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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Reading the VIN

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Reading the VIN -- page: 1 2     Maxthedog1 03-14-2013 @ 4:34 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 24 Joined: Nov 2012 I recently purchased a 39 Coupe. In our state, the Sheriff's Dept must inspect the vehicle before licensing, in order to compare the VIN on the title to the VIN on the car. I have located the VIN on the top of the left side frame inside the engine compartment. But some of it is very faint, pretty much unreadable. I doubt that the lady at the Sheriff's office will be ok with this. So my question: does anyone have any suggestions on how to make the VIN more easily read? Any ideas are apppreciated. kubes40 03-14-2013 @ 5:20 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3395 Joined: Oct 2009 Remove whatever paint is atop the numbers. I would suggest not being too aggressive as at times, those numbers were not stamped too deeply. Perhaps steel wool - not sand paper. Once you are to clean metal rub a little oil atop that area. That will define the recesses a bit better. 42wagon 03-14-2013 @ 5:40 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 584 Joined: Oct 2009 Max Supereal suggested to someone else using a scotchbrite pad. I would also suggest something nonabrasive such as paint remover or lacquer thinner to remove any paint or crud without disturbing the metal. Another thought is to check the top of the transmission housing just above the little inspection door.If the transmission was never changed the original serial number will appear here as well. Ford originally stamped the number on the transmission when the engine was assembled at the Rouge engine plant. It was then transferred to the frame at an assembly plant. 40 Coupe 03-15-2013 @ 5:27 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1674 Joined: Oct 2009 Before removing the paint clean the area and place a piece of white paper over the number location. with the side of a pencil rub the pencil over the white paper until there is pencil markings over all the number locations and then remove the paper and try to read the number on the paper. If this fails you may have to remove the paint and rust. The number starts with a five pointed star then the prefix either 54 for a 60HP or 18 for 85HP then a dash followed by six or seven numbers and finally another star. If your Lucky and the cars transmission has never been changed (rare happening) the same number will be stamped on the transmission cast housing just above the inspection cover for the clutch in a flat surface. The transmission number is much easier to read. CharlieStephens 03-15-2013 @ 8:12 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 888 Joined: Oct 2009 Ask the Sheriff's Dept. They may want to use acid to raise it. If you do anything make sure it doesn't look like you are trying to change it. The number also should appear two other places on the top of the left frame rail under the body, let's hope they don't ask you to lift it. Charlie Stephens drkbp 03-15-2013 @ 12:40 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 180 Joined: Aug 2010 Max, What is on the trans? As suggested, that's usually much easier to read. Ken in Texas wmsteed 03-17-2013 @ 8:50 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 You did not state in your original question the status of your paper work on the vehicle in question.. Did you get a title/registration with the car.. At the very least you should have obtained a Bill of Sale with the VIN/Serial number clearly written on the Bill of Sale. As it has been pointed out, the serial number will start with a star 18000000 star... I deal with a lot of "undocumented" old cars which I gather up in several areas of the western U.S., The majority of the time these vehicles do not have current, or past paperwork.. I do my home work before attempting to get the ownership straightened out.. I rely on the info listed in the Standard Catalog of American cars, printing a copy of the page (s) pertaining to the vehicle in question,to backup reputed numbers I have found on the frame/body.. The info listed in the Standard Catalog usually does the trick if the DMV has a question.. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe DEAN333 03-17-2013 @ 10:20 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 256 Joined: May 2012 Maybe a dumb question, but what is the easiest way to gain access to read the number on the trans? I have a '36 fordoor. TIM CARLIG supereal 03-17-2013 @ 10:42 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 You just remove the floorboard, or raise it enough to get a clear view of the area around the inspection plate. Maxthedog1 03-18-2013 @ 7:16 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 24 Joined: Nov 2012 Fortunately, I do have enough smarts to have required both the title and a bill of sale. Now I just need to get the number on the frame to be readable. Thanks for all the input.

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