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Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 1st, 2020, 2:45 pm
by David R.
When I pull cowl off my AA chassis, if there is a legible serial number, will it tell me anything? Such as assembly date and location or anything else?

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 1st, 2020, 5:27 pm
by Chris Haynes
It will just be the number. Originally the engine and frame number matched. https://mafca.com/data_eng_production.html

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 1st, 2020, 5:40 pm
by David R.
Ok, I see. Engine sn has no AA prefix so I assume it’s a replacement. It dates September ‘30. So far Budd wheels I’ve examined with the truck are all September ‘30 also. Who knows.

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 1st, 2020, 7:25 pm
by tiredtruckrestorer
David, sometimes the 4-speed transmission can help confirm the approximate date of the vehicle, as long as it hasn't been changed along the way. The "WG" (Warner Gear) transmissions usually have casting dates on them. The box usually has one on the drivers side, and the top cover usually has one cast into it where the hand brake assembly bolts to it. (have to view from the top down). These dates are just when the parts were cast. There is also a date stamped on the left side rear corner of the top machined surface of the box where the top cover meets it. Sometimes it is visable without removing the top cover, but sometimes the top cover has to be removed to clean the gasket area, dirt, etc to read it. This was the assembly date of the transmission that was stamped there. The other brand four-speed "DG&M" (Detroit Gear & Machine) sometimes has casting numbers and letters, but I don't think anybody has deciphered their coding yet.

Keep in mind these dates are just assembly dates of these components. There was a lag time till they were shipped to Ford, attached to an engine, and shipped to a Ford vehicle assembly plant. After the engine was dropped in the chassis, the engine number was stamped on the frame. Engines were not in sequential order when they were put in a chassis. They did have to watch that the engines with the "AA" stamping went into trucks though.

Keith

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 2nd, 2020, 4:45 am
by David R.
Thanks Keith, good information. I will look at the gearbox a little closer. I plan to pull it and go through it before the engine goes back in. So far it is the only thing that still has the original Ford green (under the grime). The clutch housing and all the motor accessories, oil pan etc.,. were painted red, the engine block silver.

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 2nd, 2020, 10:47 pm
by Chris Haynes
For a short period of time the AA was not used. Simply the A. The number on your frame will tell you what it was.

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 3rd, 2020, 10:15 pm
by cokefirst
I pulled the body off my frame and used a fine sandpaper to remove the paint. Over the years, the rust and corrosion did it's job and there was a VERY faint VIN number on the frame rail right where it was supposed to be. I would assume that some trucks frames are so rusted that you can only get the number using acid. The good news is you can get the VIN number that way, the bad news is it will disappear after that. Clean the rail to bare metal and use fingerprint powder to try and enhance the stamping.

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 4th, 2020, 5:21 am
by dlevy
Hi David,

Here is a picture showing exactly where to look.

There is a star both preceding and after the VIN.

My number is actually very faintly stamped into the frame and was initially difficult to find when there was paint over it.

Dave

Re: Chassis serial numbers?

Posted: February 4th, 2020, 11:39 am
by Chris Haynes
Brush on some muriatiac acid (Home Depot has it in the swimming pool supplies) and let it sit for a few minutes. You will then be able see what the numbers were. Take a picture.