Hello all, I’m looking a a 1963 Pan, here are the engine numbers, something looks a little off to me but I’m no expert. What do you guys think?

 

One of your countrymen is the expert on this and will hopefully weigh in shortly

To my ignorant eye, those numbers ( or at least the boss) look fine

 

Looks good to me as well, proper 6 and 3, the date looks like a tandem stamp was used.

 

Farther down this page is thread titled " VIN question 65 Big Twin"

Photo in post #15 "confirms your numbers and Mr. Newman

 

I have a 63FLH and I just looked and the 63FL on yours looks good.
I don't have a 7, 2 or 8 to compare but they look Serif and correct.
They are not usually perfectly straight. My 63 FLH is less straight that yours.
The only odd looking part is the 7 2 looks deeper but that might be normal and if cleaned up they may look more consistant.

I look forward to Eric's comments.

 

Thank you all for your input, the next question I have is, should I be concerned that the cases are painted, possibly in order to cover repairs or normal practice? Thanks

 

I wouldn't worry about paint. I would check the belly numbers and the other casting dates.

 

Can you be specific please about what looks a little off to you. And I’d like a clearer picture so we can see if anything is going on just below the characters or if it’s just this particular photo.





The 6 has a straight back but with the top pointing right. The 3 is flat-topped, sans serif and it has a medium-length diagonal. Both characters are types I’d expect in the year portion of a 63 Pan SN and they may have been applied with a tandem stamp.
F and L are sans serif. Notice the lower horizontal stroke of the F is almost as long as the upper stroke.
Sequence portion complies with the 60–69 even-odd code and is within the known range for a 63 Pan, given that their SNs began at 1000 and my highest authentic-looking example at this stage is 91++.
Notice the 7 has a short vertical serif at top left. Notice the back is a certain type.
The 2 appears to be the normal type. Can you confirm that it has a vertical serif at bottom right?
The 8 looks unusual but a clearer photo may help resolve that.

Here’s an example for comparison of most characters. Also notice five blemishes or whatever in the casting and these are all common for a 63 Pan.







As for the paint, it wasn’t normal practice at the factory to paint Panhead cases. Maybe an owner did it for cosmetic purposes or maybe it was done for another reason. Investigate further.

BNs may be formatted similar to the following example: 163 1234. Notice the space between the two portions and that is not uncommon for a 63 Pan BN. Also notice no hyphen/dash and it’s not unusual for it to be missing for 63.

Because the engine is stamped FL there may be a certain type of sans serif 7 on top of the cases near the rear mounting bolts but they will not be visible if an original-style regulator support is fitted there.

Cylinders may have date codes at the base. As of about mid-63 models, Pan cylinders had MCC logos (on the left side).
If the heads are 63 models they may have date codes but they will be on top and therefore not visible on an assembled engine.

If the frame is 63 you may find an additional original component identifying number, aka security code, aka supplemental number, aka anti-theft number stamped on the left side of the steering head. For example B1234. Similar, not identical, additional ID numbers may be stamped outside the left fork stop on the lower triple clamp and on the front of the trans case on the R-H side just below where the lid attaches.
Eric

 

So the plot thickens, the frame had an engine guard, this is what was under it when removed.. Makes me think that silver paint may actually be hiding some sins!!!!

 

Is that a crack emanating from the blacked number to the case bolt???