The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What year is my truck?

Help! All my truck books are at work and I just bought another project truck and I am trying to narrow down the year. It is titled a 53 but I think it is pre-51. The drivers side cowl has the vent that opens and the door windows don't have wing vents. VIN tag is gone. Engine has been changed to a 235 cid. Is there anything else that I can look at to determine the year? Thanks for any help in advance.

1950 was last year for the driver's side cowl vent.

Does it have tubular shocks or knee-action shocks?

Is there a screwed-in retainer holding the cab/door windlace to the cab? Or, is there a grooved channel around the cab door-openings that holds the windlace?

OK I have calmed down some. I think I have narrowed it down to a 49 or 50, but correct me if I am wrong I'm still a beginner at this stuff. Gas tank was not under the bed so I'm thinking it's not a 48? This was one of those deals where there is another guy waiting to buy the truck if I didn't; for real.

tclederman,
It has tubular shocks but I can't remember about the cab/door window lace. I don't have the truck home yet to check it.

Chevrolet or GMC?

Chevy

If the gas tank is behind the seat and there's a side cowl vent, look at the firewall. If the indented areas on each side are smooth, it's a '49. If there are strength ridges stamped in it, it's a '50.

You,d better make shure the numbers match the title. I don,t know about your state but Ks. or Mo. if they don,t match it,s no title or license. There should be a number on the frame. You might be lucky if the other guy buys it.

When did GM start putting a number on the frame (and, where on the frame)?

the frame numbers start in 55 for Chevy, and I've heard GMC started a bit earlier - any TF series I've seen are stamped on the top web of the drivers frame rail just behind the steering box, and the frame numbers don\'t include the leading model designation , cuz that's not determined when the basic frame is assembled .... which is what makes the number on the door plate a "vin" number rather than just a "serial number"

Bill

Well guys the question was what year that the AD truck was not TF. Smitty 54 don't worry about numbers, you can buy the GM metal registration tag and stamp your own numbers on it.

wrenchbender you're right about the titling and all if its 1950 and newer, but if it is a 49 and older all you have to do is send a bill of sale into the state and they they send title, you don't have to inspect it then, that what i did with my 49 3 years ago

Thanks Mike. That,s good to know. Those Kansas inpectors are picky & snobish. The last time I went out to the one in Merriam I had the pickup on the back of my partners rollback. I pulled up to the back row of the lot which didn,t have any cars there. I just got out to unload it. " I,m not climeing up on there you will have to put it down" he hollered. Then he says " next time take it out to Olathe, we don,t have room for that out here". Nice guy!