Vin location
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
No such thing as a VIN plate, it's referred to as the Warranty Plate. 1963/79: Located on the left door face below the latch.
Located on the firewall is a "Buck Tag" used by assembly line workers to assure correct parts that match the build sheet are installed.
Codes on buck tags are not the same as stamped on Warranty Plates, cannot be decoded.
DMV/Law Enforcement do not go by VIN's stamped on Warranty Plates, because they're too EZ to change. They go by hidden frame VIN's.
People replaced damaged left doors with used doors. 99.9% of the time, they failed to install the original Warranty Plates on replaced doors.
Located on the firewall is a "Buck Tag" used by assembly line workers to assure correct parts that match the build sheet are installed.
Codes on buck tags are not the same as stamped on Warranty Plates, cannot be decoded.
DMV/Law Enforcement do not go by VIN's stamped on Warranty Plates, because they're too EZ to change. They go by hidden frame VIN's.
People replaced damaged left doors with used doors. 99.9% of the time, they failed to install the original Warranty Plates on replaced doors.
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 429
Likes: 2
it's a 4wd should be one on top right frame rail by cab mount ???
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Mile high +
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,968
Likes: 595
From: Greater Austin, Texas
The only people who would go to the trouble to find these stamps are the owners. No way a DMV person or cop is going to go to that much trouble over a 30+ year old truck. Heck even I have been unable in the past but I will try again on my '74 F350 thanks to the excellent photo posted by montana_highboy.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 811
Likes: 4
As stated above, the "legal" VIN is on top of the frame rail on the passenger side. For law enforcement purposes, all vehicles have a number of "hidden VINS" located on various major assemblies. Even most law enforcement officers don't know where all of these VINS are located. Years ago, there was a boook that came out annually that was made available to law enforcement (NATB book) that gave some of the locations. Even then, it wasn't all inclusive, and if law enforcement needed to know the location of the hidden VINs, they had to contact the National Auto Theft Bureau through the National Crime Information Center NCIC computer. NATB has been replaced by the NICB. I've found some of these hidden VINs on transmissions, rear axle assemblies, engines, and inside body panels. these numbers are usually not the complete VIN, but what are known as partial VINs. usually the sequential serial number and some basic model information.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 367
From: Kansas
The only people who would go to the trouble to find these stamps are the owners. No way a DMV person or cop is going to go to that much trouble over a 30+ year old truck. Heck even I have been unable in the past but I will try again on my '74 F350 thanks to the excellent photo posted by montana_highboy.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Guys trained to look over cars for these reasons know where the "hidden" VINs are from the factory and check for them.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,838
Likes: 2,612
From: The Shenandoah Valley
They are called "confidential vins" and they aren't likely to be noticed so easy so they are unlikely to get changed, we had access to a listing that told where they were for whatever vehicle, makes it easier.