Guest Miss E Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 I have been looking online and have yet to find a comprehensive guide to understanding the various numbers on my 1937 Buick Century. Ive been able to find some based on information in other peoples posts on various forums, but where the information is coming from... that I have not been able to find. Can anyone advise? Here is what I have found thus far: from the original owner identification card: Model 37-61 Sedan delivered March 8, 1937 Highland, Illinioisframe number: 3089078 (Same I found on the bottom frame) From other posts and my shop manual I see that there were 2,999,497 made by the start of 1937... which means that 89,581 were made between the first and mine...I think...Key number 8408 (Can I still get keys made with this number?!? I cant seem to get the glovebox to unlock! lol)Engine no: 63241202 (I am not sure that this is the same number as found on my engine.... see photograph... is this the right place to be looking?) I see plenty of numbers on the exhaust manifold pieces as well... not sure if they are useful.. If I am looking in the correct place, the numbers on my engine have GM over them and then 129 591 2 I note that the top cover does not have the same printing as I have seen on other straight eight engines... those seem to be blue with the red writing where mine is all black ... could it be because the engine has been changed?) )From the vehicle/see photos: Style 37-4619Body 6138Trim 3?0Paint 500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Stoneberg Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 The numbers you are showing are just casting and part numbers, not the true engine number.The engine number is stamped on a area just below the distributor. It should be 4-31XXXXXXX or a 6-31XXXXXX.From the trim plate (Left hand photo) the only number I can find is your color which is Imperial Black.As far as the writing on the valve cover, Buick used different colors to identify different years or features.So it may be correct, for example my 47 & my 40 are totally different because my 50 has hydraulick lifters.I dont know what yours should be though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 Have a look at post 5 here - part 2. Sean will be along to decode your numbershttp://forums.aaca.org/showthread.php?t=367615&p=1267584 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean1997 Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 (edited) Frame serial number:3089078 = sequential number, range was 2,999,497 to 3,219,843(frame numbers were assigned to the three plants in blocks, so the sequential number does not necessarily indicate the actual build order, just that there were 89,581 numbers assigned before yours)Engine serial number:632412026 = Series 60/Century3241202 = sequential number, range was 3,176,225 to 3,388,399Body tag:BUICK MOTOR CO. FLINT, MICH. 1937 MOD. STYLE No. 37-4619 BODY No. 6138 TRIM No. 310 PAINT No. 500 MO. DAY YEARBODY BY FISHER 1937 = 1937 model year MOD. = Buick model, not listed but should be 61 = 4-door sedan - trunk back, 6-passenger STYLE No. 37-4619 = Fisher body style number 37 = 1937 model year 4619= Fisher body style number 4 = Buick 6 = Series 60 (Century) 19 = 4-door sedan - trunk back, 6-passenger BODY No. 6138(lack of plant code before body number indicates body was built at Flint, MI) 6138 = 6138th 4619 built at Flint, MI TRIM No. 310 = Taupe Mohair Fabric Available on Model 61, 64, 66S, 67, 68 PAINT No. 500 = Imperial Black Edited May 25, 2014 by sean1997 (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Miss E Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Thank you so much! Is is there a book or some other resource for all of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean1997 Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 (edited) There isn't a single source for everything. I've been compiling information for years and still don't have a complete list for somethings. Another problem is that ALL sources contain errors (yes, even those by Buick or the BCA), so it's better to use multiple sources. For paint codes you can use the BCA Judging Manual:BCA Judging Manual (see page 44): http://www.buickclub.org/BCA%20JUDGING%20MANUAL/BCAjudgingrev2.pdfFor trim codes see my trim code list:http://forums.aaca.org/f115/1932-1975-buick-trim-codes-model-367437.htmlThese would be a few of the other sources:Buick Master Chassis Parts Book 1930-1955, Buick Motor Division, General Motors Corporation, Flint Michigan, 1955.Buick Prices, Colors, Equipment, Accessories, and Terms, Buick Motor Division, General Motors Corporation, Flint Michigan, 1937.Buick Wholesale Car Order Form, General Motors Corporation, Flint Michigan, 1937.http://sloanlongway.org/buick-gallery/research/automotive-research"The Buick, A Complete History, Revised Sixth Edition", Automobile Heritage Publishing and Communications, LLC, 2005.Dammann, George H., "Seventy Years of Buick, Revised Edition".Gunnel, John. “Standard Catalog of Buick, 1903-2004, 3rd Edition”, 2004. (Note: contains many errors)Brigham, Grace. "The Serial Number Book for U.S. Cars 1900-1975", Motorbooks International, 1979.Heasley, Jerry. "The Production Figure Book for U.S. Cars", Motorbooks International, 1977.Branham Automobile Reference Book, 1938, 1939, 1940.Red Book National Market Reports Inc., 1940.Paint chips, 1937http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisplay.cgi?year=1937&manuf=GM&info=yes&page=1 Edited May 26, 2014 by sean1997 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Miss E Posted May 27, 2014 Share Posted May 27, 2014 Holy Cow! LolThank you so much for helping us all out with this! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bob Call Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Nobody has addressed your question about the key code. GM used Briggs and Stratton locks for many years. Any old time locksmith shop should be able to cut a key with the code number. Maybe a GM dealer that has been around since the fifties still has a key cutter and could do it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollback Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Sean1997 Need your help if possible. I'm looking to buy a 1938 Buick and seller is say vin is 43526823. This seems to be an engine number vs. Frame/Vin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean1997 Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Yes, it's an engine serial number, which was used as the VIN by many states back in the day. Looks like a previous owner didn't know it was the engine serial number and stamped it on a tag. Not the first time I've seen someone do that because they were unaware it was the engine serial number. Also possible that they swapped engines and discovered that the old engine serial number was used as the VIN only after they made the swap and then made a tag to match the title. It would be good to check the engine serial number of the engine currently in the car. 43526823 4 = Series 40/Special 3526823 = sequential number, range for 1938 was 3,396,937 to 3,572,651 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rollback Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Sean1997 Thanks for your help. The car no longer has the original engine. It has been restomod- makes me suspicion of the legality of a title for a car with a handmade vin plate for an engine number for a car without that engine. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hinmon Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 I have a straight 8 with a serial number stamped 70746784. I can’t find it anyplace in the books to tell me about it. Can anyone help frank. 661-809-7994 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 52 minutes ago, Hinmon said: I have a straight 8 with a serial number stamped 70746784. I can’t find it anyplace in the books to tell me about it. Can anyone help frank. 661-809-7994 Frank, can you get a picture of the number? Does the 6 look more like a b? It should if it is an original stamping. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean1997 Posted July 11, 2019 Share Posted July 11, 2019 70746784 7074678 = sequential number, starting at 6950620 for 1953 (last year for straight 😎 4 = Series 40/Special (starting in 1942 Buick put the series digit at the end of the serial number) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Lopez Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) I have a 1937 Buick Roadmaster. 4 door. with side mounts. i found the number on the engine. It doesn't match the number on the title. 83319885 is stamped on the engine plate. The title has 3160662. Edited August 15, 2019 by Steve Lopez Uploaded photos (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) Maybe it is titled to the frame number? Not every state titled to the engine. Edited August 15, 2019 by Bloo (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted August 15, 2019 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) Engine numbers for 1937 start at 3001000 8 = 80 series 33198805 is in the 1937 range To me those numbers are not stamped in the normal Buick way. Maybe a restamped engine Chassis numbers for 1937 start at 2830899 3160662 is in the 1937 range Chassis numbers for 1938 start at 3219848 Edited August 15, 2019 by 1939_Buick (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted August 16, 2019 Share Posted August 16, 2019 4 hours ago, 1939_Buick said: To me those numbers are not stamped in the normal Buick way. Maybe a restamped eng I agree. Ben 4 hours ago, 1939_Buick said: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Lopez Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 On 8/14/2019 at 8:40 PM, Steve Lopez said: I have a 1937 Buick Roadmaster. 4 door. with side mounts. i found the number on the engine. It doesn't match the number on the title. 83319885 is stamped on the engine plate. The title has 3160662. Thanks everyone. 4 year's later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Lopez Posted May 1, 2022 Share Posted May 1, 2022 Sorry for the late reply.....The California Department of Motor Vehicles agreed with this forum and concluded that the frame VIN number is correct and will be used for my registration paperwork. The officer signed off on the paperwork and the car has been legally in my name, pink slip in hand since 2020. Currently it is up to date on tags, insured and running. Thanks all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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