you're right, it doesn't compute - might be an engine number but it's not a factory 59 vin, they start with a number/letter combination the indicates the model/series, the 1/2T would be 3A [short] or 3B [long]

Bill

Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot