The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk '55 2nd vin

Just picked up a '55 rolling chassis, with 114in wheelbase and six lug axles. and am a bit puzzled by the lack of a model letter at the front of the vin. The vin is 255K0105xx. The vin of my '55 2nd is VH255LXXXXXX, V for V8, H for 3100 and 2 for second series. Shouldn't there be a D,H,M,J,or L at the front of the vin on my new chassis?

The series designation wasn't stamped on the frame for some unknown reason. I guess someone thought the Year, Plant and Unit Number was enough to ID the truck chassis.

Mike B

I've also seen an incomplete Vin on frames. They didn't need an "H", they knew it was a short bed. At the stamping point, maybe they didn't know what motor was going in it.

Do you think that a GM factory put that "ID" on the frame, or do you think it was a dealer or the California DMV?

The Vin on the frame looks original, its on the frame just ahead of the steering box and also on frame, under cab area. One other different thing with this chassis is that the crossmember under the bellhousing area is a two piece affair, while the crossmsmber on my V8 truck is one piece. Difference between 6 and V8?

That is one of the differences between a manual transmission and a Hydra-matic.

That is the way the numbers were stamped from the factory. All the guesses as to why are guesses.

More than likely the unit number was stamped on the frame early in the assembly process, then later down the line the cab ID plate would use that unit number and add the engine "V" or no "V" and the model designation (strickly talking TF trucks).

Chevrolet started stamping the frames 1955 Second Series, left rail under the hood and under the cab.

Mike B

"Do you think that a GM factory put that "ID" on the frame, or do you think it was a dealer or the California DMV?"

The 1955 specifications manual does not mention an ID code being put on the frame by GM. Is a frame ID specfified in 1955 GM documentation?

http://www.1954advance-design.com/chev-specs/1955-2nd-Chevrolet-t-ser.pdf

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1955truck2/55ctsm0serial1.htm

I have deduced, from previous posts, that the practice started in 1955 but wasn't done at all plants until 1956. I have also deduced it wasn't done to GMCs, even though some GMCs were produced at Chevy plants. I haven't determined if GMCs and Chevies came down the same assembly line.

GM didn't specify it anyplace Tim, but as Cletis sez it's been established here the Chevy frame vin stamping started with the 55.2 trucks onward, never seen a TF truck without it ... also, I believe the number was only stamped on the top rail by the steering box until the early 60's, when they started putting it further back, under the cab

Bill

Frames were stamped in both places from the begining. I've striped lots of '56/57 trucks and I have a 10500 and 4400 bare frame here now, they all had/have two stampings.

Mike B