No belly numbers

VIN Identification
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Holtvintage
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No belly numbers

#1

Post by Holtvintage »

Hey, I'm new to the forum and I very never posted to any fourm. I've been looking at a set of 1951 panhead cases. The Vin #on the boss looks legit. What throws red flags are when I asked for a pic of the belly # he said that there are no belly #. Just DAVID 7 on both cases. It does have a 7 by the rear motor mount that suggests a 74ci oem cases right? I was thinks maybe a set of factory replacement cases? I know it's a dumb question but I'm trying to learn.

Vin # and title says 1951 fl. No belly #

Thanks up front
Buddhahoodvatoloco
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Re: No belly numbers

#2

Post by Buddhahoodvatoloco »

Your assumption that the "7"s indicate 74ci is almost certainly correct.
As for no belly numbers, I have never seen a legit pan without them, have seen them buffed off.
When the "7"s are stamped nearly identical, empirically speaking/writing it indicates to me that the cases are matching. I have attached some examples.
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Re: No belly numbers

#3

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Welcome to the forum. It isn’t a dumb question.

In the VIN, how many numbers are in the sequence portion, four or five? If five numbers, what are the first two? Can you please post a photo showing part of the VIN.

What years are the cases consistent with? If you’re not sure then photos of both cases will help. If the cases are apart, what are the casting numbers and date codes?

As for the 7s by the rear motor mount, are they the same type (sans serif) as shown above? Or do they have a serif? Photos?
Eric
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Re: No belly numbers

#4

Post by Holtvintage »

Thanks for the quick reply . With the info you guys gave me it reassured my feeling that I'm not going to buy them. I think that there are too many after market cases floating around. I did some research before posting this question and I never ran across a thread or anything about no belly #. I think even oem replacement cases should have at least production date, maybe not a line bore date. I will try to post some pics if I can figure out how ; ). I'm a dumb sheetmetal worker, not a rocket scientist
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Re: No belly numbers pictures

#5

Post by Holtvintage »

[image][/image] These are the no belly cases
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RUBONE
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Re: No belly numbers

#6

Post by RUBONE »

VIN number isn't factory stamped. And the restamp is poorly done at that!
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Re: No belly numbers

#7

Post by Holtvintage »

DSC00517.jpg
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DSC00515.jpg
DSC00515.jpg (135.42 KiB) Viewed 2233 times
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Re: No belly numbers

#8

Post by Speeding Big Twin »

Thanks for the photos. As Robbie stated, the VIN isn’t factory-stamped. The number boss looks like it has problems and none of the numeric characters are consistent with H-D stamps for a 51 Pan.

The 7s on top of the cases look Harley but I wouldn’t expect to see that type of 7 (seriffed) on 51 model cases. I would however expect to see those seriffed 7s on 1948 cases (and at certain other times). The cases may be 1948. Notice the lower outer edges appear rounded? Some, not all, 1948 model Pan cases had rounded lower edges as a leftover characteristic from Knucklehead cases.

But some 48s are different, having squared-off lower edges as per the example below:

Later-1948 model casting.jpg
Later-1948 model casting.jpg (89.68 KiB) Viewed 2204 times

And squared-off lower edges are what I’d expect to find if those cases were 51.

BTW, and with no offence meant, where were you and the seller looking for the belly numbers? The photos you posted of the underneath seem to suggest you were looking at the very bottom of the cases?
Eric
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Re: No belly numbers

#9

Post by Holtvintage »

That was the only picture he sent of the bottom portion. I think the belly # are on the forward portion of the bottom, closer the the front mounts. I've decided to pass on these. Too many out there to settle on something shady. If would forever haunt me even of they were "legal " . It's all about being happy with it. I have other projects to piddle with till something else comes along
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