Looking over my 1918 block (dated by casting date) I discovered that someone in the dim, dark, distant past had chiseled the block number. They did it so effectively that it's impossible to read. This block it the only one I have and was rescued from a pile of scrap some years ago.
Now, the motor number is considered the VIN number for model T's as I understand it.....so I'm faced with a dilemma. How do I come up with a number that's satisfactory to the (gulp) California DMV? I toyed with the idea of grinding it smooth and restamping with another number, but with my luck it would match another car somewhere!
Put a suitable number on the block and then take out an insurance policy against a duplicate number. Any competent private DMV person can do it for you. That’s how we did the speedster.
There must be a way. Speak to the DMV first before you go grinding & stamping. I only say this because I had a '27 Tudor with letters in it's title VIN and they sure as heck didn't come off the block.
Tony, that sounds like it might be the answer here. How do I locate a "private" DMV person?
Is the block all redone, I.E. new valves and crank with Babbitt? If not you then have a choice of finding a block that is close if you don't care that it's the original or not. DO NOT TELL ANYONE AT THE DMV what has so far or what you are thinking till you are ready and have everything ready to go. Do you live in a smaller area or a big heavy populated area. If the next county seat is "just over the hill" and not out of your way a trip there to inquire as to how things are would be better than asking in your courthouse and then somebody remembering a small detail that is now different when you go in for real. IN my state the Highway Patrol does the inspection of vehicle you bought it out of state they check it out, if an assembled car they also look it over. Here the state would then issue a vin and you have to attach a state tag onto the car. My least favorite way of doing something. If your able to buy a block with a title and use that it might be the easiest way. Not sure how CA does things but I bet they make it way harder than it needs to be.
George- I've sent you a pm.
Dan
George,
I've sent a PM as well.
Terry
And be glad you don't love in North Carolina. You would be out of luck.
Dan, Terry.......I replied to both your PM's. Thanks for the advice and help!
Check with the local police dept. They have methods of bringing up numbers on firearms and vehicles that have been taken off. They can justify the job because it might be reported stolen. Only problem with that is they might confiscate the engine.
Worse case, They will make you take to a state agency to have a VIN assigned that will be riveted to the frame.
It is all a matter of how authentic you want it.
Tommy you're right. Virginia is for lovers.
Find a roached block and use it's vin. No.chsmce for duplication
I would stamp that sucker like the title and move on
Why not put the vin number of the car registration on the block. That way the engine will match the car it is put in.
Rob has the right answer. Safest way to get pass this mess.
Try one of these. Directory of Licensed VIN Verifiers by California Counties
http://www.asapvehicleverifiers.com/VV2LocationsServed.html
George,
You might want to consider contacting the Cal DOJ Crime Lab in Redding to ask them if they would do a serial number restoration on it or make a recommendation who could do it for you. Electrolytic etching is the process to request.
Best of luck,
Dom
what i did was to come up with a passable # ran it through the MTFCA ans MTFCI for duplicates. then I punched out the # on a brass strip and mounted it on the block and then bolted on my water pump. After doing all this the inspecting officer said he cared not 1 whit what was on the block, he wanted to see it on the frame. So I peeled of what was on the block and JB welded it onto the frame. It passed. The officer said he knew of the engine # as being the vin # for T's but as he said that was then and now is now. Not saying this works for all but it did for me. Jerry.
Be VERY careful with stamping numbers on parts. It is now a NO-NO to do it. Make sure any numbers you stamp are as old as the part that you stamp them on. Nice crisp numbers may not look original.