I've just bought a "project bike"... a real fixer-upper.

The frame number (1HD1BJL44LY022056) checks out as a 1990 FLSTC, but the only number I can find on the engine is "19839276", stamped on the right hand case when facing the front wheel.

I've searched Google but I can't find anything that matches an 8 digit engine number, except for stuff prior to 1960ish.

Can anyone help please?

 

It would help greatly if you posted a few pictures.

Mine is hard to miss. Left hand side. (right side when facing the front wheel)

 

Oh yeah, when referring to left or right side, do that like you are sitting on the bike.

And, welcome to the BEST Harley Davidson forum on the net.

 

I have my 1990 factory service manual here and the correct engine number is 4 letters followed by 6 numbers, like ABCD 012345, with all those characters being visible in the full VIN. That suggests, if you have the correct number there, that your engine is from a different bike, probably non-factory. However as traildog says, we can think better with pics!

 

I have uploaded a couple of pics of the engine number in question.

Again, any help is much appreciated.

 

That isn't where the engine number should be, it should be on the other side of the motor at the base of the jugs.

 

I've checked the other side of the engine and apart from the raised letters "STD" at the junction (base) of the two cylinders, I can't see any letters or numbers there.

Can anyone show me a picture of what it SHOULD look like please?

 

STD? You've got an aftermarket engine case, not the original from The MoCo. And the number you see, is the serial number. STD was a well known manufacturer of aftermarket engine cases. http://www.stddevelopment.com/ Founder died in 2002, doesn't look like they are manufacturing engine cases any longer. However, it looks like they are still making heads and a 5spd trans case.

Engine has most likely been rebuilt or replaced for what could be a number of reasons.

 

Makes sense. The STD site mentions Part No. 1983 (Standard through 3 13/16" Bore) which coincides with the first 4 digits of the engine number I quoted.

Many thanks for all the help.

 

It's worth taking a close look around the rest of the engine. It seems to me there are two possibilities: the engine has been rebuilt into STD cases for some reason, which suggests it may be further modified from stock; it could be a scratch built engine with other brand components, such as cylinders and heads.