The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1946 Pickup Truck VIN Plate

Thanks everyone for your prior answers to my questions about the 1946 Pickup Truck VIN data plate. I got one from "The Filling Station" and took it to an engraver and had the VIN number added to their plate. The engraver did a great job and the plate looks great. But! When I take the plate and fit it on the passenger side cowl, it does not line up with the existing holes. I'm probably making too big a deal of this, but can someone with an original plate on their truck give me the demensions? The plate I have is 3" high by 4-1/4" wide and does not line up with exisisting holes in the cowl.

my vin is 3 in x4 1/4 and is orginial to my 42 hope this helps. thay were put on by hand so the holes may not match.

I think the "hand installed" thing is whats tripping you up. I'd just drill new holes that match up with the holes on your new plate, in a manner that hides the old holes.

Hey George,... The fact that they were installed sideways isn't tripping you up, is it? You have to turn you head to read it.

Tweak, thank you! Yes, that is the "problem." There's noway the holes would match up with the plate if its installed so the writing is parallel to the ground. If I go the other way, it lines up with a couple of holes in the side of the cowl. Thanks for the help!

Thank was a good answer. I vote that we move Tweak from Apprentice to Master

If you ever have to change the rear tire of your truck, remember if the holes in the rim don't line up to the wheel studs, it's perfectly acceptible to spin the tire till they do.. regardless of which way the words on the tire are going.

Now that just wasn't nice.

Which way should I be turning my head, to the right or the left, i.e. Is the top of the lettering to the front or back of the truck? Serious question as my '41 has been "reinstalled" somewhere aling the line.

Now that just wasn't nice.

Which way should I be turning my head, to the right or the left, i.e. Is the top of the lettering to the front or back of the truck? Serious question as my '41 has been "reinstalled" somewhere aling the line.

I was just bustin' your balls..

The top of the text goes tward the front of the truck.. and the spot where the serial number is stamped should be twards the passenger door hinge.

George,...Glad I could help ya. Thats what the forum is for. I learn something new every day.
I'm moving to Long Beach,Ca at the end of the month. Maybe we'll meet sometime.

Now that I understand where the number plate goes and how it in oriented, I have another couple of questions. #1 My plate is currently held on by two clutch head sheet metal screws, one at the top front corner the other at the bottom rear corner. Is this correct? #2 There are another set of holes directly above the plate for what could have been a slightly smaller plate. Any ideas of what this could have been??