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Vin - Location

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ETM

Vin - Location

This post was updated on .

Hello Everyone, Have been Ready not commenting much. Been Trying to do my research on this. Picked up another Bullnose this time an 1983 F250 6.9idi 4spd, 4x4 going to use as an mud truck but it is some what clean and I'd like to save it from that faith. I bought it without an ownership (IE. Mud truck) but I'd like to get one, From what you can see from the Pictures some one roll painted tree marker paint. Where are the Vin - locations as the door one is painted.
1983 F250

there is no plate on the Dash, and the one on the firewall looks to be removed.
Thanks
Eric from Canada

Eric 1981 F100 - 300 I6 - M5OD Swap 2003 G35 Drift Sedan 6mt RWD - Ricer @OnlyETM Ontario, Canada

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

The only full VIN's are the plate on the leading edge of the dash and on the certification label on the door post. And, speaking of that one, you can't remove it and have anything. What comes off is the clear plastic cover and that appears to wipe out the letters.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

ETM

Re: Vin - Location

Damn may be sol as there is nothing as they it looks like they may have remove. Will have to try some paint remover and see if it can get it to be shown

Eric 1981 F100 - 300 I6 - M5OD Swap 2003 G35 Drift Sedan 6mt RWD - Ricer @OnlyETM Ontario, Canada

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Be careful with paint remover. It could easily destroy the certification label.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ford F834

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

I would try some isopropyl alcohol first. It is slow, but will remove most paints and is more gentle. If color is transferring to the rag, it is lifting the paint. Better to be gradual than go for something that will eat the tag along with the paint.

SHORT BED 4-DOOR DIESEL: 1986 F350 4x4 under construction-- 7.3 IDIT ZF5+GVOD

STRAIGHT SIX 4X4: 1981 F150 2wd to 4x4-- 300 I6 close ratio diesel T19, hydroboost brakes, Saginaw steering

BIG F: 1995 F-Superduty under construction— converting to 6.9L IDI diesel ZF5+DNE2

Steve83

Re: Vin - Location

Banned User

In reply to this post by ETM

If you can raise one of the frame serial numbers (top surface of passenger rail), you can use the info in this caption, and the links in it, and what you know about the truck to re-create its VIN:

For example: I can tell by what you posted that the VIN was:

1FT*F241*D**#####

The first * might be G; the 2nd can be calculated when you have all the other digits; the 4th is probably A.

This shows a '96 Bronco frame SN:

Ford F834

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Since he is in Canada... if the truck was manufactured at a Canadian plant wouldn’t it start with 2FTxxxxx....?

Rembrant

Re: Vin - Location

Ford F834 wrote

Since he is in Canada... if the truck was manufactured at a Canadian plant wouldn’t it start with 2FTxxxxx....?

Yeah, more than likely a Canadian market truck, but you never know, it could be an imported US built truck as well. I've looked at dozens of them around here, and they're always Canadian market trucks.

Going by my 1984 FSM, the VIN should be close to this:

2FTGF26IxDCAxxxxx

Like Steve mentioned above...the "G" is not for sure. However, if the VIN starts with a 2, then the assembly plant is definitely "C" for Ontario Truck Plant.

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

Rembrant

Re: Vin - Location

Jon,

Did Ford ever stamp the VIN or partial VIN on the diesel engines? My 1984 302 has the last 8 digits of the VIN stamped on the block. The 1985 4x4 I just bought with 302 is not stamped. I've read posts on FTE where others have stamped engines as well, but it seems to be more common that they are NOT stamped. I did some reading on the topic a while back, and it looks like Ford did stamp the small blocks on and off over the years, but it's really inconsistent.

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

In reply to this post by Steve83

When I raise the cab on Dad's truck I hope to take pics of exactly where that partial VIN is on the frame rail.

As for a partial on the engines, and especially the diesels, I've not ever seen a Ford engine stamped. Obviously some are, but not the ones I've worked on.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ford F834

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Cory, the diesels have a serial number stamped on them which can be really important in the 6.9 years regarding which improvements is has or lacks, but has nothing to do at all with the vehicle VIN.

85lebaront2

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Somewhere in the 80s there was a requirement that the last portion of the VIN had to be stamped on major components, such as engines and transmissions. There is a location where it is supposed to be on the frame rail. Good luck with your search, are there any stickers on the windows that might identify which assembly plant the truck came from?

The sticker on the body is on the driver's side door post above the striker except on crew cabs, on a crew cab it is on the rear of the driver's door just above the latch. This becomes a problem if the door is replaced.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

Steve83

Re: Vin - Location

Banned User

85lebaront2 wrote

There is a location where it is supposed to be on the frame rail.

There are usually 2; one below the firewall, and one below or behind the passenger seat. This shows the locations on '66-77 Broncos (which used the whole VIN):

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Here's the best I can do until I get the cab off the frame on Dad's truck. The parial VIN, which is upside down in this pic, starts at the right end of the red oval, and that's basically 11" aft of the rear bolt that holds the radius arm bracket onto the frame. And, I think the hole that's nearest the start of the VIN is the front hole for the transmission crossmember's angle brace.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Ford F834

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Excellent directions Gary! I found my ‘81 partial VIN in seconds. The ‘82 4wd donor stumped me. I never did find that one 🤔.

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Glad it helped, Jonathan. But hopefully I'll lift the cab on Dad's truck in the near future and can then easily see and photograph the partial VIN.

As for the 82's VIN, I wonder if it is so lightly stamped that you can't see it at that angle?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

Ok, the cab's off Dad's truck and I can update these dimensions.

As it turns out, there are two partial VIN's on the frame. In the pic below the tape measure starts at the rear bolt of the passenger's side radius arm mount and the rear VIN starts at about 21" back while the front one starts at 11" back - even with the transmission crossmember's front hole. (There are two sets of holes in this pic, with the 1st on the right and the 3rd one from the right being the original holes, the the 2nd and 4th from the right are for using the original crossmember with a ZF5.)

Here's another view of them:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Vin - Location

Gary,

Off topic...sort of...but what is that crossmember for that wraps up on the outside of the frame rail?

Gary Lewis

Re: Vin - Location

Administrator

E4OD. Came out of Huck, the '90 F250. Also has a reinforcement bracket like most crossmembers have that goes from the crossmember to the top of the frame.

I'll be showing that Monday evening, I hope, as my brother and I put it in place.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Vin - Location

Gary Lewis wrote

E4OD. Came out of Huck, the '90 F250.

OK, very good sir. That explains a lot. I kept seeing that one when I was searching for a 1988-1996 4x4 5spd crossmember, and I didn't know what it was for. I had a couple guys tell me they were for a 5spd, but I knew they were not.

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