The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Vin and Title question on 1951 3/4 ton

Just a rookie here to the classic truck world -1 week owner-Well after restoring a 1958 corvette the past two years I had always wanted an older Chevy Truck...one fell into my lap last week 1/2 mile from my home in a old garage. too good to be true started on the spot many original looking components under the hood at first glance...1951 3/4 ton 36,000 miles light surface rust on body frame is clean as they come. Everything was good until tonight I tried to decode the VIN...now I'm all fussed up!!! Title says I have a 1951 with the vin on the door matching the last title with a vin number on the plate on drivers side door jam vin reads 14KRE3802 remember that the title says 1951 when decoding the 14 seems to mean Baltimore MD the K is 1952 the R is 3600 E is May and 3802 is the production number...the previous title says 1951 all info lead me to believe this is a 1951 and the decoder and everywhere I look say K is 1952 whats up??? any help suggestions.....looks like everything matches the vin on the titles but the year is wrong....this is my OH shOOT moment !!...any suggestions any help would be appreciated....do I ignore? do I try to go to Pa dept of transportation and try and change the year on the title? wow this could be a mess...I want to be straight before I sink a bunch of money into a complete restoration...I'm new to this truck thing any of you experts who have advice or an opinion would be appreciated

What is the code/ID on the title?

Titles might have a body/cab code or an engine code.

Titles might be based on the date of cab, the date of engine, or the date of the delivery, or the date of sale, or whatever the dealer and/or DMV decided to give as a title/vehicle year.

The GM model year might not coincide with the calendar year.

The title year (1951) being earlier than the cab/vehicle number year (1952) does seem odd.

14KRE3802
14 = Baltimore, MD assembly plant
KR = 1952 3600 (3/4 ton)
E = May
3802 = 3802-1000 = 2,802nd 3600 out of Baltimore that model year

If you have the original engine, that might give some information on dates. Here are locations of codes on the engine.

Post the following engine codes:
- block casting code
- block date casting code
- head casting code
- head date casting code
- engine serial number

I will try to get some or all of those numbers later today. This sure has me puzzeled? any other thoughts generally appreciated

Seeing the differences between 1951 and 1952: You may have to enlarge the pictures to really see the detail of the handles.

1951 door notice door handle does not have a push button, it is a flip handle and the lock is located just underneath on the body (right side only)

1952 door Notice the push button w/lock and the absence of the lock on the body.

These pictures shows the easiest way to spot a 1951 (only year with flip handles and vent windows) and 1952 (these doors were the same from 1952-1955)

If you have a 1952 as your tag states, it was most likely a clerical error and with some proof in hand DMV'S usually help with the change. If it is a 1951, then someone switched the tags to get it registered, that's a whole lot of work in some jurisdictions to get changed.

Not to derail the thread but have a similar question of my own...

I have a 51 with the old "titled with the engine number" dilemma. Same owner had it from 53 until I bought it so it never got questioned. Engine was changed to a 235 at some point in the distant past. Not a big deal to me as long as I own it, but might create some issues if I ever need to sell out of state.

Anyone have any experience with getting title changed from engine number to body #? There has to be some kind of procedure for this at the state. And I have all kinds of documentation. The engine # on title was for a 51 half ton truck. And I have old registration docs from the 70s and such.

Title and year are determined in my State by two things. First the VIN on the cab. And here is where it gets interesting, by the date of sale...so you can wind up with a truck like mine. 1952 VIN plate and a 1953 title. Sold late at the dealer. Registered as a 53 with the VIN from the door plate. For trucks that used the engine number and no longer have the same engine, there is a process called "Bonded". Simply put you talk to you're insurance agent and bond the truck at a value you determine. One time fee based on the value you agree on. Take that to the DMV and they put a State issued tag on the cab. Done! You're State may be very different but there are legal ways to do it.

Ok mystery solved!!! After freaking out for about 12 hours I went to my mechanic..we looked at the tag it is pretty perfect but had some CRUD on it...we got some light polish and just started to polish the bottom of the tag a little rubbing and some white shiney crud fell off and more and wholey smokes a J clearly shows 1951...so my title shows 1951 the tag has a J but the title that was transferred had a K a crudy K none the less but it looked like a K to the naked eye until cleaded real good so we call Pa Dept of Motor vehicles we have to fill out a form and take a picture and they will correct the one letter from a K to a J.......

Every state has a method of resolving that issue. That's actually a common problem and is likely why states stopped using the engine number after '55. It's best to call your state licensing authority and find out your state's way of resolving it.

The local licensing authority office acted like I was from outer space when I called to ask that question.

That is still who you have to deal with.

If you local office doesn't know call your state office. It's not uncommon for local offices to not know since many will rarely have the issue arise.

Good point.

When I did mine in Missouri I went to the Highway Patrol. Get this form from the Missouri DOR, then go to the Patrol.

http://dor.mo.gov/forms/551.pdf


Here are the inspection station locations.

http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolLocations/VINSalvageVehicleInspectionStation.pdf