The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 4400 vs. 6400 series

Is there an easy way for a novice like me to determine which series dump flatbed I have, as the only determining factor I know of is, the wheelbase being 161". The vin number and or title description for this old truck has no relevance. Also knowing and seeing that a has a PTO does this indicate OEM? (no laughing please), I'm trying to learn and understand this beauty!!!!!!!!!!

No numbers on side of hood? Plate on door frame? Give me the #'s off the plate. May have shortened model, a serial, gvw, horsepower, etc. I can look up in my shop manual. What's it say on title for model, type, and whatever? 4400 and 6400 will be mostly the same in looks. Frames and suspension may be different. Tire size may be odd for the 4400. 6400 should have 20" tires, other may have 17.5 or 18 or other odd size. Is this a Chev or GMC? What year again?

Forgot to say, No PTO is standard factory. All put on by body builders/installers. Do you have a plate on side of bed or maybe onthe sub-frame of dump mechanism with a builder installer on it. Maybe Garwood as example? Usually list capacity and weights on it. PTO's are usually Dana/spicer or Muncie in older trucks. Clean off gunk and it should all be cast and then stamped on flat spot for the model and brand. Wire brush is helpful here.

no numbers on side of truck nor on the door frame. Ariz. title seems to be little or no help as it indicates its only an 8000GVW and beyond that it only indicates it year and tha its a stakeside. I'll look at the pump area and try to look for any identification plate or markings, and with any success this may be the answer. and by the way it does have 20" rims. thanks!

My 1952 4400 has 161" wheelbase and 7.50-20 tires / rims and a PTO. GVW is 12500 lbs

There are very few differences between the 4400 and the 6400, the front wheel track width on a 4400 is 56" and on the 6400 it is 58-3/4"

Other than that springs and tire size is the only difference. The lightest duty 6400's came with 7.50-20 tires/rims and were rated at 13,000lbs GVW while heavier duty 6400's came with 8.25-20 tires with a GVW of 16,000 lbs.

Curb weight for the heavy version of the 4400 and the light version of the 6400 is only 45 pounds different.

thadley,
There is not an ID plate on the driver's door post? What year does the title say? What is the VIN number on the title? Is it an Advance Design truck, or what? Post all the info you have and we'll try to help you ID it corectly.
Good Luck!
Frank50

Frank50, no there is no ID plate on the door frame, other than a adhesive sticker issued by the State of Arizona, MVD, this VIN# does match the title, however the title states the truck to be a 1942. And for sure its no 42', as I know that its an advance series without window vents and 2 piece winshield. There obviously is a discrepency in the title as it must be 47' or newer as to the body style.

Thad, I have a 45 2 ton Chevy. The vehicle data plate does not match the actual wheel base on my truck but the gross is 13,500 lbs. The 2 ton has larger front king pins and beam axle.The 6400 has king pins that measure about 1-1/8 inches and the beam axle is 2-3/8 wide, the flange is 7/16 inch thick.The 4400 king pins are about 15/16 inch diameter and the axle flange is only 5/16 inch.The spindle has a metal cap sealing off the king pin you can easily measure that. I believe the 2 ton has larger front hubs with a 5 bolt bearing cover.

Okay, I didn't look close enough, there is an ID plate on the truck :rolleyes: it has been issued by the State of Arizona, and the info is as follows; AZ170534 and an additional number, beneath that is 182534.

I have a feeling someone applied for a title for this truck, they couldn't find the ID plate on door frame, so they guessed at the year, assigned it that year and gave it an assigned Vin #. They went by the owner's info given to them. In Indiana if you use diff frame and body than orig truck, you are supposed to apply for a new VIN # and apply it to truck on frame and body and it is titled as a "rebuilt" or "assembled" vehicl after that and given the current year. Maybe if titles are fairly new in AZ, they did something similar to make it register able. What was the question??? If it only has 8000 lb rating it might be rated as a 3/4 or 1-ton. Even a 1-ton dually is usually 10,000 or close to that. 3/4 ton can be around 8500 gvw! Just license it and drive it according to title and "call it what you want". :p

GLPerry, thank you.

Thadley:

Glad to see you are getting into the swing of things with your truck. FYI, my '47 1-1/2 ton truck VIN is 6QK-L1771 and 11000lbs GVW as is stated on the door plate. Below is informationI found on the web that might help you. You may note that my "QK" model is listed for '47. The numbers after the model is the wheelbase. This should get you in the right ballpark. BTW, how do you know it is really a '47? FYI, the website I got this info from is: http://www.cutstrucks.com/chevmodels.htm

1947
EK 116 Passenger (Fleetmaster and Fleetline)
EJ 116 Passenger (Stylemaster)
EP 116 Commercial — ½ Ton Truck
ER 125¼ Commercial — ¾ Ton Truck
ES 137 Commercial — 1 Ton Truck
QJ 137 Utility — 1½ Ton Truck
QK 161 Utility — 1½ Ton Truck
QL 161 Utility — School Bus Chassis
QV 137 Utility — 2 Ton Truck
QW 161 Utility — 2 Ton Truck
QX 199 Utility — School Bus Chassis
QP 110 Utility — 2 Ton — Cab Over Engine
QR 134 Utility — 2 Ton — Cab Over Engine
QS 158 Utility — 2 Ton — Cab Over Engine

1948
FK 116 Passenger (Fleetmaster and Fleetline)
FJ 116 Passenger (Stylemaster)
FP 116 Commercial — ½ Ton Truck
FR 125¼ Commercial — ¾ Ton Truck
FT 125¼ Commercial — ¾ Ton Truck (Dubl-Duti) (Forward Control Delivery Chassis)
FS 137 Commercial — 1 Ton Truck
FU 137 Commercial — 1 Ton Truck (Dubl-Duti) (Forward Control Delivery Chassis)
RJ 137 Utility — 1½ Ton Truck
RK 161 Utility — 1½ Ton Truck
RL 161 Utility — School Bus Chassis
RV 137 Utility — 2 Ton Truck
RW 161 Utility — 2 Ton Truck
RX 199 Utility — School Bus Chassis
RP 110 Utility — 2 Ton — Cab Over Engine
RR 134 Utility — 2 Ton — Cab Over Engine
RS 158 Utility — 2 Ton — Cab Over Engine

Thadley, you have a "Arizona Assigned VIN #" because the orig. VIN plate was lost or destroyed. Or the truck is a salvage/dismantle.
My info shows the 161" wheelbase to be a model # 6403 [ conventional ] which has a GVW of 11,000 lbs.

Correction ! GVW on the 161" wheelbase 6400 conventional is 16,000 Lbs.

The list of trucks with the 161" wheelbase includes all 4400 and 6400 series withe GVW's as light as 7500 lbs (4400 running single tires front and rear w/curb weight of 4365lbs) to 16000 lbs (6400 running 8.25-20's dual on the rear axel and curb weight of 4985 lbs) curb weight is for chassis and cab only.

These numbers come from the "Advance Design Commercial and Truck chassis Layouts and Body Builders Installation Drawings" published May 15, 1949. This is a really cool set of genuine scaled factory drawings of the trucks - ebay is good for a few things

Man what a source of info, now I'm really confused, the advice given by another was just to enjoy it and drive it!!!!!, I think I'll do just that! U all are gooooooooooooood, thanks again! And by the way, I've certainly learned by asking all the preceding questions....