Help, can't find vin number

[JoshT]

I have seen the article on locating the frame stampings. I've wire wheeled the area stated in the article but haven't located the stamping yet. I know it's also located under the cab, but I'd have to unbolting the cab mounts to access it and I'm trying to avoid that.

Anyone got a pic that shows the engine bay area VIN stamping on a 4x4 frame so I can verify I'm looking in the right place?

Was told by Tag Office that I would have to have it VIN verified by LEO since it has been off the road so long. Unfortunately it has been body swapped, so the original door tag is long gone and existing tag is from the donor truck. I know what the vin is supposed to be from old paperwork, but want to find it on the frame so I can point it out to the LEO. I am going to get a replacement warranty tag from Marti before the inspection to make life easier down the road, but want to verify that the vin I have matches the frame first.

[jamesdfo]

The vin is in more than one location, it should be stamped on the passenger side rail, roughly in line with the alternator.

See Keith's write-up in link below...

http://www.fordification.com/tech/vin_find.htm

[JoshT]

The vin is in more than one location, it should be stamped on the passenger side rail, roughly in line with the alternator.

See Keith's write-up in link below...

http://www.fordification.com/tech/vin_find.htm

I have seen the article on locating the frame stampings. I've wire wheeled the area stated in the article but haven't located the stamping yet. I know it's also located under the cab, but I'd have to unbolting the cab mounts to access it and I'm trying to avoid that.

Per that article stamping on my frame should be aft of the axle, but I've hit both forward and aft of the axle and haven't found it yet. That was why I was asking for a pic of a 4x4 frame.

[DuckRyder]

You may (or may not) find rubbing a pice of chalk over the suspected area brings the VIN out.

[Bill Ramsey]

Frame rail next to the starter on mine. You can barley see the numbers in this photo.

[jzjames]

Wet sand it by hand down to shiney metal to make sure the stampings are not there.

[JoshT]

Thanks guys! I'll hopefully be back working on it in the morning and I'll see what I can find this time.

[JoshT]

Okay, I give up! I sanded, wire wheeled and sanded for hours. Not even a hint of stamping showing up. Hit area forward of spring perch, hit area aft of spring perch, even sanded down the area under seat where it should have been. All that's showing up is shiny metal and rust pitting. No signs of it having been removed either. Did a low spot in the frame rail near the starter that could have been where numbers were stamped in the past, but no signs of the stamp now.

Just learned that this truck was originally from Michigan. I know it's been in GA for over 30 years, but no idea how much of its first 20 years was spent up there. It may be that rust just erased the stampings over time. Or maybe I could have a Friday truck and some worker forgot to stamp the frame in his rush to make happy hour?

At this point I'm going to order a door plate in the VIN this truck has been registered as for the last 30+ years. I'll take comfort in the idea that if I can't find the VIN number, a LEO probably can't find a conflicting number either. I kinda doubt that they will look much past the door tag anyway.

[FLASH 1]

Here is what I was told @ Ford that 90-95% of trucks where stamped with a Vin # when built.. I found this info when I bought a 1966 Ranger with no stamping on frame rail But I had the original sales ticket from the dealership, inside cab card with the metal Vin # on it, Original New set of Duplicate keys in the glove box as well with that dealerships name as well so it passed NC Tough DMV Rules like that

[JoshT]

I think this one was probably stamped at one point, but it's years in Michigan did a number. I found a depression in the frame near the starter that looks like it could have been location for stamping, but area is pitted enough that I can't make out any markings even after sanding it to shiny metal. Apparently when Paul (dad's former step father) brought it down from up North the cab was already gone. To quote dad "the cab fell down around the frame". Tells me it was up there in the salt for a while. The frame is solid, but definitely lots for pitting from rust. I really think all that pitting just erased the stamping.

Say you wouldn't happen to be headed south through GA with a trailer load of parts any time soon would ya? Looking for some used sheet metal (mostly hood and fender apron) that's better shape than what I have. Don't currently have a truck that can make it to NC, but you would pass right through town (Macon) on the way to Moultrie.

[cstoyer]

JoshT

I have an F250 that has been a north eastern truck all its life and the vin stamps survived. One thing to note there is Star stamped at each of the vin that is hammered in the frame deep, maybe 0.060" ~ 0.080" and I am sure if that was rusted away the frame is toast. The Engine compartment VIN was wasn't as deep as the under cab vin but I still got an etching for the DMV when I did the plates. However the under the cab vin was way better, but as you know your not going to get to that one without some serious work. I'm not 100% sure if the locations are the same from a 100 to 250 but the bare metal areas highlighted with a red box are where my vin stamps are. I painted the frame with POR15 and left those bare so that when I sprayed the entire frame semigloss black the vin wouldn't be buried in paint.

VIN Location 1 (450 x 600).jpg

This shows both vin locations, engine compartment and under cab.

Vin Location 2 (600 x 450).jpg

This is the engine compartment location. Notice how close it is to the cab mount.

CStoyer

[Bill Ramsey]

My other car is a '30 Model A. The frame stamping is between the body and frame. I bought stamps from a restoration place and restamped the frame in front of the firewall, so can be seen easily. Now before any internet cops get on my case, I did not alter or deface the original stampings. Food for thought.