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06-08-2017, 10:53 PM | #21 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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06-08-2017, 10:58 PM | #22 |
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Location: Camarillo, CA and Pine Grove, CA
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
In all states altering any manufacturers identification number is a felony.
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06-09-2017, 12:21 AM | #23 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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Think about this, you buy a numbers matching car in a state that no longer requires a title. You spend years restoring the vehicle but unbeknownst to you the guy you bought the car from found the old title and sold it on ebay. The guy that bought the title used it to register a car he built. You finish the car jump through all the hoops to title it in your state only to find the number is already in use. Do you think the officials might look at you as trying to defraud them by trying to use a vin that is already in use? How about this one. Someone gets into a car accident. The car is totaled. They buy the same make, model, and year car and swap out the vin tag. Legal or not? Who are they hurting by making the new car have the same vin as the damaged car.
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06-09-2017, 05:53 AM | #24 |
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Location: Southbridge, Ma.
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
I would have a plate made to match the frame number and attach it to the pad on the motor as long as that is the true VIN on the title and frame. I see no harm in doing this as the number isn't being altered.
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06-09-2017, 07:37 AM | #25 |
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Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Wallingford, CT
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
How common is it to not have an engine number? Ours doesn't have one.
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06-09-2017, 07:56 AM | #26 |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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06-09-2017, 08:02 AM | #27 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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My own experience may be a guide. I originally had a RED painted replacement engine in my Model A. Sears Roebuck offered replacement engines are seen painted red and mine may or may not be original Ford production turned over to Sears as the number pad area is very obviously NOT been altered - the boss appears full thickness. Another source of escaped engines may be Gordon-Smith Company (Bowling Green KY) who starting in the 1930s used surplus Ford engines to make gas engine air compressors using an ingenious aftermarket head. The one original GS Compressor I've seen had the same non-milled number pad. (GS sold the heads separately as a "kit" to make the nose of a Model A car into an air compressor - My GS compressor is made from a numbered Model B engine.) And there was the Gleaner/Combine market where a lot of Ford 4 cylinder engines were used. IIRC most of these may be Ford "diamond" blocks? We don't have many gleaners/combines here in the northeast. Reman blocks may or may not have had a previous Ford number removed, or *altered* or left as is. Until car theft became a problem, or rather VID tracking became seen as a passable theft deterrent solution, a car VID wasn't nearly so important as having the keys or the registration plate paperwork in your possession. Some view having a "blank" engine as a po$itive since for $160 one can buy the period correct number stamps and "make" a OEM "match" with the frame. Not that anyone could really tell otherwise with the body installed. Joe K
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06-09-2017, 08:07 AM | #28 |
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Location: Clovis, CA
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
I have a Diamond B engine with no stamped numbers. The casting tag indicates 1936. Nothing in the paperwork matched, not even the license plate that was on the car. I discovered the BB numbers on the bell housing and a friendly Peace Officer accepted them. Now everything matches. Hallelujah! I have heard/read somewhere that BB blocks that were intended as replacements were not stamped. I don't know if that is accurate or not. I have stamped a number plate and attached it to the driver's side firewall to make it easy to see. The bell housing number can be seen from there, but it does take some close looking and I wanted to make it easy for the next inspector. It took a total of 8 months to jump through all the California hoops. It feels good to have it all done. It took another 8 months to get the YOM plates authorized. Gotta luv CA! Russ
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06-09-2017, 09:07 AM | #29 |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
Thanks for all the input guys. Very helpful.
As you probably guessed by now I'm in Visalia, CA. |
06-09-2017, 11:20 AM | #30 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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Charlie Stephens |
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06-09-2017, 11:28 AM | #31 |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
You guys are lucky that I don't work for the DMV. If someone came in with a Model A that had a VIN tag in the "wrong" place, like on the firewall, I would call the tow truck and have it impounded. Next I would have a state employee pull the body and charge them for the labor. I wonder if there are others out there like me? As bad as this sounds think of the fact that it might result in a stolen car being returned to its rightful owner.
Charlie Stephens |
06-09-2017, 11:30 AM | #32 |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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06-09-2017, 11:30 AM | #33 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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06-09-2017, 04:00 PM | #34 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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Come to think of it - that's where I am now with my Model A CC pickup. It is a March 1929 truck with a consistent frame number with (now) a 1930 engine. But the title shows this to be VID March 1929. The original red sears engine - sans number, it's a well worn virgin - is sitting waiting for re-build. And who knows where the original engine is? It might be out there in someone's 1930 car? With its own identical VID taken from the engine? As to other inconsistencies connected with a title search - you'll probably end up with a title showing all these other extraneous and possibly erroneous facts. But its only a title - what counts for sales/insurance/officialdom IS the number. Most people interested in Model A don't let the details - or their mish-mash - hold them back. Joe K
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Shudda kept the horse. Last edited by Joe K; 06-09-2017 at 04:05 PM. |
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06-09-2017, 10:42 PM | #35 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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06-10-2017, 12:15 AM | #36 |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
The number on the engine is not just a number on an engine. It is the location of the VIN. No way would you get away with removing the VIN tag on a modern car and stamp that number in another location. Same goes with the A.
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What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
06-10-2017, 12:17 AM | #37 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2321 whoever buys, receives, possesses, or obtains control of, with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of, a motor vehicle or motor vehicle part, knowing that an identification number for such motor vehicle or part has been removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, could be fined or imprisoned for up to ten years. http://www.vintageautomotive.net/?tag=engine-restamping Do it at your own peril!
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What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II |
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06-10-2017, 09:24 AM | #38 |
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Location: Kansas City Area Missouri
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
The frame was obviously the Vehicle Identification Number and when the chassis made it down the line to get an engine then the engine was then stamped to match the chassis number as most all Model A folks are aware. Move forward 10-15 years and many engine rebuilders just exchanged engines not giving any thought to the new engine number. I agree it is best to change the new engine number to match the old engine number and then you don't have to lift the body to show the frame VIN. In Missouri if the car is an in state car then you don't need to have the VIN verified BUT if it come from out of state then the VIN has to be verified by an inspection station and is called an ID/OD inspection. I just purchased a 28(May 1928 firewall stamped) but the engine and VIN are of the engine number which is a 29 serial number and many of the parts used in the restoration were 29 parts.
If I was changing engines today I would NOT grind off the old engine number BUT pound the numbers back into the block and restamp it with the correct old number on the old block taking pics to show the before and after and saving the old block as stated from other members in case there should ever be a problem. Driving the numbers back flush with the engine number pad will alleviate any future problems with possible fraud issues. It is easy enough to pound the numbers back into the pad and keep the * and A intact. As an afterthought I have often thought of stamping the VIN onto the bottom of the frame on the underneath of the frame rail just in case someone needed to see a frame number. Why Ford ever put the frame number where it would be permanently covered up wasn't a very good idea and causes a lot of hassle if you have to lift a body to show the frame number. Back in the day nobody was that concerned about matching numbers as it was only a $50 car but now with the value rising and theft of our cars happening more often I can see why officials have such stricter motor vehicle laws. |
06-10-2017, 11:39 AM | #39 | |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
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Charlie Stephens |
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06-10-2017, 03:22 PM | #40 |
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Re: Engine Serial Numbers as VIN
Read CA vehicle code 10751 and all the 10751 letter codes within it. Altering any manufacturers identification in CA is a felony. You can lose your car.
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