Hi were would the engine number be on a 223 engine.I cannot find it on my f350.Thanks Pete UK

 

Hi Pete!

It's in the Manual not on the engine! Ford didn't put serial numbers on their engines back then.

Julie

 

Thank you.Just on UK log reg book you have to put a engine number.I thought i could not find one.Now i know why.But thank you.

 

Make one up and hope they don`t know the difference......

 

USA & Canada:

Prior to 1948, vehicles (cars/trucks) were registered by the engine number, which was also the serial number.

The problem was, if someone changed engines, the numbers would (usually) no longer match.

If the replacement engines were installed by the dealers, they would stamp the old number on the new engine.

But in most cases, peeps bought used engines from junkyards, so...now the numbers will not match.

In 1948 (1949 for the cars), the complete vehicle was registered for the first time by a VIN - Vehicle Identification Number.

The VIN was stamped on the Rating Plate 1948/56 (1957/80 = Warranty Plate) and was also stamped on the frame rail.

 

Hi Bill,

Now that you are here I have a question:

In my research into truck serial numbers and such, I read somewhere that the term VIN was actually not used until later (like the late 60s or early 70s) and that up until that point, what was stamped into the "Rating Plate" was the vehicle "Serial Number." The term "serial number" is what is painted on the plate and was the term used on the decoding page of the Truck Chassis Parts Catalogue.

I remember reading about 11 digit numbers and in the early 1980s a law passing designation 17 digit VIN numbers.

Being a man of impecable verbal correctness and knowledge, can you tell us when Ford stopped using "Serial Numbers" to identify it's trucks and started using VIN numbers. I had heard that is wasn't until the mid 1960s.

The site I used to go to that told all about that has been suspended for a band width problem.

Do you have the straight scoop on that?

Thanks in advance.

Julie

 

The following pertains to trucks only.

The Rating Plate was used 1948/56.

The Warranty Plate was used 1957 thru 1980.

The Certification Label, 1981 and later.
--------------------------------------
The VIN's were 9 or 10 digits 1948/52.

11 digits 1953 thru 1980.

17 digits thru today.
--------------------
9, 10 digit VIN: the last 5 digits is the serial number.

11 digit VIN: the last 6 digits is the serial number.

17 digit VIN: the last 6 digits is the serial number.
------------------------------------------------
I dunno when Ford first refered to VIN's as such, but I was raised on Kelley Blue Books (**), and VIN's were called that beginning in at least 1950.

Les Kelley & Sons was the largest used car dealer on the planet beginning in the 1920's (thru the early 1950's), and was also a Ford dealer at one time.

It was he that came up with the Blue Book, and what most peeps don't know is, the KBB was really created to show what the loan values of each particular vehicle were (are).

Example: 70% of wholesale.

Prior to the mid 1920's there was no such thing as financing for vehicles...peeps paid cash.

When the installment plan was first initiated, there had to be some sort of value guide, so that banks, and finance companies would have something to go by.

Kelley saw the need, and filled it. His main location stretched a city block along Figueroa St in downtown LA. Figueroa was LA's original "auto row."

What's there today? Staples Center and the LA Convention Center.

** My family operated: Olds, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Citroen (!) dealerships for 80 years, why I got into the fracatta autobiz. I was a car nut from day one.

I shoulda become an attorney, cuz I was born to argue.

 

Very Interesting!!!!

Thanks Bill

J!