The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk New VIN Decoder Testers wanted!

** For those of you who don't stray into the Big Bolts section (shame on you) where this subject originated, i'm posting this here. **

Between real work and working on my 'bolts, i'm building a new VIN Decoder which when completed, I will be donating to the Stovebolt Page.. my way of saying thanks for the hard work and time the staff here have put into this website.. without which, i'd still be "Fumblin" around trying to get the '46 running!

The current build of the "VIN Cruncher" should decode the number off the Mfg/cowl tag of Chevrolet trucks from 1929 thru 1955 Second Series.

Future plans are to include engine serial number "crunching" capability, increasing the model years it's able to crunch to 1972, and also display a representitive photo of the truck whos VIN you just entered.

I'd also like to eventually include "Crunching" capability for GMC Trucks, as well as both GMC and Chevrolet trucks made in Canada and other countries.

If you have a 'bolt made between 1929 and 1955, and are lucky enough to have your Mfg/Cowl tag number, please help testing by visiting the VIN Cruncher and seeing if it works!

Please enter alphanumerical characters as CAPS (i.e. 5HPE00000 not 5hpe00000)

Feel free to post errors, bugs, rants, comments, and suggestions in this thread.

The VIN Cruncher

Thanks!

Fumblin',
Here's the VIN for my '54 3100: 54J004173

Here's the VIN for th '63 C20: 3C254J123427

Both #s came off the manufacturer's plates mounted on the driver's side of the cab. (If these aren't what you need, let me know and I'll try again.)

Good luck, and good work! Thanks for sharing.
K

It wouldn't open because I don't have "Macromedia Flash 7 Player".

What is it, why do I need it, will it change all the settings on my computer if I install it, what spyware does it implant?

Cletis, Macromedia Flash is a well-established program. It shouldn't install any spyware.

Fumblin,
Here are the results I got:
P55N004687 - Everything works except the Plant info - it's blank. It was built in Ohio.
J54K003019 - Everything works except the Plant info - it's blank. I think it was built in KC.

Great work! A good, versitile tag decoder has been needed for a while.

And just being nitpicky...technically, those are just serial numbers. VINs didn't exist before approximately 1981.

GMCpanel,

I checked your numbers and discovered a slight bug.

If you type in just the P55N and J54K it displays the plant fine, but the characters afterward are goofing it up. I'll see about correcting this shortly.

As far as calling the serial numbers VINs, its just what they're commonly called, and the name "VIN Cruncher" is pretty much just something to call it for the time being.

I've been considering calling it "Serial Spy" to be a more accurate description.

Cletis,

Macromedia Flash Player 7 is just the most recent version of Flash. It won't add any spyware to your system.. in fact, you probably already have Flash installed on your system, just an older version.

Ok, just tried the "cruncher" and it worked good. Only left out teh month. Vin is 6GPJ11788, which I understand translates to:
6 = Oakland
G = 1949
P = 3100 series
J = October
Any info like this helps unravel the history of our beloved toys.
Thanks for the work.
Bruce

Fumblin, Just tried to use the decoder. It acepted the Vin# but I could not get any farther than the initial entering of the number. Whats up? The vin on my 54, 4100 is N54K025419.

Martin

Worked great except for month. Crunch on

Type in the number then hit the ENTER key.

I just ran yours and it came up as:

1954 4100 1.5 TON w/ 137" wheelbase

Currently there is a bug that is making the plant of mfg unreadable by the software if a character follows it.. for example simply entering N54K it will tell you the truck was made in KC, MO.

At present, this bug seems to be limited to the '53 thru '55 model years, and should be corrected soon.

Ok, the "unknown" plant and month bugs should be fixed now.

For those of you who have already visited the cruncher, please press and hold the CTRL key while clicking "reload" or "refresh" on your browser.

nverdone's VIN of 6GPJ11788 is displaying all data.

GMCPanels's VINS are now displaying the plant information, but month is unknown (because that information isn't available in those model years)

Thanks to everyone who has helped with testing! If you try your VIN and data is missing, unknown, or incorrect, please post the VIN and the error so I can make adjustments.

Thanks again!

OK, I installed the Flash Player and the de-coder worked for my '53 6100 except for month.

I entered the vin from my (2)41 1/2 tons:

1. 21AK027130
2. 6AK016110

Got the all the info except the month, looking good.

According to the data i'm working with to program the cruncher, the 1953 thru 1955 serial numbers do not contain data to identify the month of production, so thats why when "crunching" trucks in that era display "unknown" for a month.

41Chevy,

Your VIN '21AK027130' according to my refrence data should be:

21 = Factory (Janesville, WI)
AK = Series/Year (1/2 ton 1941)
0 = Month

The reason your month is unknown, is because my data suggests that the month character should be a letter between A and L (A = January, B = Febuary, etc) so thats why it's not displaying a month.

Now I have reason to believe that my data is incorrect, or that i'm interpreting it wrong, because the serial number 21YS0 I got off an old '41 big bolt I was looking at a week or so ago has the same '0' in the "month" section.

Or perhaps it's something specific to the 1941 model year? Maybe the month wasn't included, or they used a different numbering scheme?

I guess the question I should ask you is, "What month did you think it was made, and how did you determine the month?"

It's workin good for me now.
1949
3100 1/2 ton
Kansas City, MO
April

Nice work

Fumblin, I just tried it again, and everything works great! Thanks for all your work on this!

Fumblin, thanks for the decoding on my VIN. FYI I did hit enter several times after entering my VIN and nothing happened. May be just my ignorance on all things technical. Thanks again!

Martin

Fumblin,
Just wanted to say thanks for the decoder

It's already better than anything else I've seen on the 'net and appears to be getting better with all the input. I think its already to a level that it should be part of the 'bolt. Whadda ya think Peg, John, ... ?

Justhorsenround Hold down the "Ctrl" key, lower left,while hitting enter. Also did you enter alphanumerical characters as CAPS (i.e. 5HPE00000 not 5hpe00000) Had to reread posts to get it to work for my also.

And thank you Fumblin for decoder

Fumblin Decoder worked for me first time except it wouldnt print. Thanks Weeds

I'd like to collect representitive images for the model years covered currently, and have that function installed and working.

For example, you type in 21RSA00000, not only will it tell you your truck is a 1948 2 Ton COE with a 158" Wheel Base, made in Janesville, WI in January of that year, but to the left of the data (on top of where it currently says "The VIN Cruncher") it will display a pic of a '48 COE.

That way you can get an idea of what the truck should have looked like stock, and also helpful to determine if the grill on your '55 is the one that outta be on there!

I know alot of the hard core, been doing it for years 'bolters know that sort of stuff by heart.. but I was thinking of folks like myself.. who are new to the 'bolts, and could benefit from the photo to go along with their "VIN".

Adding that feature would be a piece o' cake.. just as soon as I get the images!

If anyone has pics they'd like to submit for this purpose, please eMail them to:

[email protected]

Please include your name, and description of the vehicle as it would appear when running the VIN/Seriel number in the VIN Cruncher.

Your name will appear with the image, i.e.:

"Photo curtesy of Joe Blow"

Hot rodded and/or chopped trucks will not be accepted.. not that I don't appreciate the long hours and hard work you put into your babies.. just that the image should be representitive of the truck as stock.. so noobies don't type in the VIN for a '54 1/2 ton and get an image of a truck with a chopped top and a blower hanging out of the hood.

-------------NOW THATS OUT OF THE WAY---------

I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed ideas, comments, suggestions, and helped with the testing. I'd also like to send out a big thank you for the folks who compiled the original data, as well as the folks who corrected my goofups when entering that data!

To all those folks, and to the folks who answer my hairbrained questions when working on my own two bolts.. the donation of the completed VIN Cruncher to the Stovebolt Page is my way of saying thanks to everybody for making such a cool place to hang out and talk trucks.. I hope you folks will find it as useful as your help as been to me!

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT! WHAT A COOL IDEA!

I'll add a button in the next few days for a "printer friendly version".

It worked on my 21FRC1812 (according to the info in my copy of the "Chevrolet Pickup Red Book")!

fumblin icant get it to even accept my serial#. click on it and nothing happens

stevesr,

All you should have to do is type in your serial number, then press the ENTER key on your keyboard.

Make sure any letters in your Seriel Number are in CAPS, for example, you'd type in 21SAK not 21sak.

If your serial is not recognised, it will appear as nothing is happening.. please post your serial here so I can make sure it's a compatable number.

Frank,

I've included the information about the VIN Cruncher in the newsletter (I hope to mail it by 9 a.m. -- waiting for one more piece of information).

You may get a flood of responses. After you get all you're stuff done, I thought we'd put in a few plugs for more help with gathering the numbers.

This will be great! Can't wait to get the pictures, too.

You are a smart guy.

Peg

I'm so bright, my daddy calls me "SUN"!

Fumblin, You might make the typing space white or some other color than the background next to it. It took me a bit to figure it out because it didn't look like an obvious typing space. Other than that, it's great!!

Wally,

I've now made it easier to understand where you type in the Serial/VIN number, with a big red arrow and the words, "serial number".

For the folks who prefer clicking something to "make it go", i've also added a "submit" button.

So after entering your serial number, you can either click "submit" or just hit the enter key.. whichever you're most familure with!

To further illustrate the "power of pictures", i've added a new feature that loads an image describing where to find your trucks serial number when the user moves their mouse over the spot that you enter the serial number.

This will be the same area where an image of your truck will load once you enter a serial number, along with the data for your truck in the usual space.

Mine gives me everything but the month..
H54A018587

Not surprising since there was nothing in the 53, 54, and 55 ID numbers that gave a month. 47-52 (and maybe earlier, I only know about the AD models) had a final letter (before the production number) that did give the month of assembly.

According to my refrence data (located here on the Stovebolt Pages TechTips section) Chevrolet Serial numbers provided the "month" data from 1932 thru 1953.

As Jeff mentions in the reply above, it's the final letter before the production number that indicates the month in serial numbers from '32 thru '53.

What that means, is if you enter a serial/vin number for a truck made BEFORE 1932, or AFTER 1953, the "Month" portion of the data will say "unknown" since the month of mfg cannot be determined with the serial/vin number.

Fumblin,

I went through every truck serial number code/symbol that exists from '29 thru '55.2 to test the cruncher. I discovered a couple more errors on the Stovebolt serial/model list (note also to editor). For the 1929 1.5-ton, the symbol should be LQ, not LR. OB is the symbol for the 1933 131" 1.5-ton dually. The list also shows OB for the 1934 131" 1.5-ton dually, but that should be PB. For the '46 early series, the 2-ton COE symbols are listed as OM, ON, OP. Those should be OH, OI, OJ, repectively. Finally, the CM symbol for the early '46 1-ton should be CN. Most Chevy sources have the CL and CN symbols dropped from the early '46 lineup, but they do show up in the '49 Truck Data Book.

A note about post war year designations. The Stovebolt list shows symbols for '44-'45. The Chevy literature doesn't show '44 or '45 model years. Trucks made during the period from 1-1-44 to 8-31-45 used the symbols carried over from '42, including the M* models (which aren't shown in the list for '44-'45), but I don't know if they still called them '42s or what. Also, what is labeled as the '46 interim series, Chevy called '46 first design (from 9-1-45 to 9-1-46). The '46 late series was called '46 second design (from 5-1-46 to 5-31-47). '47 production began on 5-1-47 and went thru 3-31-48. Those dates come from the '49 Truck Data Book, but I'm wondering if the overlap in the dates is correct, or if they are typos. I also have no idea if there are any differences between the '46 first and second designs, or if there was simply a symbol change. The '46 truck resto pack, dated 5-1-46, only shows the '46 second design symbols.

Another interesting thing is that there is no such thing as '47 first or '47 second series. According to Chevy, only the new AD trucks were considered for the '47 model year, while the Art Deco's built in '47 were still considered '46s. Jim Carter even made note of this in his catalog.

I did find one minor error in the cruncher data. The 1952 symbol VL showed as a 4400, when it should be 4500. The rest of the info for that symbol was correct. For consistency in tonnage labeling, you could add the 1.5 ton rating for the COE's from '39 to '42. Also, the '55.2 3500 could be labeled as a forward control.

Would you want to add the 1.5-ton "special" AD trucks to the cruncher?

My sources for the model/series symbols are the '29-'58 and '38-'68 Chevy Master Parts Catalogs. They can also be found here on Keith Hardy\'s site, taken from the '29-'54 Master Parts Catalog.

Let me make sure I have these corrections right:

1929 1.5 Ton change LR to LQ
1933 131" 1.5 ton dually symbol = OB
1934 131" 1.5 ton dually change symbol QB to PB
1952 symbol VL change to 4500 from 4400

You mention that, "the '46 early series, the 2-ton COE symbols are listed as OM, ON, OP. Those should be OH, OI, OJ, repectively. Finally, the CM symbol for the early '46 1-ton should be CN." So are you saying that the symbol information is correct for "later series" trucks, and that I should simply just add those symbols to identify "early series" trucks, or are the exsisting symbols wrong all together?

Adding the "special" trucks, as well as increasing the crunchers capability to later years is something i'm interested in doing in the near future, once the data that i've got (as well as the coding to date) is correct and functioning properly.

Thanks for your help and testing! It's community support like this that makes the Stovebolt the great resource that it is, and will make the VIN Cruncher a relevant and useful addition.

* 1929 1.5 Ton change LR to LQ -- check
* 1933 131" 1.5 ton dually symbol = OB -- check
* 1934 131" 1.5 ton dually change symbol QB to PB -- change from OB to PB
* 1952 symbol VL change to 4500 from 4400 -- check

The existing OM, ON, OP symbols for the '46 first design COE are wrong. Just change them to OH, OI, OJ. The symbols changed completely for the '46 second design and are correct as listed. The CM symbol for '46 first would have been for a 3/4-ton HD, if consistent with the previous years. That model was apparently dropped from the lineup for '46 first (and later), so it doesn't exist. The CN symbol for the '46 first 1-ton would be correct.

I think that covers it all.

Xram53,

The changes/fixes have been made. For testing purposes, I made up numbers for the Janesville, WI plant made in August.

21VLH000 = 1952 4500 1.5 ton schoolbus, 161 wheelbase, Janesville WI, August

21PBH000 = 1934 1.5 ton (dual), 131 wheelbase, Janesville WI, August

21OBH000 = 1933 1.5 ton dual, 131 wheelbase, Janesville, WI, August

21LQH000 = 1929 or early 1930 1.5 ton, 131 wheelbase, Janesville WI, August

And for the COE "Early" or "interm" series trucks..

21OHH000 = '46 Interm 2 ton COE, 109 WB
21OIH000 = '46 Interm 2 ton COE, 132.5 WB
21OJH000 = '46 Interm 2 ton COE, 158 WB

The changes are now live and uploaded to the server. I appreciate your help and corrections, please let me know if you see any more "goofs"!

On 41 to 46 chevy the month is the 2 digits next to model letters. My '44 1.5 ton chevy is 09MS28XXXX would be a 28 month of production, rather than a letter to month, 42 model year this is also a war production truck without ground/leaded welds and no chrome or shiny metal

the '42 model year lasted until '45

hope this helps

rh

My '46's number is 5PWG, but it indicates it is the "late" '46 model.

So you're saying that in '41 thru early '46 the month was recorded as a two digits next to the model.

That would definately explain why that '41 1.5 ton I copped the number off of (21YS02) had the missing "month letter".

So the question is, what the heck do those two digits mean? Were the numbering schemes unique to model year or plant of production?

Your '44 is '28', and the 09 would indicate Norwood, OH as its place of production. The '41 I got the number off of was made in Janesville, WI with a month number of '02'.

Are the months sequential? For example, 01 = January, 02 = Febuary on thru 12 = December, then to 13 = January of the next year?

As soon as we can get some solid data on this, I can add more accurate month identification on those model years.

you are right about the 01 is jan 02 feb and so on and 13 is back to january

the sites that i used to find this info are these about 1/2 the way down on this one

http://www.brads41-46chevys.com/id14.html


and this one about 2/3 of the way down

http://www.vehiclesofvictory.com/Chevy%20Specifications.htm

rh

Thanks for all the great work,, I think my 52 is stolen..on the title is reads kba654859
but on the door frame the tag appears to read 3kpj with a long space and then maybe 760 or 160, hard to read,,been painted over, the unusual thing is that the truck is suppose to be a 4 owner truck which I never bought anyway,, guess I will did a little deeper on the door frame tag,,when entered both of the above numbers only show it was built in St.louis,,,,thanks,,,Fred

I just ran your Serial number thru the VIN Cruncher, 3KPJ and it came up with:

Year: 1952
Type: 3100 1/2 Ton
Wheel Bs: 116
Plant: St. Louis, MO
Month: October

Perhaps you didnt enter letters as CAPS.. for instance 3KPJ not 3kpj.

The KBA number is probably your ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER, as the KBA prefix identifies a 216 Cubic inch engine from 1952. (according to the inliners.org website found here .

Some areas used the Serial number as the VIN, other areas used the number stamped on the engine.. looks like wherever your vehicle was originally titled was one of the areas using the engine number.

My '46 title uses the engine number for a VIN, and my '50 uses the Serial number off the mfg. plate for a VIN.

The VIN Cruncher currently works with the number found on the Mfg. Plate only.. so entering your KBA prefixed number would result in erronious data, or no data at all.