I've read earlier postings about frame numbers and even
have a copy of "Catalog of Ford Truck ID Numbers 1946-1972
Pickup and Ranchero" by Cars & Parts Magazine. Still, the
serial number that is on the top of the frame, driver's
side, between the firewall and front axle doesn't seem to
match what the book shows or what I've read in the forums.
It is a 1946 Ford Pickup truck that saw service in the U.S.
Forestry Dept. The engine number does not match the frame
(flathead 8). The serial number stamped on the frame is:

*8*6858371*

Can anyone help decipher this?
Why doesn't it match the serial numbers I've seen on
postings? I want to pickup a TCI Mustang II IFS and rear leaf but need to get it registered before we start. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks!

I forgot to mention in my earlier post, there is no identifying plaque inside the glove box. All I have to go by is the stamped frame: *8*6858371*

 

i think the number is on the bell housing at the top if you still have the original engine

 

Best thing I can think of Steven is to check the number on the transmission bellhousing...but hose are not always real accurate, since trannys do get swapped. The number on your frame may be a special number for the Forest service, sicne they are a gov agency, they may have gotten special VINs, or ordered the truck in mass batches, which may account for special VINs as the truck came down the line. If the numbers have stars around them, then that would lead me to believe it could be a Ford stamped numebr. You should be able to register your truck with that VIN...most states do not have VIN breakdowns going back that far, so they probably have no clue to what a VIN number would decode as.

 

46 FORDtruck you mentioned VIN# decoding,
Can you help me w/ a 1940 ford truck Vin#???
*BB867002Z8*
any help would be great...

thanks SHEILA

 

Shiela, wish I could help, but I'm not as well versed in VIN decoding when it comes to pre '42 trucks. I think somebody here has provided info before on decoding the earlier trucks, hopefully that person can jump in here and give a hand.