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Can anybody break down this door frame serial number on my truck? It is stamped GBA648949.

Buddha,
If that tag is on your 49 half ton, it is not the original US tag number (don't know the pattern for Canadian trucks). A 49 half ton would have the following pattern:

A 1 or 2 digit factory code (i.e. 1=Flint, MI, 20=Los Angeles, CA)

The series, GP for a 49 3100

A single letter (A-L) for the month of production.

The production number (which began with 1001)

All of the above is from the Stovebolt Tech Tip, Deciphering Your Chevrolet VIN

Taking a closer look at the serial # plate, the first digit looks a 3, but could be an 8. I think it's a 3 because that indicates the St. Louis plant and the truck came from that area. However, it could be an Atlanta truck (8). The GBA is right as that stands for 49 3100 116 wheel base. The 648948 may actually be 64949. The one 8 actually looks like it was made with a punch. The plate looks like it was restamped. No matter, I have a good title, but I have to rebuild the engine; turns out to be a 1960 era 235 with matching head. What threw me off is the 216 2 bolt valve cover that it has. Of course the dealer didn't know !@$# from Shinola about the truck's past. Vin Decoder didn't totally solve the mystery either.

Buddha,
Don't mean to sound skeptical here, but what is your source that GBA on a serial number plate stands for a 49 3100?

Off to truck talk, this isn't really a paint topic and more people will see it there.