The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1956 Vin Data Plate botto row

Can't seem to find out what the bottom row of numbers mean on the vin plate . Top row is serial number and bottom row is what trying to figure out on a 1956 3100.
bottom row is C 56 265. Top Row serial # starts with a 3A5600 so should be a 1956 3100, with a 235 - 6 I think

Can you post a photo?

There was originally only one row on the ID plate.

Unless: do you have a Canadian truck?
You might have a replacement engine.

Here is 1956 USA truck info.

Find and post the head and block casting codes and date codes.

They way I read the vin it was made in Oakland, CA
If can figure out how to post a photo , but numbers look to have been stamped with factory stamps as same style as vin #

Engine in it currently is a 1960 vintage 283 with what looks like a truck 3Sp behind it. . They didn't use the correct V 8 carburetor linkage , so guessing when the swap was made it was a 235 -6cyl in it. It looks like it possibly was an Army truck as the original paint seems to have been that Army Olive Drab color and I don't see that as a factory original color . That is the bottom layer of paint and was on the back of the cab in front of the bed and bed never removed during the later repaints . Was also the only paint under the gas tank grommet and is on the tank filler tube.

Here is picture of VIN plate. Looks like same type of stamps as the VIN number.. Looks like the 1960 283 replaced a 6 cyl as the throttle linkage sort of jury rigged and not the V8 linkage and pedal brkt cut off. Appears to be a truck 3 speed behind the V8. Original color appears to be Army Olive Drab.

It looks like some information was added after delivery?
I agree that a good explanation is that the engine was changed at some time after delivery.
For some reason (titling/registration?) the engine code (probably for a replacement engine) was put on the Vehicle Serial Number Plate.

Here is an illustration of the style/location of that ID plate (55-2nd and 56 trucks had the same style plate).

If it was a military vehicle there should have been a data plate on the dash or possibly on the glove box. It may have been removed and the holes filled. You might look for indicators of filler on the back side of the dash. The military assigns their own serial numbers for local use. My 56 CA title does not list an engine number, in fact it doesn't list the number of cylinders which was common practice in that era.
Of course other states likely list data that they feel is important. As Tim indicates it should have had only one line of numbers/letters.
Fred

Is a mystery, it does look like there was a data plate on the glove box, 4 holes in a square pattern 4"x4" look like about 1/8 rivet holes. My first thought was that the 265 for a 265 V8, but then they should have installed V8 linkage and the linkage installed is probably from the 1960 vintage Chevy that donated the 283. Are V8 motor mounts different from the 6 cyl. The motor mounts look like have been there a long time. The column has also been changed so don't know what kind of shift linkage it had , now has a floor shift . Current set up to close to the brake pedal and can't put a pedal on it, just the rod sticking through the floor . That gets changed out this weekend for the proper linkage. Hopefully will clear the HEI distributor that has been put on it. VIN says was a 6 cylinder originally .

No "V" as first digit= 6 cylinder. The lower stamp letters are not from the same stamp set. Where was/is this Vin plate located exactly? Looks spot welded, not riveted. Which is correct for most assembly plants. What does the title have for VIN? Exactly. What is the frame number on top of frame near ebrake bracket?
This is a 1956 U.S. Army "Base Runner" truck. 235 6cyl, 3 speed column shift. Short bed. Same Oakland, Ca. plant. Not a war era truck.

If the lower numbers have a "shadow" impressed onto the A pillar, they were added later. Maybe by some DMV person. If the factory did it to make vin "correct", they would have simply added a "V" in front of the VIN.
"C" stands for Chevrolet or Counter motor (crate), replacement, but that is usually "CE".
The person who stamped it did not know what they were doing and had no reason to stamp it even if they added a V8. That would be the Military.
Possibly a goofy, paranoid previous owner or a DMV worker who was trying to re-VIN a motor swap.

The holes in the glove box door are probably where a Military designation tag was placed. Removed when it was pulled from service. Just a guess.🛠

Yes it is spot welded, and on the drivers side door post. , not sure just where the frame number is and emergency brake has been updated to a pedal push. Vin and the vin number plate both match . Possibly has been wrecked a long time ago as has a couple paint jobs since then . The Driver's door seems to be a 1955 as has the smaller 1955 screws in the cover panel and other side has the larger 1/4 " screws. Also the 3100 spear on RH side is one piece and the driver's side is 2 piece.

Yes looks like that data plate matches location and size of my glove box and serial number only 374 later. To bad somebody took the data plate off , also looking at that website the blue plate lower door post is still there, but painted over and paint starting to peel off, but it is stamped the same "std" trim, "spec" paint , so basically the same truck as what they are showing, with a lot of modifications since then. With what they are asking for that one , wonder if I should put mine back to that specification

1956 is before my time in procurement with the DOD. However, with the exception of those purchased by GSA, most vehicles were obtained through contracts directly with the manufacturer through TACOM in Warren MI. Standard vehicles were generally obtained for agencies and were basic stripped down models. The ones I have seen of that era were 1/2 ton, short bed, small window, 6 cylinder, 3 speed, electric wipers, no radio, some had heaters, no extras. In your case you have what most people find on a vehicle that has been driven, modified, and repaired to whatever standard the last owner needed to keep it on the road. Not uncommon for a 60+ truck. Since it has a V-8, leave it in, fix whatever needs to be fixed to make it your vehicle and drive it. My friend recently picked up a 57 that was a former AF truck. It did have the data plate and was the standard model as described above.
Fred

It was my intention to leave the V8 in it, and to fix it up and put it more or less back to stock, and a V8 was option in 56. . But some of the things done are a nightmare to say the least and a real hatchet job such as the gas pedal linkage . Don't need the gas pedal rod almost rubbing the brake pedal and not enough room to put a proper pedal n the rod , and the floor shifter a basket case. lot of fabrication there and not a pretty sight. . Currently has a long tail 3 speed trans out of a later vehicle that had a trans mount on the tail, but not being used here.

If you're still using the original bellhousing motor mounts, then the V8 is sitting in the correct factory location.

The V8 gas pedal linkage bolts/mounts to the same two bolt holes that the 6-cylinder uses.

http://www.classicparts.com/1955-59-V-8-Throttle-Linkage/productinfo/89-651/#.WbTXW7J97X4

Mike B