size of vin stamps
 

What was the size of steel stamps used to stamp the vin on the 1940 ford? My vin was covered up by whoever welded my mustang II front end on. I am going to restamp the number but I want to use the approx. size that they used. I need to sell the car but missing vin numbers is causing problems with the DMV. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

Re: size of vin stamps
 

The aproximate size is font of about ¼" tall, but do that and you're liable to create more problems than you can deal with. Messing with the Vin or stamping numbers to simulate a Vin is very much frowned on by the authorities. Having a Mustang front end, you likely won't have the original three speed transmission, but if you did, the number would be on the bell housing. There are two other locations on the frame, both innaccessible while the body is attached. I'd say let the buyer beware, the new registration is really on him as it was on you when you bought the car.

Re: size of vin stamps
 

Ford38v8 is right but you also need to consider that you not only need the correct size you need the correct font.

Charlie Stephens

Re: size of vin stamps
 

The DMV will know that the characters are not regular letter styles as found with most stamp sets. They know the special shapes and will look for them.

Re: size of vin stamps
 

The correct engine/frame stamps are available from Mark Eckerich, collector/restorer.

Re: size of vin stamps
 

Without a VIN how did you determine that the car on the paperwork was actually the car in the driveway (answer not required)? Having said that with a more positive thought is there any chance that the VIN is actually there and you missed it? The stamping is sometimes very faint. Try finding someone familiar with forties to help you look. If you gave your general location maybe someone would volunteer to come over or you could contact that local chapter of the Early Ford V8 Club (earlyfordv8.org) to find someone. If all else fails I think the legal solution (check it with your local DMV) would be to raise the body and have an authorized person (probably a policeman, VIN verifier, etc but again check with DMV) inspect and record the VIN number that is located in two places under the body. The DMV (or someone they designate) can then rivet a identification number to the door jam.

Charlie Stephens

Re: size of vin stamps
 

I have an "engine" stamp set that I have had for approximately 50 years.. It is called 1/8", has numbers and letters.. Harbor Freight sells a 1/8" stamp set that is very close, being from China the numbers/letters are not quite as sharp as a set made in U.S.A.
When I worked in the auto repair industry. over fifty years ago, we regularly stamped new serial numbers into newly rebuilt engines.. Many old cars used engine numbers as a VIN, this being the case, the serial number on the new engine was supposed to be recorded with the DMV.. Generally this did not happen because an employee and/or the vehicle owner had to go to the DMV office to have the new number recorded..
Even at $1.50 an hour, time was money.. Ergo, that is why the engine numbers on a lot of the old cars don't match the paper work..

Re: size of vin stamps
 

I forgot to add that you will also need a "star" stamp. The "star" was used before and at the end of the number at Ford.

Charlie Stephens

Re: size of vin stamps
 

You never know..... I took my 39 to DMV for title transfer (from CA) which required a vin inspection. The numbers were very lightly stamped, and the first number couldn't even be seen. Inspector goes, "oh well, close enough!" Works for me. My brother-in - law has a 46 in bare metal. I told him to tape over the vin so he doesn't forget and grind in off. Save some pain.

Re: size of vin stamps
 

The Sherriff's deputy;s that do the inspecting here don't know the difference or even where to look for the VIN. Rod

Re: size of vin stamps
 

How can you be sure that you won't get one that is a member of MARC, MAFCA and the Early Ford V8 Club? It sort of reminds me of the advice to auditors, if you find a loose thread, pull it. If the VIN number looks funny and they start pulling, where will it go? Worst case they might impound the car and pull it apart only to find there was not a problem.

Charlie Stephens

Re: size of vin stamps
 

I am simply stating that this is the way it plays out locally. Every states state has different laws. Here, they go by the engine number for anything 1948 and older. Since there is not a number on the enhine for flathead era cars, it would revert to the number on the transmission according to the way the law is written. They basicly do not even acknowledge the numbers on the frame exist. So if you stamped the number from the transmission onto the frame, no law is broken based on the messed up way this states law reads. Also the computer check only looks to see if the car is stolen, it does not look to see if it is registered elsewhere. I did not say it would not cause a potential problem nationally. Rod

Re: size of vin stamps
 

As long as it matches the title and the other two places its stamped on the left rail I don’t see how this is an issue.
Im sure its very rare for a DMV drone to know what the hell their looking at anyway
Plus the guy is long gone after asking so who are we talking to?

Re: size of vin stamps
 

Had my 34 roadster registered inAz & they didn't even look at anything just the title from where it was registered.
Sold the T bird registered in Or & sold to a fellow in Az. I spent the day delivering it & going to DMV .The gal never even looked @the car just the Or title. She even went so far as to find a neat plate for the new owner.
The roadster had to be pushed into the garage as it wasn't running @ the time.:p

Re: size of vin stamps
 

Hey, we're talkin' here! :D

Re: size of vin stamps
 

A company called Restostamps has the correct stamps for Ford vehicles in the correct size and all the unusual numbers and star stamp. WWW.restostamps.com.

Re: size of vin stamps
 

I am not sure the restostamps has the correct information about the special I, 6 and 9 only used after 1938. Every 32 V8 frame I have ever seen has the capital I used for 1, 6 and 9 that look like musical notes. I notice they list B and not V8. I have zero experience with B (4 cyl) vehicles. DavidG can certainly clear this up.

Re: size of vin stamps
 

Basic early changes was the One, Six, and Nine, that was in 1931.


Certainly things carried over like head lights over yrs.