The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk VIN for Chevy Resto Pack

I finally called to get a Restoration Kit from GM for my 52 3600 but they will not send it without my VIN. Problem is my VIN is not for a 3/4 ton panel, but for a 1/2 pickup (according to the VIN decoders). Will I be opening a can of worms, or will they send me the wrong one? I have read all the posts with others and non-matching VIN's, but never came across what GM uses them for. Any thoughts?

What is your serial number? Actually, there was no AD 3/4-ton panel. The AD panels were either 1/2-ton or 1-ton. The 1/2-ton serial number is probably correct. The serial number prefixes don't identify the specific body style, just the model year and series.

As far as the Resto Pack goes, only the year matters, and that it is the truck pack.

Try Fumblin46's VIN Cruncher here. It's the only one I've found that works right. Xram is right, there was no 3/4-ton AD panel, but everyone seems to advertise the 1-ton models that way...


Hope you don't mind but I added the Cruncher's page -- a search does work. It's up / down a on the menu line for those who haven't tried it. You can find all kinds of stuff

Peg

panelguy,

I'm guessing that one reason they want your VIN is to keep from getting requests from everybody and their brother. You are not somebody's brother are you?

What you're after is the information. Just locate a VIN for a truck that is 'like yours' and use that. Shouldn't be too hard. I think by using the VIN, it is easier for them to get you the information that fits 'your truck'. Also, it may contain add-ons that are pertinent to 'your truck'.

Rance

When you order the Restoration pack, they send you the specs for ALL MODELS for that particular year... I.E. 3100,3600,3800,4000,5000,6000. It includes all Suburban Carryalls, Forward control, COE... Etc.

I think they really only want the VIN for statistical purposes... as GM is very proud of the ammount of old iron they still have around.

When I got my pack for my '66 C-10, it covered all models in the 10-30 series.

Im gunna feel really dumb if its actually a 1 ton... The serial number doesn't work in the Cruncher, it only gets 195? and Kansas City, MO.

From the tech tips on decoding VIN's I broke it down: 5KPB3919
1952 Series
5 = Kansas City, MO
KP = 3100 1/2 ton
B = Built February? of that year
3919 = build #

When I looked again in the shop manual it doesnt say 3/4 ton anywhere in the panel sections, so I guess it must be a 1 ton (Guess I shouldn't base my info off the PO). I will have to go and check the wheelbase to confirm it, but I do know the overall length is just about 19 feet.

So if its a 1 ton, how come the hood tags are 3600 and not 3800?

Thanks for the clarification on the Restoratioon package, ill call them back tomorrow...

The differences between a 1/2-ton and 1-ton panel are obvious: 8-lug axles/wheels and a significantly longer body (personally, I think it's more proportional). My '54 GMC 1-ton is about 19.5 feet, bumper to bumper.

BTW, that serial number looks a bit short. If you post pics of the serial # plate (and the whole truck), we can do a better job of identification.

The serial number looks OK to me, and panelguy's decoding is correct.

If this is a 1-ton, the question becomes--why does it have a 1/2-ton serial number?

Thanks for all the comments, yes it is the longer one with 8 lug axles, so I do have a 1 ton... I agree with you GMC, I think the longer panels do look more proportional. As far as why it has the wrong tag, when I purchased it the plate was in a file folder with a bunch of paperwork... The PO bought it from a truck shop/wrecking yard and my guess is that the plate got switched there. Sometime I will have to go down there and see if they can clarify it, as I still have the PO's bill of sale.

This truck has an interesting history according to the PO, I will have to write it out and send some pics...

Thanks again for the input, as I begin the project I am sure you will hear more about it!