The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Firewall markings for 1949 3100.

Does anyone have photographs of the grease pencil firewall markings on the 1949 Chevrolet 3100 truck? I'm trying to determine what the firewall factory markings were on my '49. The previous owner painted over them. My truck has a 216 cu.in. with the SM420 4 speed. Deluxe 5 window cab and deluxe heater. Would like to put these grease pencil markings back on the firewall,or not?

Thanks,

Tim

I remember that being discussed before. Have you tried the search function?

I'm sure there are more but this should get you started fixit.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1072031


https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1081186

very unlikely there's 2 trucks around with the same marks, no one has ever come up with any documentation as to what any markings found actually mean or were for, and I'd say the majority of trucks had no marks when they left the factory .... put anything you like on it and stick to your story

Bill

Thank you guys for responding to my ridiculous request. I was really just trying to get an idea where these marking were located and a visual as to what they looked like. I think Bill is right about the markings not being the same on any one truck. They varied from worker to worker, day to day and on Mondays and Fridays. Wednesday was probably the best day being it was "hump" day leading to the weekend. Just sayin'......

Tim

Monday- Hangovers.
Tuesday- Hump Day Eve.
Wednesday- Hump Day!
Thursday- Might-as-well-get-some-work-done Day. (Best vehicles were made on this day.)
Friday- Get-drunk-at-lunch-day!

Carl,

I do not think your request is ridiculous. A question about markings is posted every so often.

If people post links to photos (give your name and truck year/model), I'd be pleased to put them in an album for people to view.

Here is an album of photos of markings.

Tim,

Here's my firewall pic -- '49 3800, built in Norwood, OH August, 1949.

OK, John,

It is now in the album.

Just click on any photo and you can "scroll" through the album.

Thanks,

These might be the guys with the chalk

...pic...

DADS50, do you know year/make/model?

I've added it to the album.

Thanks,

The chalk/crayon/markings may go on earlier in the assembly line - most likely before the hood goes on?

Ain't is great: speculating over something we most likely will ever be certain about?

No year or plant info, found that on a google search
Orgin vcca ?

I would guess on my 57 bigbolt, the markings were put on the firewall when it was a bare cab. To designate what options or deletes the truck got. For example: Down behind the engine it has (STD) probably standard trans. Then up higher on the left side of the firewall, it says: (deluxe heater) The rest of the numbers mean nothing to me, except it did come (delete radio, passenger sunvisor, armrests, cig lighter & rear view mirror.)
All this was not written on the firewall, just a bunch of numbers.

Fixit
I am still kicking myself for not taking pics of the crayon marks on the firewall of my '57---there were 2 or 3 markings.
It an Oakland, CA build.
But I took it to my body shop in Casper, WY (Salt Creek Classics)a couple years ago and not thinking, I failed to take pics. Now the marks are all gone in the dust.
That's life! I have some pics of the truck in its 'early' years, but none under the hood.
delky dave in WYO

I had a yellow crayon mark on the left side of the firewall, no numbers on my 53 Oakland Plant. Try to find a pic.

This is from an earlier post I made about this but the info came from an article in the Old Cars Weekly a few months ago. It was a neat article by a guy who had worked his way up at GM from a "grunt" to a management employee. I wish more of these guys would step forward before its to late.

For what its worth:
...and a recent article by an assembly line worker from the later fifties said sometimes it was the previous workers initial signifying his job was done.....in one case the markings were under the fender on the inner fender and to keep from bending over they would hold a mirror under the fender to see it.
Many have reported that some marking also indicate trim, engine and so on, or other options as it went down the line.....and that it may vary from plant to plant.