The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Numbers Gurus please help identify my 1953

I am new to the Stovebolt Website and wanted to say Hi, and ask for some help in identifying a truck that I just bought.

The truck is a GM Canada built 1953 3100 1/2 Ton pickup.

The previous owner owned it for many years and did not know much about the truck prior to his ownership.

I looked the truck over and found info. on the Vehicle Identification tag, Engine and Transmission.

Below, I will list them out, and would appreciate any information that you may be able to share.

Model: 1314
Serial: 3131418024
Engine: C714816
Body Serial: 6821
Trim: 394
Paint: 332

Numbers I found on the Engine:

Stamped Serial Number: 040i7i0 F54X

Embossed numbers found:

B224

10 GM (by the fuel pump)

There is another number behind the starter, but I can't make it out.

Head numbers:

E 5 3

3701887

Transmission:

8686832 GM (On Shifter Cover)

On Case:

E203
6
GM
591615

I would appreciate any help that you can give me

Thanks

Welcome. I don't have info on the numbers, but I know GM Canada did not build 3100s. It should be a 1300, if it is a Chevrolet.

Hy North of 40, welcome, as 1953 panel said Canadian half ton trucks were identified as 1300 series not the American designation 3100. Your serial number identifies your truck as a 1953 Canadian 1300 series half ton Pick-Up Delivery, your truck has a wheelbase of 116 inches and a GVW of 4,800 lbs.. Your truck is powered by a 235 cu. in. engine. Hope that helps.

Stamped Serial Number: 040i7i0 F54X

Engine Serial Number:
0401710 = 0400710th truck out of that plant in that year
F = Flint, MI
54 = 1954 235
X = 3100 (or, 1/2 ton truck) with standard transmission
B224 = casting date
February 22, 1954

Head:
3701887 casting code = 1953 Chevrolet truck 235 (how many head bolts & how many valve cover nuts/screws?)
E 5 3 = casting date
April 5, 1953

Thank you all for the replies.

Yes, it’s a 1300, and not a 3100, late night typing error.

The valve cover has 2 acorn nuts on top of the valve cover.

8 head bolts visible on the drivers side of the head, haven’t taken the valve cover off yet.

So, did the 1953 Canadian versions all have 235 engines, or as I read, the head and block don’t match?

Noted above, April 53 head, but a February 54 block, you think it’s not original, Block switched at some point?

VIN tag says General Motors of Canada on it, and also made in Canada. This contradicts the Flint Michigan production, I’m confused?

How many Canadian 1953 trucks were produced, 401,710 seems like a lot of trucks for back then?

Just trying to better understand what I have, all replies and info. Shared, are truly appreciated.

Jumping in here with a similar issue. I’m trying to correct the registration on my truck (Tried posting on oldgmctrucks.com but this forum seems more active.)

“Jimmy” had a “bonded title” when I bought it in 1998 and had been registered as a 1952 in error. The original VIN plate had been removed.

Since then I’ve learned it’s a 1951 (wing Windows with lever style door handles) and recently got a 1951 tagged Washington License plate which I’ve registered.

I have verified it has a 1954 Chevy Passenger Car motor and a 1956 head based on the numbers. (Original distributor in that motor was traded in as a core when I bought a new one from Napa.)

I am trying to get documentation to show the Washington State Patrol it’s actually a 1951 when I go there for a “VIN Verification” in August so I tried finding a chassis number as described in this document http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0013.html

But no numbers on the frame in that location on the right side above the spring (that I could find).

Asking for any suggestions on where I might find some useful numbers...

You are in for an uphill battle with the State. Most States (not all) require documentation and extensive history, all notarized, on any vehicle that doesn’t have the original VIN plate affixed to the proper location with the proper fasteners. Many will make the process nearly impossible. If you haven’t already done so, contact the Department that issues titles directly. Tell them what you are trying to do and ask for the person handling those types of requests. Explain the history as you know it and ask what their procedure is. If they start talking frame numbers be prepared to educate them on when GM started putting frame numbers on their vehicles. Don’t get confrontational and be polite. You may end up with good results or you may get saddled with a “Builders Title”. But at least you will know exactly what you have to do before you make the trip.🛠

If the engine was made in Canada, it would have been cast at McKinnon Industries In St. Catharines, Ontario. There should be a symbol, a M in a square, cast into the block between the distributor and the fuel pump.

Welcome North of 40 to the Stovebolt addiction. Lots of crazy things can and do happen to these old trucks in 60+ years. Since 47.2 - 55.1 trucks are fundamentally the same over those years there are lots of parts that will easily swap from year to year. Your truck is a Canadian-built 53 with a USA-built 54 235 block and a USA-built 53 235 head. Upgrading from the original 216 to a “full-pressure” 235 was and still is a popular swap. All / any 53-later 235 head will fit any 53-later 235 block. I had a 56 block with a 53 head motor in a 55 truck years ago.
Good job on the numbers research.

51 Jimmy,

Chevrolet didn't start using frame numbers until 1955...so your truck will not have them.

If the ID plate is missing and the engine has been swapped there is no way to confirm what you have really. Features that could help ID it by year are all bolt on items (doors, door handles, cabs etc) so it's going to be hard to convince someone of exactly what you have...who knows what changes have been done over the last 65+ years???

Good luck,

Mike B

Why?

51 doors don't mean the truck is a 51. Doors were one of the most replaced items on these trucks. For example nowadays it's common to install 47-50 doors on 51-53 trucks because owners want one-piece glass and not wind wings.

Your truck currently has a bonded title so why open a can of worms with the DMV? They are NOT there to help you. They are there to put obstacles in the path of anything unusual or with which they are unfamiliar. You called the plate a "VIN plate." In 1951 the data plate numbers were not VINS - they were manufacturers serial numbers. Many states used engine numbers - long gone in many cases, hence no actual number to identify the truck. Therefore it's hard to hold a 70-year-old truck to modern day registration criteria. Bonded titles are interim titles to suffice for a period of time to ascertain if any problems or claimants appear - and here you are shooting yourself in the foot by bringing up a problem with your own truck. If this is to exercise an obsessive need to have everything perfect, it could cause you some real problems.

Thanks for the clarity regarding the US built 235 engine.

Makes sense.

I appreciate all the feedback