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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,042 Posts1,055,505 Members48,424 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 | New owner looking to read the info off the vin plate, have seen some have listed build factories and delivery dealers. Can i get some help with that. I now my 46 was bought in 48 and lived on the same ranch since. | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Post the info here and someone will likely decipher it. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 | Well, I know the family bought the truck in 1948, it is a Master 1.5 ton with flatbed dump. The plate is very worn so other that the vin being 21os111743. If there are certain things in certain places on the truck to check I will. Thanks racerBob | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 | Guess I should have mentioned it's a Chevy. | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | The number on the cab will not be found in any other place on the truck. I'm surprised someone with a book hasn't deciphered what you posted.
Sometimes info can be gleaned from an engine serial number also. I don't know if that was the case with '46 numbers or not. Of course a bunch of engines have been changed over the years. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 | Wow, thanks for the vin buster lead. results are Mfg 1946 (interim), 1.5 ton, Wheelbase 160 inch, and mfg plant was Janesville WI. But I see that is what was in the post now, Also thanks for the other source info, Learning a lot about my bolt. Now back to working on the brakes.
Last edited by racerBob; 10/29/2016 7:01 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,146 | 21OS111743, the number 1 after the letter S is the Letter I = eye. 21OS-I-11743 21 - Assemply Plant , Janesville, WI OS - 1946 Model Year OS - (interim) = 1st series Design, (PK is the 2nd series Design) OS - 4400 Series Model OS - 160 inches Wheelbase OS - 1.5 = 1 1/2 ton I - September, Month truck was Assembled A = Jan. B = Feb. C = Mar. D = April E = May F = June G = July H = Aug I = Sept. Your truck J = Oct. K = Nov. L = Dec. 11743 - Number of that model of truck Assembled at the Janesville, WI plant, Starting at 1001. Your truck was the 10,742nd truck to roll off the assembly line. Source> 1946 TRUCK MODEL SERIAL IDENTIFICATION | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,214 | Jorb, Not trying to be to picky, but his truck would be the 10,743rd unit as the first truck was 1001, so you only subtract 1,000 from his number. Mike B  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 435 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 435 | The LMC catalog has some good information about the VIN in the front of the catalog. Easy to decipher. Hope it helps. Tramp | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 | Thanks jorb, that is a fantastic tidbit of info, useful. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Oct 2016 Posts: 6 | Well though the plate is very faded, the digit definitely stamped with the #1, were there reasons?
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | The "1" and "I" stamps/dies were often mistakenly interchanged (as were "O" and "0").
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