Hi: I just bought this new to me 1953 GMC 3600 and I have question about matching up the VIN number with the truck. The previous owner has (or had) the clear title with a VIN # on the title. Of course the VIN number was different than the serial number on the door. The engine bay had so much dirt and junk in it that I couldn't check the engine block number a the time. I bought the truck since the owner had old registration papers back to 1980 from the previous owner. Anyways, when I got the truck home, I cleaned the engine bay and I noticed that the number on the engine block also doesn't match the VIN number, it is a lot shoulder numbers. So, heard there could be a number on the frame? I am having hard time to find that. I assume the number is suppose to be somewhere that you can easily find rather than taking the cab off or something. Any help would be appreciated.
Last edited by Justhorsenround; 05/05/201911:34 AM. Reason: Edited make of truck
1953 GMC 150: new member 1967 Chevy C20, 4 wheel 8 lug disc, 350 engine with Fitech carb (in progress) , T5 1972 Chevy Nova, 4 door sport sedan in the making 1979 Chevy Camaro Z28, 5,3 Vortec and TH350, 4 wheel disc and Hydroboost; Just about becoming summer daily driver
it could simply be that the truck was titled from the engine serial number (as was common) and sometime later the engine was replaced. now you have a title with no matching numbers. unfortunately that can be a headache if you have no proof/documentation that was what happened. titling and registration is the purview of state government so you'll need to start with the local DMV and find out what to do.
My mistake, it is GMC. I just see GMC as chevy. Seller had only this one truck and his story sounded honest (whatever that means). He bought the neighboring property with a hay storage from his neighbor with this truck in stored in it. They didn't want the truck and they transferred the title to him which per him had the same VIN number. That was 5 years ago. When I took was looking at the truck the cab was filled with junk including rat and wasp nest but with all that I found two pieces of old registration dated back to 1980s with the same VIN number and his neighbor's name on them. That made me believe the truck is legit. Having said all these thing I believe there is strong chance that te engine have might be swapped since the transmission is swapped. I figured this after I brought the truck home and took the junk and flooring out. You can see in the picture how the whole has been made in the floor. That doesn't look stock even for 1953 technology! Now, I have already registered the truck to my name with the clear title that previous owner gave me. So, I already have plates and tags (I decided not tog et collector plates)for it. So I have my registration and when I fix it up I can drive it around. I have kept the original bill of sale from the seller as well. Should I go trough the trouble of changing the VIN?
1953 GMC 150: new member 1967 Chevy C20, 4 wheel 8 lug disc, 350 engine with Fitech carb (in progress) , T5 1972 Chevy Nova, 4 door sport sedan in the making 1979 Chevy Camaro Z28, 5,3 Vortec and TH350, 4 wheel disc and Hydroboost; Just about becoming summer daily driver
Don’t stir the hornets nest unless you plan on selling it down the road. Keep ALL the paperwork together.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
That center floor piece is for a 3 speed. It has been modified for the 4 speed. An original 4 speed floor piece would have a raised hump on it to cover more of the shift cover. That is another clue that the engine and transmission were replaced.
