The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Tracking Down VIN numbers on US trucks?

After using the resources on the site I found out some interesting things regarding the title and VIN of my truck. It has had a legal title in AZ from at least the previous owner, but I always wondered about the VIN plate. It appears to have been hand stamped and replaced at some point. It is in the correct location, but not having seen a correct plate, I'm not sure how it is supposed to look for that year.

What I've learned now is that it is a partial VIN. It is 3JD10, which tells me it was a 39 3/4 ton built in October of 38 in St. Louis. Okay, so far so good, the JD is correct for the vehicle, so I suspect the rest is as well, and the last info got dropped during a title transfer sometime, somewhere.

My question is this, does anyone have any info on how I might begin to at least find out how many 3/4 tons rolled of the line on that month and year? That at could help me narrow down it a bit perhaps?

Also, does the US have a site similar to GM in Canada for vintage trucks? What other resources exist to at least start to track down this information?

I am sure it is somewhere on this site and many of you who are more experienced might at least point me in the right direction.

Many thanks!

GM resto-pak in tech tips

might find some info here on total numbers made , but you won't find anything by month, especially that far back

I'd think all that would be missing from that number would be the final production sequence number, which doesn't say anything anyway, as it only applies to that plant

Bill

Bill,

Thanks for the info, that does help. Do you think that finding the GM restoration pack will be possible with out the production sequence number is possible at this point?

Jonathan

Jonathon,
The resto-pack is not specific for a particular vehicle. In other words it is NOT a build sheet for a single vehicle. It is simply a collection of technical documents and specifications for all models of trucks for a particular year. Whether or not you had the production number would not matter, you get the same package of materials regardless of the vehicle production number. If you want a resto-pack, just make up a 5 digit production number to add to your ID number.

Keith Hardy has a copy of the 1939 Car and Truck Specifications (the 'restoration pack' for 1939) online at his Old Online Chevy Manuals page.

Jeff,

Great info and link. It certainly has the information I am looking for. I've learned more about this truck's history in the last few days than in the last 14 years.

Thanks again.

Jonathan

You're certainly welcome, though all I did was provide a link. Keith Hardy is the man who did all of the work.

If you (or anyone else) finds the Old Online Chevy Manual site helpful, you might consider providing a small donation at the site to help Keith maintain and expand the site.

Also, if anyone has any original Chevy documentation, you might consider loaning/donating the material to Keith so he can scan it in and get it online.