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Need help decoding frame stampings

Old Dec 14, 2011 | 08:50 PM
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Stokedonlife
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Need help decoding frame stampings

I am a part of a non profit an someone donated an old San Francisco cable car.

The paperwork says its on a 1984 f600 chassis, but I need help decoding the stampings on the frame, they don't match the title and I'm trying to pass a Von verification inspection with the CHP.

Youre threads on Lucas girling brakes and ford engines/chassis have proved invaluable in getting this beast on the road. So I thought y'all may be able to help here.

There is a circular stamp above the passenger side axle that reads:
72 201337

A little farther back on the outside of the frame, also passenger side, there are three lines that reads:
72 1013 37
E4HT BMA
242

I need to give the highway patrol a legible vin to start paperwork.
Can anyone help me compile a vin from these stampings?


Thanks.
 
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 06:35 AM
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Welcome to FTE

None of the numbers you posted bear any relation to the VIN which has 17 digits.

E4HT-BMA and etc jazz: Ford ID engineering prefix/suffix for the frame assy.

Sample 1984 F600 VIN: 1FDNF60H3EVA12345 / 10th digit of the VIN is the year: E = 1984).

Hidden VIN possible locations.

Top of the right (passenger) side frame rail, either in front of or partially under the cab. Since there's no cab, look all along the top of frame rail from the bow to amidships.

Top of the left (drivers) side frame rail adjacent to the steering gearbox.

The VIN will be on the yearly registration form, on the "Pink Slip" and is printed on the white Certification Label that is usually glued to the B pillar, but dunno where it would be on a cable car.

btw: Is this an actual San Francisco Cable Car, or one of those trolley's with wooden sides one sees in Yosemite and etc? Some of these were built on E350 chassis.
 
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 08:59 AM
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Best I can tell its a cable car. Nothing like the Yosemite trolley cars.
It has the bell an all, pretty neat really.

The frame has been extended in front and in the rear. The gearbox is now about 4 feet in front and center of the motor. Where would it have been?

I've scoured the rails both sides, but didn't remove the plates that were installed to protect the wires and brake lines from the exhaust, I'll try that today.

Is it possible that the 01337 is a partial vin, or does ford always stamp complete vin numbers? And the "72" makes me wonder if that's the year. It's entirely possible that the people who we got it from gave us the wrong title as they pulled it out of a stack of 20 or more titles, the license plates match though.
 
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Old Dec 15, 2011 | 12:21 PM
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NumberDummy
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Originally Posted by Stokedonlife
Best I can tell its a cable car. Nothing like the Yosemite trolley cars. It has the bell an all, pretty neat really.

The frame has been extended in front and in the rear. The gearbox is now about 4 feet in front and center of the motor.

I've scoured the rails both sides, but didn't remove the plates that were installed to protect the wires and brake lines from the exhaust, I'll try that today.

Is it possible that the 01337 is a partial vin? No. Or does ford always stamp complete vin number? Yes.

And the "72" makes me wonder if that's the year. It isn't.

Frame ID prefix: E4HT: E = 1980's / 4 = 1984 / HT = Heavy Truck
1981 thru today trucks have a 17 digit VIN. The VIN is 11 digits 1961/80. The complete VIN will be stamped somewhere on the frame rail, but consider the age.

By now, the VIN is hidden under 27 + years of rust/scale and road grime.

Sample 1984 VIN 1FDNF60C3EVA12345 (1981 thru today all series' of trucks, Econolines, 1981/96 Bronco's will be similar).

1FD = FoMoCo USA incomplete vehicle.

N = Class 6 = 19,501-26,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Range.

F60 = F600 2WD (gas).

C = 370 2V

3 = Check digit, FoMoCo use only.

E = 1984.

V = Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant.

A12345 = 1984 Numerical Sequence of Assembly.
------------------------------------------------
Sample 1980 VIN F60CVFA1234 (1961/79 all series' of trucks, Econolines & 1966/80 Bronco's will be similar).

F60 = F600 2WD (gas).

C = 370 2V

V = Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant.

FA1234 = 1980 Numerical Sequence of Assembly.
 
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