The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1948 vin tag and title shows 5FR but has 137 wheel base.

I have been using the vin and title as the 1948 truck is a FR model so therefore a 3600. But it has been on the back of my head since I bought it that it has a really long bed.
In hunting radial bearings for the trucks front spindles, one site listed by wheel base and stake bed pockets.
SO in double checking I know the bed has four stake pockets and tape shows 137 inch wheel base. But I am not seeing a FR model in 137WB in my books. Am I missing the vin decodes that show a FR 3600 with 137

The cab, and therefore it's serial number and title, are probably not original to the chassis. The chassis is a 3800, which is 137" wheelbase. What's the engine number?

looks to be a 216.
shows on the flat stamped area AFGA 607438
The forward block (in front of fuel pump) cast GM2 3835849

Were the early frames stamped for ID/MODEL numbers.
If so where.

I don't mind the 3800 frame as long as I get the right spindle parts, king pins, wheel bearings inner and outer.

I have the old numbers on the bearings but trying to find source for roller bearing upgrades which is what started my line of what is in the box.

I can't find a listing for AFGA, but there is a listing for AFCA, which was used on both 3600 and 3800 models.

Snap looks like a G has a bar across the lower half of it.
I will get a fine wire brush out later and see if it is some thing other then a stamp line.
But I guess even if a "C" not much help in knowing why the mix up.
The swap if it was done happened a very long time back as the truck was setting many years before being sold at auction.

3835849 is a 1952/53 216 block

AFGA? (engine serial number)
AKCA? (is that a possibility for your code?) - 1952 3600/3800

AK was used as the 1952 year preface (truck)
L was used as the 1953 year preface (truck)

Another interesting item while the vin tag on pillar shows a FR code the GVW on the tag shows 8800lbs as a one ton would (I need to go count rear leaf springs)


The snap shot I took sure looks like a afga.

Engine could be replaced but the whole truck seems like a Heinz 57.
[img]http://www.spicetraders.com/photos/vin.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.spicetraders.com/photos/engcast.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.spicetraders.com/photos/engser.jpg[/img]

It looks like AFGA prefix on the Engine Serial Number

Two different sets of stamps/dies were used on that Engine Serial Number. That might indicate that it is a replacement engine.

Find and post the head and block date casting codes.

5FR. 5 (built in Kansas City, MO), F (1948) and R (3600). I think we all know that.

Perhaps there was a screw-up in Kansas City. Can't argue with wheel base.

Years ago that truck could of been in a bad accident and they pieced two trucks together to make one.

Always the case on any old car or truck, but still most confused on the vin tag showing 8800GVW.

You may or may not want to dig any deeper. Smells like a dirty title to me. Easy to put any ID plate on any truck one wants to as long as there is a title matching the plate. It happens all the time.
Carl

Especially with clutch headed screws that are all wallered out!
steve sr.

Not worried on title it is cleared and check and matches the truck 100% from last registered in 60's.
Based on history if a swap occurred it happened in 40/50s but was titled to show that effort if done.

I was just advising about a potential for a dirty deal. I personally wouldn't worry about anything if it were my truck. Just as you cannot get to the bottom of it, no one else will be able to either.
Carl

All the following is from my 1948 Chevrolet Truck Restoration Guide.

The GVW of 8800 on the VIN plate and the wheelbase of 137" both say 1-ton, of course. That truck (GVW 8800) had the highest GVW of any of the 1-tons and came with 7.00-18 tires. Those tires were needed to specify it as GVW 8800. What rims do you have?

Does the box look original? The GVW 8800's were sold as stake trucks among other configurations w/o a box.

Anyway, a guy grabbing an "R" stamp instead of an "S" for 1-ton would explain a lot.