My first panhead

[echambers]

I really do appreciate everyone's concerns I understand the importance of a VIN number and am pretty confident that it won't be a problem. I am totally overwhelmed by the response this has Got greatly appreciate all the insite and information. I am picking up more information than I ever imagined it's been great thank you all! Funny thing is the more that I learn from you all and the deeper I look into things the more battle scars I find. If these things could talk!

[echambers]

Welcome to the forum.

Frame looks like the type used for 58–64. Originally they had no frame number but on the steering head you may find a forging number and a forging die number which may help with model year.
Stamped on the R-H side of the frame top engine mount you may find a date code indicating the month and year it was made.
Stamped on the left side of the steering head you may or may not find an additional original component identifying number, aka security code, aka anti-theft number, consisting of one letter followed by either three or four numbers but they may be hard to see because they are only about 1/8” tall.

Regarding the cases, I agree the left one is alternator style but is the case Harley or AM? I do not know yet.
H-D Shovel alternator cases for the first couple of years had a number boss although originally it was unstamped. I can’t tell much from the photos. Does the left case have a number boss?

On alternator Shovels the VIN shifted from the R-H case to the left case during the 1983 model year but there was no number boss. Usually the engine VIN consisted of four letters followed by six numbers and overall it was an abbreviated version of the 17-character VIN on the frame.

Does the left case have a crankcase production number? And if so are there any other markings nearby? Or any markings at the back of the case or on top of it near the rear mounting bolt?

Also you mentioned 58 a couple of times. You said the person you got the bike from had a clean title but lost it. Did he say the title said 58? Thanks.
Eric

I'm not able to see any numbers on the left side crank cover. Yes the person I got the bike from did say it was titled as a 58. LOL as much of a mix and match this seems to be it's like I mentioned in the earlier post about the Johnny Cash song I could probably title it as a 51 52 53 ect.

[droptopford]

"But up there at the courthouse, they didn't laugh because to type it up it took the whole staff and when they got through, the title weighed sixty pounds!"

[dukekleman]

It is now apparent that the neck of the frame has been worked on as well as the top fuel tank/dash mount casting.

Like you said, if they could only talk, the stories they'd tell!

Duke

[echambers]

Well I may be crazy or I may be a fool or maybe a crazy fool. But I've got her up on the jack taking a few small pieces off going to start getting the paperwork together for the court ordered title this week. Think I'll go for the 58 there has to be a 58 piece in there somewhere. We will see how this story plays out.

[HD48FL]

A '58 Harley can only be titled by the factory VIN on the left case. You do not have the original left case, trying to title it as such would be a mis-representation and fraudulent. That is why I asked what kind of VIN it was if it wasn't a Harley number. Sounds like someone had a VIN and title and just stamped in that number. Maybe I missed it, but do you have any paperwork (title or registration) that shows ownership with the VIN number that is on the bike?