1979 vin to engine number confusion

[RalphFonz]

From what I've researched online, im positive these are supposed to somewhat match. however i cannot get any details one engine lower numbers. any inputs?

[Tattooo]

The motor has been re stamped and not from the factory.......

[RalphFonz]

son of a... any way of knowing wtf they mean?

[TriNortchopz]

The motor has been re stamped and not from the factory.......

Like he^^ said:

Harley Davidson VIN Information

This information is a combination of years of experience plus information available on the internet. There are a few sites out there with much more detailed VIN info, this is just a guide to get you started.

1970 - 1980***:
Example - 1A 123456 H8

Numbers on both frame and engine. These numbers will match exactly if the bike is all original (with the exception of some 1979 models, see below).
First two digits are model code.

Your frame looks like it starts with 5E;if so: 5E = FXEF-1200


Third through seventh numbers are the production numbers (always five numbers over 10000
last two digits are the year code

H9 = 1979

1979***:

Some 1979 engines had totally different numbers. This was a factory idea that was quickly changed after they were notified that it made the bikes look stolen to some law enforcement agencies. The production date range is 1/9/79 - 2/7/79, and the frame VINs affected are or should be 43000H9 through 48199H9. The "crankcase number" is reported to be a ten digit numeric ID.

https://www.terry-zone.com/tech/vin.php

1970-1980:

From 1970 to 1980 the VIN number could be found on both the frame and the engine and would match exactly with the exception of a few months in 1979 which was due to an idea by the factory to make them different. The idea was quickly killed after law enforcement notified Harley-Davidson that it made the bikes look stolen. The production date range was from 1/9/1979 to 2/7/1979. The VIN numbers affected are 43000H9 through 48199H9. The engine numbers where 10 digit numerical IDs.
Example:
Model Production Number Year
2A 10859 H4

https://www.tabperformance.com/harley-davidson-vin-reference-guide-s/224.htm

See more from this protected page for the affected 1979 range:

https://www.techsweb.us/hdvin7080.html

[Dragstews]

I don't think that number been altered...
Do think it may be the factory's one year gig with going nuts with their number system....

[Tattooo]

I don't think that number been altered...
Do think it may be the factory's one year gig with going nuts with their number system....

Cool, What do the numbers say that the motor came out of? I've never seen them before..... That doesn't mean they did or didn't do it, I've just never seen them before...

[FatChibs]

id be curious as well, my engine numbers (supposedly a 1979) are fucked up as well. i just assumed it was a restamp but i have read the 1979 vin number changed and got fucky. i dont have the pic on hand but i can try to take one later to compare....

[RalphFonz]

yea i figured out easily how to decode the frame, but i guess ill have to go to a shop prior to getting my engine rebuild kit due to this being a basket case.

also the first number is a 6 after having two people stare at it.. in the picture it looks like a 5. so its a FXEF-80 1979.

[Fetch]

The engine numbers look good for an early '79 build like mentioned in the earlier post. I've got an original motor & frame FLH with the same crazy engine numbers...only a few off from yours.

[Tattooo]

I have a 79 FXS and my numbers aren't fucked up looking like that...

[TriNortchopz]

I have a 79 FXS and my numbers aren't fucked up looking like that...

It must be outside the one month that was affected:

The production date range is 1/9/79 - 2/7/79, and the frame VINs affected are, or should be, 43000H9 through 48199H9.

[Fetch]

49999h9 is close, I wonder if it was and engine that was hanging around and got used up and the end of an inventory cycle?

[RalphFonz]

It must be outside the one month that was affected:

The production date range is 1/9/79 - 2/7/79, and the frame VINs affected are, or should be, 43000H9 through 48199H9.

i read that too from a site. when i saw the 9999. basically though i got random stuff for the end of the year. going to do more research after im done w/ the frame to match up the engine to appropriate rebuild kit/engine parts

[Tattooo]

[ i think

I agree with you and I'm not going to say why ....

[FatChibs]

Yeah hahah.