1961 Frame Number

[Norman S.]

What are the odds on my being able to find the frame number without the body being off or lifted? Does anybody know where to find it with a reasonable amount of certainty? Thanks.

[John M.]

Re: 1961 Frame Number

The frame number should be about in line with you left butt cheek when you sit in the seat!

Regards, John McGraw

[Mike B.]

Re: 1961 Frame Number

Norm,

From first-hand experience on my '61, the odds are very slim without at least lifting the body a little bit and even then it is a needle-in-a-haystack if the frame is rusty or dirty. Normally, the body sits only about 1/4" or less off of the frame and since the numbers are stamped on the top of the frame rail, there is no room to get a mirror or your fingers in there.

I suggest that you loosen or remove the driver-side body bolts and gently nudge the body up about 1-1/2" up using wooden wedges and a jack. Then with the use of a small mirror, some steel wool and perhaps powdered chalk (from a chalk line) or a lubricant such as WD-40 for contrast, you might find the numbers. They are about 1/4" tall and are not stamped that deeply. Feel around very carefully for a slight depression that was made by the stamp.

After finding mine and with the aid of a helper, we fiddled with a mirror and a light for best contrast then took some digital photos. I then reversed and enlarged the photo on a computer for posterity sake. Write to me and I'll be happy to send you a photo of the results.

Several sources say that the number is near your left butt cheek. But mine was much further towards the front, directly in line with the seat front hold down bolt (there is a caged nut affixed to the underside of the body for reference). This corroborates that the frames may have been stamped more than once, both on the top driver side frame rail favoring the edge nearest the center of the car.

By the way, the frame numbers are only the serial number from the "S" onwards, not the entire VIN.

Note that the loss of feeling in your arms and hands from reaching up while on the garage floor is temporary!

Good luck hunting.

Mike
mbovino@uniclean.com

[Ray C.]

Re: 1961 Frame Number

Norm:

I had two sets of numbers on my 61 frame. One set was located where John M. stated. The other was about 12" to 18" towards the rear of the frame. The rectangular rubber pad covered one set of numbers.

Ray #36314