The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk firewall marking question

hey y'all, I'm new to the site, and just had a quick question. I recently rescued a 49 3100 from a 35 year nap. Been tearing into it and noticed the number 74 wiped into the paint on the passenger side of the firewall. It had to be done when the paint was wet and I don't see any evidence of repainting. This is my first chevy truck so not sure if this is normal. I'd appreciate any info. Thanks

Welcome to Stovebolt.com, Jmast

It has been reported/suggested that those marking were made on the assembly line.

It could be an assembler #, or an inspector #, or an option # (it does not match any 1949 truck options).

Some people have reported in being yellow/white paint or crayon?
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...l_markings_for_1949_310.html#Post1084623
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1072031

There was a post a while ago that showed a variety of firewall markings.

Can you post a link to a photo of the marking?

Perhaps last two frame or engine SN?

Ed

disgruntled employee?

My memory is fading but not long ago some posted a video, or maybe I seen it somewhere else, that actually show a line worker putting a mark on the inner fender. Basically signifying that it was ready for the next process, or maybe it was a dept. identifying number/letter. If I can find it I'll come back and post it.
I'd had also "heard/read" that some of the marks indicated to the next operation a specific part, or option?

Didn't answer your question but I at least muddled the water some more!

I have a picture of it on photobucket but can't seem to find it after logging out. is there an easier site to use?

here, finally, is a picture of the marking.

Whatever it is, it would not be a practice of an assembly plant to create a stand out paint anomaly. That could have prevented the truck from selling. Markings, as stated, were usually chalklike marker. A paint dept worker would have to have a good reason to do that. Especially that big! Sure is nice paint for 67 years?

Conspiracy theories:
1. As you say "wiped" not with finger and don't see brush marks. Looks like paint stick width.
2. Looking at the ridges of the wipe and it's still green inside wipe trench, I can't believe factory paint was that thick when wet.
3. Inspector was saying >4 (greater than 4 mils thick). Was showing how thick it was.
Never got fixed.
4. Seems more shinny than rest of firewall.
5. May not be original paint in that area. Can't tell.
You, being a paint instructor, can decide if orig.

I actually polished that area to make it show better. The paint on the firewall is all in good shape. You can usually tell when something has been reprayed pretty easily, but this isn't showing any signs of it. And I agree, I can't see this truck leaving the factory like that. It remains a mystery. Guess i'll chalk it up to just being a good conversation piece along with the 22 shell stuck in the drip rail. Thanks for the replies.

If it is original, it was not meant to stay there and it was not a production line marking, Way too big. A rare "slip thru the crack" maybe.

Hi, I worked at an assembly plant in the paint dept's sealer section, I think what you are seeing is we would seal seams in the metal with a brush at the end of a wand, kind of like a pump up sprayer wand, some times after we would change a barrel of sealer you would run the gun some where to make sure the psi is correct and there is no air in the lines, you didn't want to do it on a seam because you may have air and cause a bad seal, under the hood they didn't say to much about the looks as long as you didn't put it in a spot that would be a problem with a fitment or over bolt holes. Roger

Very interesting Roger. Good info. Do you think if someone chipped or cut into the ridge he could tell if it's paint or sealer? It would not be green, correct? What do you think the number means? Did you see firewalls that bad leave the factory? I would say if the factory was concerned about a bad seal, they would be concerned about that not-so-nice-looking BIG mark? Once a worker tested and saw how big it was, why didn't they scrape it off right away, somewhat? Never seen that test before, Maybe others have trucks like that and will post. Good trivia.

Jason,

Neat trivia.

In recalling your thread, I noticed some writing on a 1944 military hood. I was really hoping it was "Rosie the Riveter" wishing good luck to the troops...retracing the script revealed a little less glamorous message.

Before enhancement


After enhancement

Bartamos, I'd think if you cut into it the sealer may be light grey, that was the color we used, If you get under it and peel it off you could see bear metal or primer, we put all the sealer in the seams before it went to the prime booth,as far as the number only the person who put it there knows, Yes I've seen fire walls, floor pans, inside of doors, but I worked at the plant for 30 years so thats a lot of vehicles and if you look under a hood now you don't see too much of the fire wall,as far as cleaning it up we were running at 45-48 vehicles an hour and they didn't like it if you stopped the line,when contractors would be in the plant working they where told if they stopped the line it was 1000.00 per minute fine so they had to be careful. Roger

Bartamo, After looking at the picture again, maybe it was the first truck of the day on 7-4-1949 to go past the person doing the sealer. Roger

Don't think so, 4th of July was a holiday.