Cylinder date codes?

[Taylorfromtucson]

I have just bought this 45 motor off a guy for a decent price, and did enough snooping around on what I could see to be satisfied on a good purchase...but am curious on some things. I have looked up pics of other cylinder heads and have not seen any with the date codes "right side up" on the front cyclinder. All the others had the tag and letter /month code right side up on the rear cylinder, and upside down on the front. This front has the opposite of what I've seen. Any info?? It's an matching belly 46(wl 39xx), and everything that I know of looks civilian/46 to me. Such as no rear chain oiler(wla) orifice, and the one cyclinder has a "m" month code on the cylinder for december and a 45 for 1945, so I can assume this late 45 casting could be used in a mid(?) 46. Thoughts? Also can anyone let me know if 1946 45s only used #6 heads. I thought I read that somewhere, that 1945 was last year for #5 heads. Pics attached for referance

[Taylorfromtucson]

More pics

[Rubone]

Sadly whatever that photo format is I cannot see anything in them, worse than thumbnails. Perhaps someone else can help on them. What is the VIN and the Belly numbers? Cylinder codes mean little in terms of date as most have been changed over the years. And #6 heads can be bolted on any 45 from '37 up with no modifications, again that means little. Only the cases matter for the year.

[Taylorfromtucson]

Wow, those did come out badly, let me try again. I might be wrong about the right side up/up side down thing...I was cross checking the pictures of the motor I bought with eBay cylinder pics, but when I got home, my wla front cylinders are right side up.ni also noticed that the position of the month letter stamp in relation to the number-number date codes changes. I read in the victory hop up manual that 45s came stock with number 5 heads up to 1945, and was curious if number 6 heads were standard on all other civilian 45s after that. Vin- Wl3908 Bellies - 46-3403 Can anyone also tell me around what month of the year it rolled out?

[Taylorfromtucson]

[Taylorfromtucson]

I don't know why these pics keep coming out like ****. I guess all in all can someone tell me.. 1. Around what month would this bike roll off the line? I'm curious what would have came on it( such as the earlier half of 46 using steel badges and the later using chrome over brass tank badges and chrome vs painted caps, lever, shift gate) 2. If 1946 and up were stock with #6 heads? 3.if my cylinders(stamped as a December 1945 cylinder) are original to my wl3908 motor? How long did fresh castings and parts sit around untill they might be used on a motor assembly, or on anything else. 4. Any info on date code orientation on cylinders. I have seen the letters placement in orientation to the numbers in different spots, and some front cylinders with "upside down" date code stamps(or raised stamps, whatever you wanna call it) 5. The pictures suck but double-checking that everything on this motor looks 1946 savvy. Yes, i know almost everything is interchangeable, I just like having all 1 year parts. Sorry about the pictures, Its making this difficult for me to describe, but I appreciate any responses

[Rubone]

If that is truly your VIN then it was not stamped by H-D. The year should be part of it. As for what month it was assembled that is an unknown as H-D did not keep those records and any other method is merely speculation. Bikes were not always assembled in sequence for a variety of reasons, and the numbers assembled per month varied at different times of the year and for different models. .

[Taylorfromtucson]

Sorry, it's 46wl3908 That's a bummer about when it rolled out of the factory because the 46nyear had alot of changes in trim/finish that Palmer split up into 3 different year sections.i want to have my bike really close stock styling, but I guess I get a free pass to pic which part of the year I like.???

[Rubone]

45s were quite different than Big Twins of the same year as many of the changes did not apply (such as frames) like on BT and many of the 45s were pretty utilitarian compared to the BTs which were in high demand. The number on that 45 is right at 2900 units so it was likely a bit later in the year as production numbers were pretty low compared to the other models. Remember the market was full of surplus WLAs and demand was suppressed.There were only about 1500 more built after that one in 46,
The date codes are the letter for month, then the plate for year and day of month.

[Taylorfromtucson]

I went off this about the 46 production numbers. Also kind of a reason I chose 46, I figured it would be easier to get parts.heres the link to the production chart, since my pictures are not coming in well https://1944wl.webs.com/wproductionnumbers.htm