Engine Serial Number Decoder Ford

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(a) The serialization applied topassenger cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles using these Fordengines. They may have different serial prefixes, but would be inclusive withinthe serial ranges shown. In other words, passenger car totals must be combinedwith truck and commercial vehicles to arrive at total usage of the engineproduction numbers shown. The letter in the prefix indicates the type ofvehicle: A = Passenger Car, C = Commercial Vehicle (pickup truck orpanel/delivery truck), and T = Truck (large trucks of 1 ton rating or bigger).The number in the prefix indicates the engine type: 18 = regular 85hp V8, 99 =95hp V8, 54 = 60hp V8. The letter G or H in the prefix indicates the sixcylinder engine.

(b) The serial numbers were stamped on the vehicles without any commas or superfluous 0's(zeros). They have been shown here to help identify the general starting number.For instance, the first 1939 Mercury would have a '99-1' stamped asits serial number (rather than 99-001as shown above).

(c) Ford changed production on October 3, 1947 from the Gseries to the new H series six cylinder engine. They started new serial numbersfor the new engine.

  • For the engine number C4AE, Ford's system is decoded as follows: 'C' represents the decade manufactured, in this case, the 1960s (D for the 1970s, E for the 1980s, etc.). The number is the year in that decade-1964. The remaining letters represent various factory modifications.
  • The engine number was also the serial number of the car. Engines were numbered when they were completed, and for the most part went into a chassis within a day or so. However, some engines were assembled and numbered at branch assembly plants. Highland Park would ship a block of engine-number records to an assembly plant and these engines might.

(d) The available records do not show the beginning number for 1939 models withthe 60hp V8 engine. According to the Early Ford V8 Club 1938-39 Ford referencebook, Ford held up production of the 60hp engine for awhile due to overstock.They stopped building the engine at #54-468,967 on December 23, 1937 and did notresume production until April 20, 1939 with #54-476,288. 'The StandardCatalog of Ford 1903-2003' gives production numbers of 38,197 coupes,124,866 Tudors, unknown # of Fordors, and 3,277 Station Wagons with the 60hp V8engines. No data for trucks and commercial vehicles with 60hp V8's is given, sothe total number for 1939 is unknown.

Number as stamped on the front edge of the passenger side shocker tower, ( shocker tower and engine are the same remember ) and body prefix and serial number as stamped on the passenger side front of the radiator support panel, which corresponds to the number stamped on the I.D plate fitted to drivers side, till Jan 1970 and the I.D.

(e) According to the same EFV8 Club reference book, the first model year 1939production V8 (85hp) was #18-4,657,660 which was built Sept. 6, 1938. Thisconflicts with the 'first' number listed above (a difference of 3,341units).

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(f) In the 1938 model year Ford changed from the 21 stud 85hp V8 to the 24stud engine. The change occurred with #18-4,380,120 on November 24, 1937.

Engine Serial Number Decoder Ford

(g) Per 'The Standard Catalog of Ford1903-2003' total production of 1940 passenger vehicles with the 60hp V8 is231,425 units (including coupes, Tudors, Fordors, & station wagons). Thisdoes not include additional totals of 60hp engines used in trucks and commercialvehicles.
(h) For more complete Data Plate decoding information on 1949 thru 1953Ford cars, refer to the decoding chart. Additional letters between the beginningtwo digits (letter/number) and the rest of the serial number indicate theassembly plant location. Refer to the decoding chart.

(i) Letter from the Ford Motor Company toall Ford offices (dated Nov. 4, 1947): 'Engine and model numbers for 1948(Ford) cars - the lowest number used with 1948 prefixes for six-cylinderpassenger car engines is 87HA-0536. Lowest number used with 1948 prefixes forV-8 passenger car engines is 899A-1984859. Due to inventory of engines atvarious assembly plants, some 1947 models will have higher numbers than theabove. However, the prefix changes will definitely identify the 1948 models fromthe 1947 models.' The serial numbering shownin the chart above reflects this numbering variance.

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(j) On 1950 thru 1953 models (and beyond)any additional letters between the basic model letters and serial numbers denotethe assembly plant. For Data Plate decode information, clickhere.

Ford Engine Serial Number Decoder

(k) Production on L-Z prior to January10, 1946 used the 1942 engines.