figuring out my new 64

I've tried finding out what I'm dealing with on fordsix and ford-econoline forums, but my accounts aren't activated yet. I hope I might get some answers here. I need help interpreting my VIN plate and engine castings.

My vin plate? (on the drivers door jamb) doesn't have a vin, just a serial number. It's made in Oakville Ontario Canada, and the serial number looks nothing like VINs I've seen posted for decoding!

Anyway the plate says:
Ser # 6921190L-248245A, Trim 04, Paint WW, Axle Ratio 4.00.I
Series E100, WB 90, Max GVW LB 3600
Engine Trans SZ-3L/D

There is a rebuild plate on the engine block:
6108 020, 6331 030, 6211 010, 6333 (describes crank bearings, etc)
CAMSHAFTSIZE 000
MODEL EETB, NO 444414

Engine Castings:
C3DE-6015-E - 63 Falcon Engine Block
C1UE-6090-A - 61 Econoline Cyl. Head - has C and 2K also cast
C5UE-9430-A - 65 Econoline Exhaust Manifold - has U cast

I suspect the engine is a 144, as it really howled at highway speed. The block has three freeze plugs (well two and a block heater in Canada, eh?), but I have no idea where to find any other indication of what engine it is (144 or 170).

So, can anyone help me demystify my new old van?

Thanx in advance.

Corey

Corey,thats not a VIN plate you describe. It may be a military plate or similar for a fleet vehicle. Check the drivers door edge and the door jamb too. IF you find nothing there,looks in the rear corners inside the van. Theres a small cross brace which has the VIN stamped into it. It could be on either side of vehicle. Lastly,with doghouse removed and tar seal scraped away from under it theres a few places on the floor lip where the VIN is stamped into it. All the info you need is at Oldeconolines@yahoogroups.com Stop in and post your info there for a VIN decode by mark. Preferably post the whole VIN plate data if you find it. If not,the VIN will help some.

Virtual put me on to a couple of the yahoo groups including that one... econosrus set me up right away, and I sent them this information tonight.

It is the tag, but apparently there were differences with some of the canadian manufactured vans, as mine is. But I hope I can find the markings where you say.

I think tried oldeconolines too, but haven't heard anything from them... same with fordsix... but I really want to learn what I'm dealing with. I'll keep digging though.

I did enjoy my little city cruise today though. I really should do some maintenance on it before I drive it too much (nevermind the rust hole repairs). Still, it sure felt good!

Jay Long of EconosRUs yahoo group decoded my Canadian tag!

6921190L-248245A:

6=Ford Econoline
92=van
11=Econoline series
90=wheelbase (inches)
L=left hand drive
248245=serial number
A=0-6000 pound GVW class

trim 04=standard beige interior (?)

paint WW=Wimbledon White paint

4.00:1= light duty 7-1/4 inch axle

E100 series = Econoline

wb 90 = wheelbase (inches)

Max GVW lb 3600= 3600 pound GVW (half ton rating)

engine SZ=1965(S) 170 (Z) *** Already know it has a 63 Falcon block and 61 Econoline exhaust, weird. Maybe not original engine.

trans 3L/D= 3 speed light duty transmission

Thanx everyone (and Jay if you're here)!

Corey,I would go with what Jay says. He has devoted a lot of time to the "science" of these old trucks. I ve never personally seen a Canadian VIN plate but assumed they were similar to ours with only different codes on them. It's not the first time I ve been wrong and certainly not the last either. I always say I know enuf to be dangerous,not necessarily correct though. Im usually pretty close on most things. I dont dig too deep into the technical stuff though,I just dont have that kind of time. Mark,who now does the decodes is a member of both Yahoos sites.

Thanx again. I feel a lot better simply knowing a little bit more about what I bought. Thanx Tim for the oldeconolines connection... already have a bunch of new stuff to read... what an active group! I totally trust what Jay reported... I provided him with the tag info, engine component castings, engine rebuild tag info... very quickly he responded and had lots of thoughts (and confusion because I had a typo in the serial number that gave a number that looked like 1965... he caught it.) We've exchanged several emails now, and I am very impressed by him!

Though I haven't done any maintenance to the van yet, and wasn't so sure about in-city driving due to not really knowing how the brakes respond, I couldn't help myself on Saturday. Frustrated because my rocker panel repair on the car was not cooperating with me, I went home, got in the econoline and went to my brother's place across town! He's really excited for me! And I feel more comfortable driving in the city! Though I would like to fully inspect the brakes and controls before going cruising again. But it was SO SATISFYING!

Now if I could get activated on FordSix, I'd be set! But it amazes me how much people know here and other forums... If I could go to a couple runs around the states, I think I would need a very large address book for all the greatt people I've met online... and I'm sure there would be people that only come online here, or on vannin.com, or vcvc... the list goes on.

Im heading to Econo's at Carlisle Pennsylvania next weekend then the following weekend up to Canada for Van Fest. If you are near any of those stop in or maybe catch us at the Van Nationals in Illinois in July. Always a good time to be had.

I seriously thought about Nats (it's closer than Van Fest), but I can't make either. Only my first year at my job, so I got peanuts for vacation time. And Saskatchewan is more on the left coast than the right. This summer is going to mostly be fixing the vans... hoping to drive my Econo to a van run in Alberta Canada in August. Next year, I hope to at least get into the Ohio for one run.

Jay is definitely the expert on VIN numbers. From the photos I've seen of your van it looks to be a 61 or 62. If you post some photos of the inside of the front door and the cargo doors it may help. The 61's had different bracing on the inside of the cargo doors and lacked a raised area of sheetmetal on the front doors. They aslo did not have an exterior door lock on the driver's side. The roof on your's also looks like a 61 roof without the ribs in it. Front bumper is from a 65-67. It may have been changed along with other parts over the years.
Fred