Firewall Marks

[John-T-53]

I knocked out the heater holes in my firewall last month to install the 'new' model 61 heater and fresh air kit. The original paint on the firewall is in very good condition, and I started using the 4" knockout as a coaster. In between swigs last night, I noticed a very faint "529" on the engine side of the disc...looks like it was scribbled on with a paint marker before the cab got sprayed. These numbers match the last 3 numbers of my VIN on the frame.

In addition to this mark, there's another two in the upper driver's side - a scribble in the paint (when it was wet), and another yellow grease pencil mark next to it. I find these marks really cool as they add to the vehicle's historical feel.

Anyways, though I'd start a thread to post some pics of the various markings and how they might vary depending on year/build location. Although, these are hard to photograph.

If you got good pics of factory signatures, share 'em!

Edited August 15, 2011 by John-T-53

[NiftyFifty]

They just got covered up under 2 coats of orange paint a few months back...I had considered keeping them some how..but no real way to save them without making an eye sore under the hood...cool to see them, not something you find on todays plastic cars very often

[JBNeal]

The firewall on the '49 has clear grease pencil markings, presumably from the quality control inspector on the assembly line, so I plan on cleaning off the dirt and maybe doing some touch-up work on that detail to preserve these fingerprints from the past. The '48, '51 & '53 have faint markings, but the '52 parts truck's hood has been gone for many years so that firewall has been weathered too much.