A newbie needs help!

[rashmore]

I just inherited a 1930 Model A coup from my mother in law. I have 0 experience with antique cars. The car was left in a barn for about 15 years and the rats and mice had a grand buffet on most of the wiring. I have managed to fix all that but i would like to clean the carb (or rebuild) however i can't determine what carb it is. (zenith or otherwise.) Hopefully you guys can identify it for me.

The second problem is finding the vin # on the car. I have the title with the vin listed, but i need to locate it on the car.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Fairlane514]

VIN will be on the engine block near the water pump inlet. On drivers side of block.

The other VIN is on the frame and I believe you have to raise the body up to see it. On my title (Texas), it uses the block number, which may have changed over the years if the engine has been replaced.

Your carb is not a typical Zenith, may be a Marvel Schebler

[Benson]

Looks like it MIGHT be a Zenith Bendix:

Commonly called a Forklift carbureator

https://www.mmtractorparts.com/new-z...a-jubilee.html

But Air Maze covers up some identifying parts

[henry's 31]

Hi Rashmore:


First congratulations on joining the best hobby in the world.


The Vin number should be the Vin Number. You can find it on the left side of the engine, left side of the block (drivers side).


You appear to have a modern zenith carburetor. I use to have one in my fathers car, which I replaced with an era Zenith.


You have come to the correct site. You should be able to get any question you have answered at this site. Just ask any questions you have.

[Gary WA]

Originally Posted by Fairlane514

VIN will be on the engine block near the water pump inlet. On drivers side of block.

The other VIN is on the frame and I believe you have to raise the body up to see it. On my title (Texas), it uses the block number, which may have changed over the years if the engine has been replaced.

Your carb is not a typical Zenith, may be a Marvel Schebler

number location

[Chuck Dempsey]

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Welcome to the 'Barn! Good Luck with your new ride....

[Gene F]

Are you preparing the car for sale? Some people just want to get the car running so they can sell it.

[Charlie Stephens]

When the engine passed final inspection at the Rouge plant, where all of the engines were manufactured, it was assigned a serial number. When the chassis came down the assembly line this same number was stamped into the frame in a location shown in Post #5. Note that the location on the frame cannot be seen without lifting the body. As far back as 50 years ago California stopped using the number on the engine for identification. It was common to replace engines but nobody notified DMV like they should have. If you came into the DMV wanting to change the registration with a vehicle where the engine number matched the paperwork they would assume it was yours and attach a VIN tag of their own to the door jam (see attached photo) for future use. If the numbers didn't match the DMV would ask you to lift the body so they could read the number on the frame. They would then search using this number to see if the vehicle had been reported stolen. You should add your general location to your profile to see if this corresponds to what they do in your state.

Charlie Stephens

[jg61hawk]

Rashmore...you don't show your location... but I suspect everyone on this forum would travel at least 75 miles to lend a hand. Cars of this age don't have a VIN but a simple serial number....as others said it's just the engine number stamped on the side of the block...join MARC or Model A Ford Club ...or both as most do.... post here...be patient...she will run and you will grin ear to ear!!!!

[jg61hawk]

Charles: Great explanation of the situation involving Model A SERIAL number vs VIN. I bought my car in 2014..I never would have bought it if the NJ title didn't match exactly to that engine number.... NJ DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) wanted a photo or a pencil tracing of the number the title showed. I had a real NJ title but it was so old (same family for over 50 years and not registered)...the DMV still was skeptical! I was able to simply trace the engine stamping...but if I had to lift the body...I would have been done with Model A's!

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

As far back as 50 years ago California stopped using the number on the engine for identification. It was common to replace engines but nobody notified DMV like they should have. If you came into the DMV wanting to change the registration with a vehicle where the engine number matched the paperwork they would assume it was yours and attach a VIN tag of their own to the door jam (see attached photo) for future use.
Charlie Stephens

Charlie, not always it appears. The number on my engine in my Town Sedan is the number on my pink. My car does not have a "VIN" number like in your picture.

[rashmore]

Thank you all for the wonderful help. I live in Sundance Wyoming, originally from Dallas Texas. I hope i dont have to lift the body to show the VIN.

I assume the best course of action would be to change to a standard Zenith?

You guys rock! Thanks again for all the help!

[EDIT]

I forgot to mention, I will be keeping the car to hand down to my children. I just want to have it run as well as I can and make it look as nice as I can.

[J Franklin]

That carb is good up to 60+ MPH. I have one on my car.

[nkaminar]

Rashmore, Congrats on the new to you car. Owning a Model A or other antique car can be frustrating at times but can be a lot of fun too. The first thing to do is to fix it to get it running well. The next thing to do is to make sure it is safe, which means making sure the brakes and steering work well and that the lights and horn work. If you plan on driving it a lot consider adding turn indicators (if it does not already have them). This will a learning experience for you although it sounds like you already have a lot of mechanical and electrical ability.

When you get a chance, post some more photos of your car. All the Barn animals would like to see them.

[Bob Bidonde]

It is probable that the engine is not the car's original, so the engine number is a poor choice for a VIN. If you have an existing registration for the car, use the VIN on it. In my Model A's, I have homemade VIN tags in several locations not easy to see. In my state (New York), it is illegal to re-stamp an engine number. Check with your DMV.

[old31]

Rash, congrats on your model A and i joining the best A forum going.

If possible, try to hook up with some car guys in Wyoming and talk with them about registrations, and serial numbers for your state. With some states the very last thing you want to do is get DMV involved and having to lift the body to please them.

For now, I would just use the number on the block as your serial/vin if you can.

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

[Mike1291]

It's a pleasure to hear that you want to keep your car in good shape for your kids, rashmore. Mine's a 4th generation car but it wasn't kept up like it should have, which was disappointing to me the more I got into mine.

I've always been curious about what to do for your VIN if you had another engine put in your car. Fortunately mine still has the same engine as the VIN but what if you got something like a Burtz engine?

[Planojc]

Benson and Henry's 31 have it right. It's a zenith 13922 and kits are available online. Several Dallas club members are running these and love them.

[Benson]

Something I learned in the last 60 years dealing with these cars ...

When you visit the DMV, the less that you say, the better off you will be!

Do not volunteer anything.

If you get a newbie inspector and you mention that you think that the body has to be raised to look at the serial number , then that is likely exactly what the inspector will make you do.

(inspector not wanting to look like Ronnie Rookie !).

[chap52]

At the Motor Vehicle Department assume the Sgt. Schultz approach... "I know nothing..." Just give them the number you come up with and smile a lot...
Welcome and enjoy the adventure... Chap