Jfurr 2 #1 Posted May 28, 2018 How do I identify my wheel horse RJ without an identification tag on the frame? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 56,496 #2 Posted May 28, 2018 Without a serial number tag there is no real way of knowing if it is a 1959 or a 1958. The casting on your transmission should have some numbers cast into it that will tell when that part was made, that is about as close as we can get. We would like to see some pictures of it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,628 #3 Posted May 28, 2018 ...Are you trying to distinguish the difference between RJ and a suburban ? The easiest and quickest for me is the front axel . A RJ is made with just a straight piece of bar stock and a suburban has a cast iron one with built in drops on each end . Here’s a RJ .... here’s a Suburban.... this is is a good side by side picture. Also notice the differences in the hoods . RJ on left and a Suburban on the right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jfurr 2 #5 Posted May 28, 2018 This is not the original hood except for the back piece that I am going to piece together . It has a straight front axel. Numbers J8-8 on top of transmission. Any help identifying would be greatly appreciated. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,959 #6 Posted May 28, 2018 It is definitely an RJ. The flat tension pulley and the vertical mount for the brake band tell you that. The trans numbers J8-8 equate to J = August 8th 1958...so it is late 1958 or maybe early 1959...that is the best guess you can get. Welcome to Red Square 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,959 #8 Posted May 28, 2018 By the way...if the last number of that casting date was a 9...it would be a 1959, but being an 8, you just don't know. Check out the manuals section on the main page. We have a few manuals that you can print and use to get her running. Wheel Horses were never like Corvettes. The 58/59 for all intents and purposes are the same, and almost no ID tags made it through to today. It is not a big deal, Wheel Horse had a habit of being efficient, they used the parts they had and did not worry about what the new year looked like. Along with the manuals, check out the reference picture gallery also on the main page. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
