[FC] Hints to confirm or deny original low mileage

[Andrew Sego]

I've been looking over my new project a lot the past week. I've noticed a few 
things that lead me to believe this is an original low mileage vehicle.  This 
isn't a creampuff vehicle, as it has its own fair share of rust, damage, and 
wear.  However much of what is wrong with it looks to be from old age and 
neglect rather than high mileage.  The vehicle came from a farm in southern 
Indiana. I still have the PO's registration from 1969.

The odometer reads just over 27K.  Normally I would think that means 127K or 
that speedometer quit working years ago.  I pulled the speedometer cable at the 
transaxle and spun it by hand a bit. It's still working and appears to be the 
original gray colored cable and not a reproduction. 


There is very little wear on the brake and clutch pedal pads.  They too look to 
be original and not reproduction.  I have repro pads on my 63 Corvan so I know 
what they look like.

The Briggs and Stratton key still has the knockout in it.  This key works in all 
four locks.

So far, I have every reason to believe the engine is original.  Engine number 
T0111V, Differential date is 110, the vehicle serial number is in the 
15000's. The engine still has a Delco Remy ignition coil, points, cap and rotor, 
and AC 44FF sparkplugs.  It still has an AC fuel pump. The oil pressure switch 
is still on the side of the crankcase and has never been relocated up to the oil 
filter adapter/generator mount.  Oil cooler numbers, distributor numbers, 
carburetor numbers all jive with being the original parts.  Last known vehicle 
resigration was 1994. Earliest know registration is 1969. I did a quick 
compression test and I have 135 and 140 psi on cylinders 1 and 2. This is with 
just a bit of WD-40 down in the cylinders, and the rest of the plugs still in 
the engine.

The ball joints are all still rivited in place.

The frame rails and bed are all still very solid...this seems very strange for a 
vehicle that has spent the last 40+ years in Indiana winters, unless it was 
stored indoors or under roof, OR just wasn't driven on the roads during the 
wintertime.  




So here comes the question:

What other clues can a guy look for on one of these that might help confirm or 
deny whether an indicated low odometer reading is likely actual, flipped, or has 
been modifed?

I know a lot of things can happen to a vehicle over 50 years so sometimes it's 
hard to tell.  What I'm looking for are signs of good indications one way or the 
other.

Pictures of this vehicle can be seen at

 http://s446.photobucket.com/albums/qq190/whiskey_tango/61%20Rampside/


Thanks!

Andrew Sego