The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk VIN location

Hi.
I know this question has been asked several times and I have seen some of the answers here on the site but I thought I would ask again.

on a 1949 california truck where would the VIN be located?

This truck has a new 350 in it. So I know it is not on the block. I have a plate from the DMV that is not stock.

The reason I am asking is someone told me it is on my frame and I disagreed (i did not see it there when I stripped the frame) which set them off considerably.

So where is it? I have no stock engine and no VIN plate other than what was given to me by the DMV. Is there somewhere I should be looking to find it stamped on the truck?

Thanks,
Sean

Sean,
Well, ignoring the fact that there was no such thing as a VIN in 1949, the only location where there would be a Manufacturer's ID number would be on the plate on the drivers side door post. No ID (or VIN) would be stamped on the frame by the manufacturer. Now, some jurisdictions used the manufacturer's ID as the VIN number and others used the engine number. I know that in California, when older vehicles (that did not have a VIN) were retitled, the CHP would stamp the new VIN on the frame themselves, but again, no VIN on the frame from the factory.

Hope this helps.

A few years back I bought a 1937 Chevy,2 dr sedan that had late model running gear in it,350,350.I could not find the VIN anywhere on the car.I knew the guy I bought it from was honest and he had owned it for about 20 years.I stamped the VIN no.from the title on the frame.Never had a problem with it.I sold the car to a dealer,and told him where the no.was.He said this was an OK solution.You might want to check that out.

i've seen trucks out there with no motors and a "Serial Number" tag on the drivers door jam or under the hood that was either missing all together, or so worn down you couldn't read it.

The non-stock plate from the DMV outta have whatever number is on the title.. so long as those two numbers match, you're good to go regarding the legal use and sale of the vehicle.

Original engine numbers don't seem to tell you much except for the year of the motor and it's size, if you're looking for the number that would provide the most information for your truck, it would be the mfg plate (see Jeff Nelsons earlier post for location).

From the numbers on that plate, you can determine with a reasonable level of accuracy, what year the truck is, where it was made, what kind of truck it is (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, etc) and in the 1933 thru 1953 trucks, it'll tell you what month it was made, too.

I've seen some restore jobs where this plate was removed to paint, and never made it back on, tho.

I'm new at this restoration thing. But am going at it full steam. I recently was given a `54 3100 1/2 ton Pick up. I too am trying to locate the VIN or some type of ID. There was no bill of sale and no prior registration. The individual received it from an old farmer wanting it off his land. Any Idea's to help with the titleing or ID of it?

Don't know about the 49 but my 59 has the factory stamped VIN on the top of the frame just forward of the steering box. Believe I may have a pic somewhere if needed.

Advance Design trucks, mid-47 to mid-55, did not have a factory serial number stamped on the frame. There should be a plate in the driver's side door post, if that is missing you don't have a serial number.

In that era engine numbers were often used on titles.

Laws regarding titles vary from state to state and I've no idea what they are like in Missisippi, but in Washington it is a felony to move an id plate from one vehicle to another.