The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Help with a VIN

I just got home what looks like a Chevy '46 COE. The ID plate on the cowl shows 16000 GVW but the numbers are pretty hard to make out. This did come with a title but the title shows a 1947 Commercial with a vehicle id number of
DAA617303
I have not been able to cipher that number, any help to verify this ID number would be much appreciated!

Welcome to the 'bolt. I'm not trying to be testy but VIN questions are asked a lot. Each gets about the same range of answers. Using the search function at the top of the page will get you more info than you can shake a stick at. Most states used the engine number as the VIN through the 55 model year. Your engine number is on a raised boss behind the distributer.

Chevman,
Tiny is right -- if you go to our Tech Tips section, you'll find a great VIN decoder that one of the guys made -- it works like a champ. But that number does look like an engine number. My '39 was titled off the engine.

Also, your title could be correct. Some of the late '46's didn't sell until '47 and were titled as '47's. It could also be that your truck actually WAS built in '47 -- the actual style change didn't occur until mid model year.

Hope that helps!

Regards,
John

Thanks guys, I tried the VIN decoder in the Tech Tips and it wasn't making much sense with what I had on the title. So you guys are probably right what shows on the Title is probably the engine serial number. I hope to get a better look at the serial plate tomorrow. Maybe then I will have something to run through the VIN decoder.

Hey Chevyman,

Welcome, and this is my soft spot as you can tell by my bolt name. Post us some pictures so we can see your new baby. I just got number 4 home (in less than 2.5 mos I might add) and judging by the strength in my wifes hands and the pressure around my neck, I think I have to quit for awhile.

Of course they would be, the guys are right about the info. I couldn't get the decoder to work for me, but I just went thru the pains of figuring all this out in CA....fun. You will not find a serial number stamped on any plate on your truck. The vin will tell you when it was made, what size it is, and what number it was from the factory.

Your truck isn't red with little circles on the doors is it?

Tomcoe,

Actually the truck is red with white circles on the doors. It has faintly around the circles something about the city of Merced, CA. Does that ring any bells?

Yeah, I almost bought that truck! Glad to get to talk to the guy it went to. Looks like a pretty neat one and straight. What are you going to do with it now? Also might I suggest we move over to the "big bolt" section where us COE guys feel more comfortable!

Tomcoe,
If you have seen the truck I have a few questions for you. So yes, let's close this discussion and open a new one in the Big Bolts section.