The Ford Barn

theHIGHLANDER · 03-22-2012, 03:40 PM

In 1930 there were 79,456 more engines than cars built. 69,278 more engines in 29, 60,912 in 28. According to "The Model A Ford As Henry Built It" by DeAngelis, Sorenson and Henry, there were always a number of engines in "float" from the Rouge plant and through 45 different assembly plants in North America and Europe. Engines taken from Rouge stockpiles and in "float" for weeks would have lower serial numbers than engines rec'd at the same plant weeks earlier. Up until August 1929, the build date was stamped on the lower left corner of the gas tank panel under the hood.

I have seen original frames that had the number stamped ahead of the number 1 body bolt on the left top rail. Maybe a total of 3, but I've seen that. Brent makes very good and correct points regarding the well-oiled machine that was Ford production, but there were humans doing the work. While we pine away about "the good ol days", people were just as frail, just as hearty, just as happy and angry as we are today. The subject matter may have been different, but they're still people and as prone to missing a target as anyone.

Since the number was stamped during engine to frame install, that easily explains a May engine in a possible July car. This would be easier to sort out with known intro dates of specific things. We know that it was some time in May 31 that the wide box for the CCPU was introduced into production. If an example had a March engine in it, and the same ID number on the frame, I'd expect the number to be near the end of March production known numbers. They end at 4520831, so that wide box truck might have something like 4519XXX. Does that make sense? The other ticket to date/ID would be in components like steering boxes or cutout covers, and many other things that were running upgrades. Still, old stock was used up in every case. Inventory didn't get scrapped in favor of the newer part unless, like today, it was a safety issue. As far as where the scrap went, the ore shipments, outsources, Ford had all of his own systems in place and could be considered one of the 1st and most effective recyclers in the industry. There was even a program to directly accept worn out Fords as raw material. All of that is archived information that's easily found.

Might not be the answer we're seeking here, but it's some level of insight.

03-22-2012, 03:40 PM	#11
theHIGHLANDER Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 495	Re: Serial number In 1930 there were 79,456 more engines than cars built. 69,278 more engines in 29, 60,912 in 28. According to "The Model A Ford As Henry Built It" by DeAngelis, Sorenson and Henry, there were always a number of engines in "float" from the Rouge plant and through 45 different assembly plants in North America and Europe. Engines taken from Rouge stockpiles and in "float" for weeks would have lower serial numbers than engines rec'd at the same plant weeks earlier. Up until August 1929, the build date was stamped on the lower left corner of the gas tank panel under the hood. I have seen original frames that had the number stamped ahead of the number 1 body bolt on the left top rail. Maybe a total of 3, but I've seen that. Brent makes very good and correct points regarding the well-oiled machine that was Ford production, but there were humans doing the work. While we pine away about "the good ol days", people were just as frail, just as hearty, just as happy and angry as we are today. The subject matter may have been different, but they're still people and as prone to missing a target as anyone. Since the number was stamped during engine to frame install, that easily explains a May engine in a possible July car. This would be easier to sort out with known intro dates of specific things. We know that it was some time in May 31 that the wide box for the CCPU was introduced into production. If an example had a March engine in it, and the same ID number on the frame, I'd expect the number to be near the end of March production known numbers. They end at 4520831, so that wide box truck might have something like 4519XXX. Does that make sense? The other ticket to date/ID would be in components like steering boxes or cutout covers, and many other things that were running upgrades. Still, old stock was used up in every case. Inventory didn't get scrapped in favor of the newer part unless, like today, it was a safety issue. As far as where the scrap went, the ore shipments, outsources, Ford had all of his own systems in place and could be considered one of the 1st and most effective recyclers in the industry. There was even a program to directly accept worn out Fords as raw material. All of that is archived information that's easily found. Might not be the answer we're seeking here, but it's some level of insight.