The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Help Identifying Chevy Model-no vin

Hello, we just purchased what was told to us a 1948 Chevy loadmaster. I’m trying to figure out if it’s the 1 1/2 ton or the 2 ton. There is no vin plate. I have found the engine serial number if that helps. Also, it is the 161”WB. Any information and help is greatly appreciated.

The engine has been rebuilt or replaced. Do you plan to restore and license this truck? Without a door id tag , that could be difficult. Contact your DMV for instructions before spending too much money on it.

We plan on it eventually. It’ll be a slow process as this will be our first restoration project.

Welcome to the Stovebolt community M77 Longhorns!

Thanks for providing a great batch of 1st pictures to help us help you figure out what you have.

Since you indicated a 1948 starting point, check out this 1948 Chevrolet Truck Data file provided through the Gm Heritage Center web site.

A quick check of this document shows the engine serial number you provide in your picture (FEA 95648) to be a 1948 "235" that would have been installed in a 6000 Series (2 Ton) truck built at the Flint manufacturing plant.

The engine casting code in your picture "3693374" along with the "circled M" and 48 confirm its vintage.

To further confirm the truck to be a 2 Ton, you can take and compare measurements of the truck with those in the above file to confirm which model you may have.

Hope you find this helpful and looking forward to more questions as you have them.

Dan

M77 Longhorns,

Just a follow up note here that I did remove your duplicate post and moved Otto's reply and yours to this thread to keep all one conversation.

On to more discussion on your question!

Dan

Thanks so much! That’s extremely helpful! We will definitely be using this site during our restoration process. Thanks again!

In case you didn't notice, just like that you are now full fledged 'Bolters. Congrats!!!

When you get a chance, maybe you would go and introduce yourselves and your truck in the Welcome Centre?

You can repost your pictures there and say hello to the collective.

While you check out the rest of the site, you might want to post and introduce your self in The Southern Bolters forum too. Lots of great fellow 'Bolters in your neck of the woods and some pretty big upcoming events to boot.

Dan

Just a word of advice from the old folks gallery, before you spend one dime on anything on the truck, contact your state’s licensing authority and get a valid title, in your name. You can thank us later.

Another note from the older peanut gallery.

Chances are that the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the Highway Patrol will need to issue you a new VIN number. That happened with my 1928 Canopy Express. In California, the Highway Patrol does the inspecting and assigning of the VIN numbers. Then, you take the Highway Patrol's report to the DMV for registration.

When the inspector goes to install the new VIN plate (drills holes and uses pop rivets), you can request that they put it in a place that is not 'in your face'.

The guy who was installing my new VIN plate wanted to put it on the driver's side door sill. I asked if he would put it on the A pillar which is less out in the open. He was nice and put it where I wanted it.

Cheers, Dean

Thanks everyone for the advice, a cool thing I found this morning while looking through the truck. I found 2 old registration papers from 1973 and 1977. I wonder if those would help get a title? Looks like the used the engine vin plate. I bet where I found them, no one ever looked there. I find that stuff really neat. Love to find history on the truck

Yes, if it's been licensed using the engine number and the engine number is still the same, it might still be in the government's system. (I just noticed that the registration is from Louisiana and not Kentucky) Either way, that proves that it's the same truck (sort of).

Why not have the guy who sold it to you gin up a Bill of Sale using that number as an identification of the vehicle? It couldn't hurt. You do have to find out what the rules are Kentucky.

Two ton!

Ed

M77 Longhorns,

Lots of great info here already to confirm the identity of your truck. Not mention some sage advice from some of our very experienced members! For the best advice related to the topic of titles, registration, etc. please check this new Tech Tips listing for guidance from our HQ.

Suggest further questions and conversations related to your truck would best be posted in either the Big Bolts forum or one of the specific Tech Topic forums in The Shop Area.

Questions not related to a specific Tech area are welcome here (suggest you start a new post please) so we can try and help figure out some answers as we can.

On to new conversations and questions!

Dan

M77 Longhorns That is a real dandy !! Two things, my 48 has that circle cast in with the 48 in it. Your front axle spindle nut bolt-on cover indicates a 2-ton truck ! I just hope your engine will be saveable, not many out there !!

The registration cards do confirm the truck engine serial number was used to register the truck and that it was in some data base at one time. Before you take anything apart contact your State DMV and get directions on how to proceed. The inspector may want to see that it's never been tampered with.

Keep us posted!

Mike B