I just bought an 1961 econoline I have been trying to decode the vin too. All I found so for is it was assembled on July of 1961 in Lorain Ohio.

E10SH197232

Thanks for any help.
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Are you sure that number is correct? I ran it in a decoder and it came up as invalid.

 

having same problem decoding my vin# also on my want to say 1966 econoline it also has a 11 digit #

 

Hey Lazy K,
this is what is on the plate on the drivers side frame at door.

Serial Number
E10SH197232

W.B. Color
090

Model
E104

Trans
A

Axle
2

Max G.V.W lbs
04350

Cert. Net. H.P.
079

RPM
4000

D.S.O.
1971

Also found on engine block
firing order 153624 FoMoCo CBDE-8480-L

 

You could well be right. Seems that it is hard to get a decoder for pre early eighties stuff.
However NumberDummy is the man. Hopefully he will see this and help out.
Must have posted at the same time. I think NumberDummy is the guy to help you on this. He has info on just about anything Ford.
Good luck.

 

Cool Lazy K. thanks for checking it out. I will send out out good vibes and in hopes that NumberDummy will feel them.

 

There is a vin decoder on this site but for some reason I can`t get it. If you move your cursor over articles/specs right at the top of the page a box should drop down, then click on vin decoder. Might be worth a try.
You could also try to google something like "1961 ford vin decoder" or "classic ford vin decoder" and see what you get.

 

I have it here. I have a 1961 shop manual.
Here is what it says.
E10 is a Econoline pickup. You say van?
S 144 CID engine size
H Lorain assembly plant
197232 is built in July.

Something tells me the door has been changed and the tag was not. If you have a van, this code is wrong.
Best check on the back corner braces of the van body. These braces are in front of the tailights on the inside. The serial number will be stamped in the brace. If you get the number off the brace it will give you the actual proper serial number. If you cannot find that on either braces. The next place to look is under the lip of the engine doghouse. Usually on the rightside. This means you have to unbolt it and clean the sealer away to find the number. A bit of work there.
I would check the braces first.

 

Hey 66gpw your are right I found the brace on the inside rear of the van behind the tail light and on the side of the gas cap. It does however match the metal tag on the frame of the van. This decoding business is tough stuff.
Thanks for your help.

 

Added info on my 61. It was a Western Bell Telephone sevice van.

 

What is throwing me off if the E10 of the code. This stands for that it is a Econoline Truck in my 65 manual. My 61 manual does not show what the E10 desination is. So it does confuse me a bit.
But everything else matches. I wish I had the shop manuals for 62-64 eventually I will get those years also.

 

thanks 66gpw for your efforts. we will figuer it out.

 

66gpw,

I just bought a 1961 shop manual off ebay for 20.00. There are plenty of 1962-64 shop manual supplements. The supplement books all refer back to the 1961 shop manual on all things that are the same on vans. The supplements are the for the changes on the newer models.