Re: What the engine number tells me

Posted by Rick Black on February 28, 1998 at 01:48:13

In Reply to: What the engine number tells me
posted by Craig on February 27, 1998 at 22:18:36

Model A Engines had a serial number stamped in to the left side of the block as they were manufactured.The number started with the letter "A" and ended with a 5-pointed star.
The engines were shipped to Ford Assembly plants where they were installed in chassis as the cars were being put together.The same number was then stamped onto the frame on the driver's side (left), just to the rear of the front body bolt (this number is not visible until the body and left splash apron is removed.)
Since it took several weeks for the engines to actually get put into a chassis, the date of the engine is always BEFORE the date the car was actually produced.For example, my 1931 Deluxe Tudor has the engine number A4566189*, which was a mid-April engine.However, the Deluxe Tudor wasn't introduced until June 1931.
The engine number isn't accurate for dating the car in cases where the engine has been replaced during the 70-odd years of the car's life.We can only use the engine number as one item in determining the actual production date of the car.It's an art more than a science.

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