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Can anybody break down this door frame serial number on my truck? It is stamped GBA648949.

Buddha,
If that tag is on your 49 half ton, it is not the original US tag number (don't know the pattern for Canadian trucks). A 49 half ton would have the following pattern:

A 1 or 2 digit factory code (i.e. 1=Flint, MI, 20=Los Angeles, CA)

The series, GP for a 49 3100

A single letter (A-L) for the month of production.

The production number (which began with 1001)

All of the above is from the Stovebolt Tech Tip, Deciphering Your Chevrolet VIN

Taking a closer look at the serial # plate, the first digit looks a 3, but could be an 8. I think it's a 3 because that indicates the St. Louis plant and the truck came from that area. However, it could be an Atlanta truck (8). The GBA is right as that stands for 49 3100 116 wheel base. The 648948 may actually be 64949. The one 8 actually looks like it was made with a punch. The plate looks like it was restamped. No matter, I have a good title, but I have to rebuild the engine; turns out to be a 1960 era 235 with matching head. What threw me off is the 216 2 bolt valve cover that it has. Of course the dealer didn't know !@$# from Shinola about the truck's past. Vin Decoder didn't totally solve the mystery either.

Buddha,
Don't mean to sound skeptical here, but what is your source that GBA on a serial number plate stands for a 49 3100?

Off to truck talk, this isn't really a paint topic and more people will see it there.

VIN Cruncher's motto: Garbage In, Garbage Out.

My book says GBA = 49 3100 too,
Scott

GBA looks like a 49 engine serial number prefix....Jeff's explanation is correct.

Reference the GBA meaning 49 3100, I've seen that on two websites, but their domain names escape me. The lesson learned here is to thoroughly research your purchase. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the hobby. Even having to rebuild the not so original engine, I'm still below $10k total investment and I think the dealer was reputable. They just don't put as much restoration money into their trucks as they do their cars. But why did this have to happen at this time of year!!!!

GBA is definitely a 1949 Engine.

According to this page , a GBA Engine is a 216 used in 3100 series trucks with standard clutches.

A better question is why would the engine serial number be stamped on the door plate?

I've seen a whole lot of Chevrolet trucks from the '47 thru 52 year range, and never seen the engine serial number appear on the plate on the hinge side of the drivers side door jamb.

As far as the engine being different, I don't think a stock 1949 engine would be full pressure, but instead a 'splash oil' engine.

A 1960 engine would most definitely be full pressure.

Perhaps this truck was originally titled off the motor. When the motor was replaced with the newer one, the plate was restamped to match the title.

Hey Fumblin46,

Check out post in the engine bay under valve cover. The cylinder head number and serial number do look similar. Could be have been used to issue a replacement title, but I don't know how the process works. Still don't know why an older 216 cover is on a newer 235.

I think oldsub is probably right. The truck was originally titled off of the original 216 motor which was the common practice in many states in the days before VINs. When the 216 was swapped out for the 235, the owners probably bought a blank ID plate and stamped the number from the title, otherwise there would have been no number anywhere on the truck that matched the title.

When the dreaded PO (previous owner) swapped out the engine he (or she) used the 216 cover to preserve the "original" look. This is a very easy swap that simply requires replacing two of the rocker arm hold down bolts with threaded studs (kits available from most of the vendors). You then have a 235 that looks, at first glance, to be the original 216.