I was wondering if anyone can tell me if I'm looking in the wrong place, I have the chassis stripped down t the rails, everything is being replaced with the TCI front and rear suspension and I am having the dustless blasting done this weekend, so last nite I tried looking for the vin on the front upper chassis between where the front leaf spring perches were originally with a high speed scotch brite pad with no luck, I even flipped the chassis over and scotch brited the underside and found nothing either, am I looking in the wrong place or is there another location?, it is a 1956 f100 short wheel base, thanks,Pete

 

Not sure if the American were stamped different than the Canadian but on both of my 56's out of the Oakville plant in Ontario the stamping was on top of the left frame rail in 2 places. One above the steering box and the other about midway between the 2 running board brackets. I searched everywhere else and that was the only locations I could find

 

My 56 has the number stamped on the passenger side frame rail right where the radiator support crossmember is riveted to the frame.

 

Thanks for the info, I'll get the scotch brite out again and try these places too, thanks again,Pete

 

On one 56 frame I had , it was stamped one the passenger side next to the cab.

 

US production was typically stamped on the right side. Go gentle with the scotchbrite on the wizzer. The stampings are not very deep, and if you get crazy with the grinder you might wisk them away without even knowing it. Lightly hand rubbing may be safer and more productive.

 

Following up...I have another 56 that a PO installed a Volare IFS onto. Could not find the VIN stamping anywhere and assumed that it was destroyed in the process of installing the IFS. Talked to a local sheriff who advised me to stamp the numbers that matched my paperwork onto the frame in the general location to where I thought the original stamping was located. Harbor Freight has the number stamps and McMaster carries the star stamp needed to start/finish the number sequence. Custom shops regularly stamp the aftermarket frames they install in this manner.

 

That's interesting. The rules will vary greatly from state to state. No cop around here would recommend self-stamping, and no shop I've ever been in here in Washington would ever think of stamping their own numbers. The state authorities would be looking to put someone in jail. That's not to say it's never been done, but just saying...

 

I never seen any of those stars on the numbers stamps on mine just the numbers themselves that matched the plate on the door post..I think it must have varied between assembly plants

 

Washington is a "big brother" state so I am not surprised to hear that. Let's face it, if you are the legal owner of the vehicle and you are placing numbers where they did not previously exist, that is, not obliterating existing numbers and then stamping different ones in their place...then how can that be illegal? I would like to see the text of the law. Here in SoCal the DMV and the private VIN verifiers do not even look at the frame on these trucks. If you have a data plate that matches your paperwork then that is sufficient. This discussion always comes up when the topic of frame stampings is posted. I have yet to see anyone post the text of the local/state law that prohibits the legal owner from stamping a frame. This is similar to the license plate painting issue...for years it was verboten to repaint a license plate, now folks have thriving businesses doing just that...common sense and an intent, or lack thereof, need to figure into the law at some point.

 

Can you see the serial numbers on the frame without removing the inner fender on a 54 or 55? I have never seen the stampings on my 54 and I've owned it since 1977.

 

So I went home last night and checked all the locations and I can't seem to find them, even before I used the scotch bright wheel I sprayed it down with PB blaster hoping it would help with some type but NG, I'm having everything dustless blasted on Saturday so hopefully it can be found, I do have he paperwork and tag for it I will keep my eyes open for them, thanks for all the suggestions,Pete

 

Just found mine while installing mustang 2 style front. They are in front of the passenger side spring hanger for the rear of the spring. I am amazed that there seems to be be no order on these trucks as far as standard operating procedures . They are not lined up very straight either.

 

Keep in mind the context of what's happening at the time. The frames are moving down a rolling assembly line, and this one guy's job is to hand stamp 13 characters as fast as he can, and keep track of what he's stamping as every one is different. Multiply this by a dozen assembly plants. I'm sure there were standards or they wouldn't be as similar as they are. They weren't building show cars and they didn't need to be perfect. Just marked according to federal law.

 

Abe, I went out to look at mine. With the inner fender in place, you can’t see anything. If you pull the right front wheel and look at the top of the frame rail with a mirror, that’s your best chance of seeing it.