VIN stamped incorrectly?

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May 13, 2011 | 04:33 PM

#31

mtflat

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 6,776

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From: Kalispell, MT

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisetopdown

Thanks Tim, being a noob to all of this, how did the factory track the information equivalent of today's VIN? Did they only track the serial number, but not the buck tag (?) in terms of legality? I have been bit by the bug and have a severe "fever" regarding the history of these old trucks

. I have decided to keep her original (as much as possible) as a tribute to the engineering of the times. My dad brought me up as a Blue Oval guy (classic Mustangs) and this old technology has really intrigued me.
w

They didn't care about tracking it - at least like we do today. Ford burned all the old records in '67, so that gives you an idea about how important tracking was to them.

Bill, I'm glad for you that you know better. I sure won't argue with you.

May 13, 2011 | 05:57 PM

#32

truckdog62563

Marmon-Herrington Man

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 11,986

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From: Central Illinois

What's interesting to me, being a detail freak, is how irratic the digits are in your frame stamping. If you compare yours to the two of mine that I posted, you see on mine that the F2R2LU are perfectly aligned, spaced, and have the same depth of impression suggesting that the digits were conjoined into one tool. Same, but to a lesser extent, on the F3 and HM of the other. It would stand to reason that they'd have made stamps with common combinations of digits into one tool to reduce time on the line. For whatever reason, KC did it the hard way on yours. I'll check my '51 that came from KC to see what it looks like. Stu

May 13, 2011 | 08:46 PM

#33

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

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From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisetopdown

Thanks Tim, being a noob to all of this, how did the factory track the information equivalent of today's VIN? Did they only track the serial number, but not the buck tag (?) in terms of legality?

The buck tag has nothing to do with registering a vehicle.

The codes on buck tags were used by assembly line workers to make sure the correct parts were installed to match the specific vehicles order.

The last 5 (or 6 digits) of the VIN: One reason serial numbers are necessary is because Ford made parts changes during the course of the model year.

So, you will see listed in parts catalogs before/from certain serial numbers.

May 13, 2011 | 08:53 PM

#34

abe

Fleet Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 25,376

Likes: 5,386

From: Central PA

Interesting discussion about the rating plate and the serial number.

I checked the original bill of sale for my truck and the Ford Dealer bill of sale called it a Mfg. No. (manufacturing number)

May 13, 2011 | 08:58 PM

#35

abe

Fleet Owner

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 25,376

Likes: 5,386

From: Central PA

How hard is it to see the number stamped on the frame rail? Is it possible to see it while the fenders and inner fenders are in place? is it on the left or right rail in a '54?

May 13, 2011 | 10:59 PM

#36

52 Merc

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2009

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From: Burbank, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by truckdog62563

In deference to all viewpoints on this, when I called A. G. Backeast a while back to get a new "rating plate" for my truck I called it a VIN plate. He got real pissy with me and told me to be sure I wrote my order to refer to the plate as a "rating plate". He too said it was a "serial number". Stu

I would surmise his 'pissyness' comes from having to be a stickler for semantics, due to federal laws prohibiting alteration or modifications of "VIN" tags, and the stiff penalties associated with such activities. No such rules exist for 'warranty' or 'rating' plates. I think they call that CYA.

May 13, 2011 | 11:11 PM

#37

52 Merc

Hotshot

Joined: Oct 2009

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From: Burbank, WA

Going strictly by the information provided in the Ford Chassis Parts Catalog decoding the rating plate, it refers to the entire vehicle identification number as the "serial number", which includes the truck serial code, engine symbol, model year, manufacturing plant symbol, and the last 5 digits as the consecutive unit number.

Quote:

how did the factory track the information equivalent of today's VIN? Did they only track the serial number?

This is the only number that matters and is used for any legal tracking purposes, just like they do today.

May 14, 2011 | 07:33 PM

#38

cruisetopdown

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 1,035

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From: Waterford, VA. USA

This thread has been very helpful and I appreciate all the input...I will say that I was a bit surprised at how sloppy the stamping on the frame turned out. So one last question regarding the Buck tag and serial number, if N represents Vermillion and the frame stamping and buck tag are the same, how did my truck get the Meadow green treatment? Seems like it would have been caught down the line by someone....
w