Vin location

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Aug 8, 2013 | 12:07 AM

#16

memoryman

Senior User

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 100

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From: Meridian, Idaho

Resurrecting this old thread. need some assistance.
I'm doing restoration to my 78 F250 4x4 std cab (long bed). The door and door frame (drivers side) has the warranty and vin
plates which describes this truck. What I have NOT been able to locate are these other hidden VIN's (on the frame) or as
NumberDummy puts them "BUCK TAGS" located in various places.
I searched the forum and read a number of posts describing the location of these tag's and frame VIN locations.
My truck has none of these (or at least they are not visible to me).
The truck is up on blocks (about 15 inches off the floor (bottom of wheel to concrete)). I have also removed the hood,
right and left fenders and wheels. So checking out the underside is fairly easy. No luck locating any tags or frame numbers.

Did the F250 4x4 (78 model) have the frame VIN stamped someplace else?

I found this on the following post
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...0-frame-2.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeo0o0o0

Usually Ford stamped the VIN on the frame in two places. The visible VIN is stamped on the
top, right (Passenger side) frame rail. It can be anywhere between the radiator support and firewall but is commonly found
about inline with the alternator.
The second, hidden VIN is also stamped on the top, right frame rail but it is located about 8"-12" behind the front cab mount.
Sometimes these numbers are in different locations or are stamped very lightly and difficult to find/see and sometimes Ford
just didn't stamp the number on the frame at all.

this was no help either.

any insight would be appreciated.
I can post pics if you want to see what I'm seeing.

cheers
Oilseed

Last edited by memoryman; Aug 8, 2013 at 12:10 AM. Reason: formatting

Aug 8, 2013 | 07:38 AM

#17

jas88

Lead Driver

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 7,968

Likes: 595

From: Greater Austin, Texas

Using the excellent picture provided by montana_highboy, I went after the frame on my 74 F350 with a wire brush and a flashlight and found...nothing. :-(

Aug 8, 2013 | 08:37 AM

#18

mikeo0o0o0

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Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 14,333

Likes: 247

From: Stanley, VA

As far as "buck tags" are concerned. These were small metal tags used by assembly line workers during manufacture. It had the VIN and other info. They were attached by a sheet metal screw. Some trucks have them, some don't. I've had 4 dents and none of mine ever had them, however, I was able to locate frame VINs on all of them.
Here's a not too clear picture of a firewall mounted buck tag.

Attached Images

Aug 8, 2013 | 08:46 AM

#19

mikeo0o0o0

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Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 14,333

Likes: 247

From: Stanley, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by memoryman

I searched the forum and read a number of posts describing the location of these tag's and frame VIN locations.
My truck has none of these (or at least they are not visible to me).

Sometimes the VIN is very lightly stamped and really difficult to see/ find. On frames that have a lot of surface rust, the rust eventually makes the VIN unreadable. However, there are more than a few cases where it appears that the VIN was never stamped on the frame.

Aug 8, 2013 | 03:10 PM

#20

ranger429

Logistics Pro

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 4,238

Likes: 21

From: Northern Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by memoryman

Resurrecting this old thread. need some assistance.
I'm doing restoration to my 78 F250 4x4 std cab (long bed). The door and door frame (drivers side) has the warranty and vin
plates which describes this truck. What I have NOT been able to locate are these other hidden VIN's (on the frame) or as
NumberDummy puts them "BUCK TAGS" located in various places.
I searched the forum and read a number of posts describing the location of these tag's and frame VIN locations.
My truck has none of these (or at least they are not visible to me).
The truck is up on blocks (about 15 inches off the floor (bottom of wheel to concrete)). I have also removed the hood,
right and left fenders and wheels. So checking out the underside is fairly easy. No luck locating any tags or frame numbers.

Did the F250 4x4 (78 model) have the frame VIN stamped someplace else?

I found this on the following post
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...0-frame-2.html

this was no help either.

any insight would be appreciated.
I can post pics if you want to see what I'm seeing.

cheers
Oilseed

AFAIK, the frames were all stamped in very similar spots.

I see that Mike said something about a few that didn't but I have never seen one that wasn't. This is the buck tag from my 350, it was mounted to the cowl. They also mounted a buck tag to the front passenger side of the bed. Those are the only 2 spots that I have ever seen them and as stated they didn't come on all trucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jas88

Using the excellent picture provided by montana_highboy, I went after the frame on my 74 F350 with a wire brush and a flashlight and found...nothing. :-(

It takes quite a bit to get through the build up of rust scale to get to see the VIN.

This is the front VIN stamp on my frame.

And this one was just about parallel with the edge of the door.

Aug 8, 2013 | 04:04 PM

#21

mikeo0o0o0

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Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 14,333

Likes: 247

From: Stanley, VA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranger429

I see that Mike said something about a few that didn't but I have never seen one that wasn't.

I personally have never seen a frame that wasn't stamped either.

Aug 8, 2013 | 04:11 PM

#22

memoryman

Senior User

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 100

Likes: 0

From: Meridian, Idaho

were those locations (shown on pp1 large picture of frame) the universal spot for all models? The frame shown is a 2WD with coil front.
I have a F250 4x4 with Leaf spring front. Just curious if the VIN stamps might be someplace else for those frames (as they are different).

I'll have to do some more scrubbing, but my truck has very little rust as it sits. So, that's why I asked if they could be someplace else. :-)

I'll check tonight and repost.

Oilseed

Last edited by memoryman; Aug 8, 2013 at 04:12 PM. Reason: format

Aug 8, 2013 | 04:34 PM

#23

ranger429

Logistics Pro

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 4,238

Likes: 21

From: Northern Illinois

Yes the front stamp on a 2wd (per the picture) is in front of the coil. On a 4wd it is closer to the firewall. The rear stamp looks to be in the same spot either way.