The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Help with VIN Decoding

[img]https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/download/Number/31297/filename/vin1.jpg[/img]Sorry but it appears the Stovebolt VIN Decoder is down...I have two trucks I am looking at..one is a 1949 Chevy 3100 (however title shows GMC) VIN 151220 and second is a 1950 Chevy 3100 VIN ITWSH4508 These do not appear to be correct to me but these come straight off of the titles...perhaps they used a frame or engine code for the title? I have the seller looking for VIN on the door frames tomorrow to see if they are any different but thought it wouldn't hurt to get opinions in the meantime. P.S. The 49 is a rat rod with misc frames, engines, etc...the 50 I was told is all original.
Thanks in Advance. Sorry the link is to the other vin..the one I am mostly concerned about because I wanted to build an original truck.

Sorry but not much help. Ignore the design of the VIN tag in the attached picture.
The information (numbers/letters) are the reference needed to determine an original truck.
If you have an original VIN tag on your trucks, you can pay for a Title Search using that information.
Your local license plate agency may be able to find the previous owner.
Oh yes, A GMC title for a 1949 Chevrolet truck is not going to work.

Are you looking at a pickup or 2-ton farm truck?

Here's the way I see the 1950 Chevrolet serial number ITWSH4508...

1 = Flint assembly plant
TW = 1950 6400 Series w/161" wheel base
S = Special (derated 2-ton with 15,000 GVW)
H = July
4508 = unit number starting with 1001, making it the 3508th truck out of Flint

I can't help with the GMC numbers...who knows what they used to title a rat rod. Post a picture of the Data plate...

Mike B

Sorry it would only post the 1 pic of the rat rod VIN..the link in the original post has the other VIN..thank you

#1, the Chevy truck with a GMC title. The title is toilet paper and the truck a yard ornament until you get a valid title. #2, The VIN on the title appears to be a unit serial number. If that data plate is still on the truck you're good to go. If the data plate is missing or has a different number refer to #1. Both can be legally titled. All states have a method for resolving these issues but you need to talk with your state licensing authority to find out what that process is. Unless a user here works for your state licensing authority, any information you glean here about how to resolve your issue is conjecture.

You are looking at a big load of hassle with your State licensing authority. A Chevy with a GMC title? Run as fast as you can from that one. A 1/2 ton titled as a 2 ton? Again run the other way. Either one is opening a big mess that unless you are scraping for parts isn’t worth it. Someone has swapped cabs, VIN plates and parts between several trucks at some point in the past. Rat rods are fine as long as they are properly numbered and titled. There must be better choices in Indiana. Just don’t buy any vehicle without a completely numbers matching title. You will thank yourself in the long run.

Thanks for all the help..I decided to pass on the trucks.

Smart move in my opinion.

I agree with Martin.

That data plate indicates FC 253 which for gmc denotes a 1 ton with 137 inch wheelbase. So it appears to have been switched. John