Using the 'bugs' in the glass which was 4 Ford 37 (April), then the '74 60 hp engine chart in April. Assumed a 5 day work week, divided total units by 22 work days, arriving at approx. April 22nd, 1937. Using the possible delay of 2-3 weeks from Rouge to production and arriving at approx. May 6th - 13th, 1937. That also falls in line with 37coupe's date since my serial number is approx. 40,000 before his. Thanks again for all the help from all.
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