The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Numbers Matching

Hi Everyone, I'm a new member and new to the classic truck hobby although I'm big into other classic Chevys.

My question is when looking at originality (1952 3100 specifically) is there any correlation between the motor serial # and other numbers on the truck? I'm used to having to match a serial number on the body, engine and trans making them unique parts of one vehicle. Can you tell me if that's true for a 1952 3100? Any other tips on originality who be helpful. Thanks and I look forward to the forum!

Welcome to the gang Cusin!
Great bunch here.

I bought Chevy truck about two years ago at an auction.
They said it was a 51 and came with a 51 title.
The truck is in rough shape and I did not give much for it.
Hauled it home and it has sat in the field, the last couple years.
Posted it for sale in the swap threads a while back and a Stovebolt member was really interested.
But lived in another state.

In Missouri, if I buy an out of state vehicle, I have to get the VIN verified by a state safety inspector.
Since this was a in state purchase, all I had to do, is take the title in to get a new title in my name.
So, with this out of state buyer who agreed on a price, I wanted to make sure he could re title it in his name.
To my surprise, the S/N on the door jam said 1949.
The title said 1951.
The engine S/N said 1953.

Also, then took it to the Missouri Highway Patrol to see if we could match the title to the truck.
No luck, I bought a truck with no title and a title with no truck.
I call it the Frankentruck.
And it will be parted out.
Pictures here of the disassembly.
http://s893.photobucket.com/user/2-Ton/library/1951%20no%20bed?sort=3&page=


Don

There is really no correlation between #s on a 1952. The numbers stamped/cast into the engine block can verify that the engine is indeed a 1952 truck engine but as far as whether or not the engine came in that particular truck not so easy to do. Some States used the engine serial number to title the truck and some used the body numbers found on the plate attached to the driver side door jam. Over the years engines were replaced much of the time, especially when full pressure 235s became available. Other members may have some "tricks" to help you out. Welcome to the "Bolt".
😀

If you want to see if your "numbers match", as posted above, see if you Engine Serial Number and Vehicle Serial Number "match".

As posted above, the engine could be from another 1952 vehicle, and, the Vehicle Serial Number plate might be a "transplant".

For my '46 project I have used a Master Parts Catalog to check casting numbers for many of the engine and other drive train parts. Using those numbers and a lot of time cleaning off the parts I was able to determine if parts were at least manufactured consistent with the time my truck was produced. That doesn't necessarily mean the truck was born with that specific part, but it does point in that direction. The engine serial number and the data plate also agreed with the time frame. It was also discovered door window glass was etched with a date code too. I do not know if any of this will help you, but it might provide an idea of what to consider.

Do you want to know this information to make sure you don't have titling problems or because you are concerned with the value of the truck for a future sale? the numbers matching thing is really important for muscle cars of the 60's and 70's but for the old trucks those records weren't kept so it isn't really a big deal.

Hey thanks everybody for the answers. You found me out. I'm a 60s -70s muscle car guy. I was considering truck value. So if I'm summarizing correctly, engine serial number and ID number on the door jam plate not matching could still be that the motor was original. As long as timeframes of parts are relatively similar then that's the best possible indicator.

Is any number considered the last number of final assembly?

Thanks, cuz

tclederman,
The link you provided shows a unit number for the vehicle, a unit number for the engine and a unit number for the trans. From the responses above, it seems that they would not necessarily have to match on an original truck. Do you agree or am I misreading?
cuz

Don't know about the year range you are working on but, if my learning from earlier model trucks is the same, the stamped data plate will not match the engine serial number.

Cuzin, you are correct...None of the truck serial numbers will match (engine, trans, rear, chassis, etc.). The parts that have serial numbers were all made in different plants and were then sent to the final vehicle assembly plate with no consideration as to the serial number order.

The actual date the truck was assembled is not provided as part of the chassis serial numbers. The only thing we know for sure is the engine and chassis serial numbers both started at 1001 in each palnt.

Mike B

Thanks Mark "Shop Shark" and everyone. I'm on my way ... the hunt continues!
Cuz