Serial Number and Registration

[DC]

Hi all, getting ready to register my jeep, and see the year is incorrect (1947 Will) on the title I have. The VIN is not correct for my m38a1, but since it has been farmerized through the years, all original plates are gone, and a plate matching the title is affixed. I tried to get the date corrected to about the right era (1954), but to no avail with DMV. The engine is from a cj-3b, I have figured that out from the engine number. So now to get a plate, they just tell me to register it as a 1947, uuugh! I am wanting to put data plates back in so at least the number shows up in the correct spots (dash and wheelwell). So guess it is not a full restoration if I do that but at least the number would match the title, although the year is still wrong. Just wanted opinions from the forum? Doesn't seem like any other option because of bureaucracy. Who knows if the vin I have came from an engine, or a cj-2/3, etc. I have tried to do some inconclusive vin research, the easiest is just to register it as is, and drive happy.

[4x4M38]

What state are you in?

Sounds like it's legal to drive. From here on out everything else is just
cosmetic as far as numbers.

Unless you are doing a factory class or motor pool restoration I'd count yourself lucky and drive the thing.

[wesk]

You've blind sided us DC. You keep referencing your VIN and ask questions of us about your VIN but you never told us what your VIN is??????

[DC]

Sorry Wes, the VIN number on the affixed tag and title is 90710, which I am pretty sure is not an M38A1 VIN Number. I checked the current engine VIN and believe it to be from a CJ-3B. Like I said it has been farmerized over the years, and trying to bring it back to life.

[wesk]

In the many years preceding 1954 the only number used to ID a vehicle was the manufacturer's production serial number. Usually about 5 or 6 digits either on the the engine or the chassis and in some cases both. In 1954 a more common VIN was required which varied in length and content between manufacturers. In 1981 Federal Law mandated the 17 digit VIN and it's contents. Until 1981 many states still used engine serial numbers for VIN's.

With this in mind I advise all folks to avoid using the word VIN when discussing the 1941 thru 1971 Willys & Kaiser jeep's serial number. Jeeps have been with us more than 65 years with serial numbers. VIN's have only been with us 35 years.

Back to your jeep. How did you determine that your M38A1's serial number could not possibly be 90710?

M38A1 Serial Numbers run from 10001 in June 1952 thru over 100058 in 1971. MD engine serials ran much higher than that. If your jeep had been originally registered in a state that used engine numbers you could have easily had a jeep with a late replacement engine serialed above 140,000.

90710 could easily have been a 1962 Navy or USMC M38A1.

As an aside your CJ3B, CJ5, CJ6 all use the 4JXXXXX serial number system on their F134 engines. http://cj3b.info/SerialNos/SerialNosEngine.html

[DC]

I bet you're right on the USMC hunch. Several parts are dark forest green under bolted on parts. Haven't gotten to removing the paint yet. I just took a guess as to what year it is. I know the title is incorrect at 1947, but the State will not let me just correct it, they looked at the serial number and just said it is not a 1954. They didn't say it is, or is not, a 47 either, and advised me to title as is. I also found that serial number info you provided to put it in the range of numbers for an M38A1, so I guess based on that, I shouldn't feel bad creating new plates with that number. Just the title will say 1947 Will. Thanks for your help. I need to get with you about starting a gallery so I. An start posting pictures. Thanks Wes

[wesk]

Here's your album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Here's the rules:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... opic&t=498

Here's the tutorial for loading your album:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Here's the tutorial for posting your photos:
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... pic&t=8670

[DC]

Hi Wes, can you direct me to link that shows the serial number ranges and years of mfg. I will put that on the metal tags in the correct places. Title will still be 1947, by at least I can drive it when I finish working on it.

[wesk]

Didn't I email a copy of the database page your serial fell on?