The small number is; 12353 I'm hoping to use this as a 13 if this is not the casting date.
Bob, I have never seen a number like that on a 13-14 diff half, so of you 'disappeared' it, who would know?????
Allan from down under.
well, it's original to a period original part, so why on earth deface it by grinding it off? Frankly, I find it interesting. Plus, I'm sure that there are enough collectors and historians out there that would consider it interesting as well. Removing that artifact of the manufacturing process removes that much more history from the piece.
If it's objectionable, I'd swap the part out for one that was not marked. They're not common, but not rare, either.
To put a later part on an earlier car is more authentic than putting an earlier part on a later car. Many times parts were replaced due to damage or wear, and the currently manufactured part was purchased from the Ford dealer for replacement.
Norm
I have seen numbers like that before. Maybe its 7 May, 1914.
A = January, B = February etc. Letter I is not used.
7M14 = December 7, 1914
I agree with Scott, whatever it is, don't wreck it.
The small number is the factory part number, T2835B. The left half is T2836B.
Many early low heads had the "made in usa" ground off but they are easy to spot and not being from earlier vintage and thus are now worthless for any real restoration. I agree totally - don't grind on it as you can only lower the value of the thing by doing so.
Got the other half out of the shed clean and found this number????? Yes, R.V., cleaned that little number and the first digit is a T. Thanks to all for the help, Bob.
My apologies fellows. I keep forgetting that you do not share the same laconic sense of humour as we Aussies do. The "disappeared" in parenthesis was meant to convey a sense of mischief. LOL is so obvious, but I guess it has to be, using this communication medium.
Humbly,
Allan from down under.