Yes, it's probably on top

Posted by Joe on July 20, 1998 at 09:24:22

In Reply to: Serial number of
posted by Larry Metzgar on July 19, 1998 at 08:30:36

Larry
Yes, the serial number for the frame is generally stamped on the top of the crossmember.You'll likely have to remove the body to get to it, although some lucky people can start to see it with their floorboards removed.
As to your August '29 engine, this is likely a replacement engine.In a truck, the engines tended to get a lot of use.Relative to the rest of the truck which is built considerably more substantially, the engines tended to be the shortest lived component since they were a direct "hand me down" from the car line.
The left hand brake would lead me to believe it is definitely 1928.In the car line, the left hand brake was outmoded quite early.I seem to remember a rush by Ford about November of 1927 with all remaining assembly plants changed over by March of 1928.Yours being a truck which tended to be made up of outmoded car parts, the left hand brake may have lasted a bit longer.
The wheels may be another indication which may allow you to date your truck.The spoked wheels were quite early, probably concurrent with your left hand brake.Later, a "reversed dished" 5 hole (I believe) wheel was used.The later Budd wheels were 6 hole (I may have this reversed) but the dish of the wheels was all convex on the side you see (fronts).The trouble with wheels as a dating tool is that they are among the easiest things to change on a vehicle (except of course in the rain!)
Jim Schild has a website at users.aol.com/FordMoVal/schild.htm and a good book on the Model AA truck (Supplement to Restorers Model A Shop Manual - $12.95). I recommend the book as it goes into some detail the various permutations of the AA truck.
Regarding the frame number, fortunately for me, my state is *very flexible* regarding registration of an antique vehicle. A car over ten years old and the state almost doesn't care anymore - as long as you pay the fee.
My engine serial number is nonexistent (i.e. blanked out), apparently another "replacement" engine.The truck serial number is stamped appropriately on the center cross member and when I had it apart, I duely took it down for future reference.
When it came time to apply for a state registration, the frame number appropriately became the VID for the car.At the Safety Inspection, the young mechanic nearly had a hemorrhoid when he discovered that the matching engine number had been obliterated from the engine years before.Imagine his shock when I told him the original engine with the original number had likely been rebuilt and probably now resided in another car!"Thats illegal!The Law says the number has to be unique to the vehicle and in plain sight", he kept saying, shaking his head.
He finally concluded that he couldn't legally pass my truck since he couldn't verify the number!
At that point a cooler, wiser head prevailed.The older shop manager hearing the discussion pulled the younger man aside and said quietly, "Just put a sticker on 'er.""How can I do that?" the young man countered and started to argue.The manager cut him off - "Just how many Model A's have you seen in here for a sticker?"Do it now!" he said more forcefully with a jab of his *digital body part* for emphasis.

The thoughtful and now quiet young man did as he was told.The manager looked at me, shook his head, and said quietly, "It's hard to get smart help."
I marvel at the posted horror stories of bureaucratic efficiency (?) at tracing the lineage and title of a 60 year old car, now likely in it's 4th or 5th (or more) owner.Also the games and loopholes exploited by the title companies for money.I'm glad I don't have to deal with that.
I suppose there is some benefit to the public in all this title business, but I'm hard pressed to see it, especially for something as unique as a Model A Ford.
Good luck with your numbers.Feel free to show my story to any bureaucrats that need a nudge, if you think it will help.
Best regards,
Joe

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