Vin and Casting Code

[panz4ever]

50 vin number with F8 casting code? I am no expert on vin numbers is why I am curious if this can be correct

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-David...caae36&vxp=mtr

[Bigincher]

You'd think the date code would be more correct with a '49 motor....
I'm no expert on the VIN stamps either, but I'm sure we'll get an earful..!

[Rubone]

Those are not factory stamped numbers. So the question is moot!
Robbie

[Speeding Big Twin]

My computer is acting up so I'm not sure how this text and the post overall will turn out.

As Robbie indicated, the serial number on that eBay case does not appear to be factory-stamped. For example, the 4 appears to have an open back whereas I would expect to see a certain type of open-top 4 with a curved left stroke and a horizontal serif at the base. The 6 appears to be some sort of curved or rounded style whereas I would expect to see a certain type of straight-back 6. And I wouldn’t be surprised if a clear photo showed the 5 to be of a style I would not expect to see for a 1950 Panhead.

But could a crankcase have a factory-stamped serial number for a model year more than one year later than the year of the date code? Check the photos below of the Flathead 750 case. Serial number 57G1+++ appears to be factory including the three characters I blacked out. But the casting date code is 7 4 (July 1954):







Is the Flathead all authentic? It looks like it. How did it happen? I don’t know. Is it common? I think not, although I have photos of a couple of other similar examples.

Date codes of the style I posted above usually have the month first and then the year which is why I think 7 4 indicates July 1954 casting. But what if it worked the other way around at some stage? Because that would make it 1957 April casting and that would be more consistent with a 1957 serial number. The possibility is something I'll have to keep an eye on.
Eric

[Jerry Wieland]

By 1957 ServiCars are very low production machines. I do not find this surprising at all.

Jerry

[Sarge]

I agree with Jerry^^. I'm not surprised at all if fewer Servi-Cars were being built around that time, later '50s, and the MoCo found that it had a surplus of unbuilt engines cases they used before making more. Not being the exact year or even a couple of years off is certainly not a red flag in that era.

Remember the transmission cases that ran on with the same date code from what, around 1948-52? That was Big Twin, and I think in that case someone didn't bother to change the mold number, but nothing's cast in stone, eh?

[Chris Haynes]

Remember the transmission cases that ran on with the same date code from what, around 1948-52? That was Big Twin, and I think in that case someone didn't bother to change the mold number, but nothing's cast in stone, eh?

More like 1954-1958. All had 3-3 on them.

[panz4ever]

Those are not factory stamped numbers. So the question is moot!
Robbie

Thanks Robbie. Went to Chris' site and numbers seemed off but I wasn't sure...