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• Antique Harley Serial Numbers

Read Servi-Car Front EndEarly Harley-Davidson trikes (1932 through 1957) have a springer-style front end with a neck cup size of 7/8'.In 1958, when went to hydraulic front forks, so did Servi-cars.These 1958 and later frames have a slightly taller steering head and there is a bulge at the end. Harley Seat Post and BracketHarley-Davidson used two diameters of seat posts from 1929-1999.Most Knuckleheads, Panheads, and Shovelheads (up to 1981) have a seat post diameter of 1.18' diameter (bushing ID 1.185')On 45' solo bikes and Servi-cars from 1930 to 1973, the seat post diameter is 1.06' (bushing ID 1.065').This smaller seat post also fits 1982 to 1984 FLH four-speeds, but not the five-speed FLT or FLHT.There are slight variations in the seat bracket but they interchange. Pictured below is an early style.

Servi-car Frame NumbersThere were no VIN numbers on a Servi-car frame until the 1970 model year.Up until 1969, the only VIN number is on the engine, located on the left case.Engine VIN numbers usually started at 1000 each new year, but Harley-Davidson didn't necessarily assemble machines in numerical (serial number) order. An engine could have been held back for one reason or another. So, it's possible that an engine with a numerically lower VIN number may have reached the final assembly line after an engine which had a numerically higher VIN number.

Starting in 1970, all Harley-Davidson models had VIN #s on both the right-hand engine case and the frame.Beware of buying a 1970 or later Harley motor with no frame and registering it with the engine's VIN. It isn't going to be the true Harley title.Another person may be riding around in the frame with a different or aftermarket motor, and that bike is correctly titled off the frame number.If you get stopped and they run your VIN number, your bike gets impounded because there's another bike out there that is correctly registered with the same VIN.

Continuing with what Rubone's talking about, It's quite possible that if you look on the bottom, you'll see numbers underneath, stamped into the aluminum, like '44-12345.' You'll know from the two numbers then that you're looking at a 1944 (or 42, 43, 45 calendar year dated war-surplus 'spare parts' engine, built for the World War II war effort, part of the supposed 88,000 Harley 45 WLAs created for the US War Department.It's worth a couple of grand, nowadays. In the 1960s, brand new WLA engines, factory-painted OD green (that's a clue that yours is not a war engine) were advertised by Triangle Supply in Chicago in ads in the back of Boy's Life and other magazines, for $75.All that is if it's a single entity, a brand-new, virgin spare engine as built by the MoCo. It could very likely be an assembly of odd parts that someone put together and prettied up, bead blasting and painting.

First redlight the rosy scenario would be if the stamped numbers on the bottom ('line bore numbers') don't match each other, or are missing, or missing from one but not the other. Keep us informed, and good luck! 'Might be the basis for someone's 45 restoration some day. Those belly numbers indicate WLA surplus cases.

All WLAs came with alloy heads which were marked with a #5 on the right outside edge. Very few '44 models were built for the civilian market. With no numbers it is a nice ornament but not title-able in any state except as a home-built with assigned numbers. As far as value goes, without seeing the inside and knowing what is there it's a crap shoot. I will follow him song.

I personally would not pay a lot for an engine like that, but then I'm cheap! Without seeing the insides I would not offer over $1000. Thats about what the visible pieces would bring.Robbie. My guess is the engine was built fairly recently but the cases were line bored in 1944. The factory never used a chrome timing plug or top cylinder bracket and the timer looks like it is chrome with a ridge around it. That would definitely be aftermarket too. If i had it i would wait until a title becomes available and stamp the numbers into the cases at that time.

Patience is key. I'll look and see if i have any titles left for a 45 in a couple of days.

It would be a good one to build a bike around. I like seeing the fresh red glyptol inside the motor.

Antique Harley Serial Numbers

Usually whenever you see that the guy who built it knows what he's doing. Every part to complete the bike is still available as original or aftermarket reproduction. Just depends what your budget and degree of patience is. Is it for sale?