The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Just got my first antique truck, 1954 Chevy

Hi, I am new here as well as new to the whole world of antique vehicles. I just got a 1954 Chevy pickup. I knew I had a bit of a challenge when I got it but now I am stumped...There was no title and I was assured it was nothing more than a lost title. My problem is, the drivers side door jamb VIN plate is missing. I thought there would be one on the frame somewhere...am I wrong??? Is there something I can do besides part it and scrap it?

Don't fret dude !

You have come to the right place.

You will find no end of good hearted folk here to help you on your way.

Give it 24 hours and you will find a wealth of info falling into your lap!

All the best .........Doc Bob.

Congratulations on your new truck! You have some options, but you should start at your Division of Motor Vehicles web site. Look at the reconstruction laws, you may find some help there. You can also check with salvage yards and purchase a cab or portion of one that has a vin. You can apply to reconstruct that vin using your good truck. Good luck!

Try a search on this subject because there are lots of entries. I would say that getting the title sorted out first is a wise move.

Something I never thought about that I will now..asking if a truck for sale has a VIN #-In CT titles are not required on this older stuff

You'll work it-You're in the right place..Good Luck

Keith

I don't know about your state, but you might want to check this. In California back then they used the engine number for the title. Luckly mine had the original engine. I am in the process of getting DMV to use the serial number instead. Also you can purchase replacement serial number plates from Jim Carter Truck parts.

Mike

As the old saying goes hindsight is 20/20.You should have had the seller produce a title before buying the truck.I once bought a streetrod complete with title,but there was no VIN no. anywhere to be found. I stamped the VIN from the title on the frame,and had no problems. That same car has been bought and sold at least six times and a couple of the new owners were dealers,with no problem.I live in Ohio and they will recognize a signed bill of sale if it comes from a state where they do not title older cars.But you still must have the VIN on the bill of sale that matches the VIN on the vehicle.

Congrats on the new truck. My '59 has the vin# stamped on the top surface of the frame on the drivers side near the front of the engine. Check one of the search features this site on the subject of "vin #" and you'll get the precise answer for your year truck. It's usually better to go to the dmv with something to start from. Good luck on the truck and don't let dmv stop you.

as said earlier you can get replacement data plates i got mine fron jim carters around $11.00 got a $5.00 set of 1/8" stamps from harbor freight and your good to go as for that end of it.did the po have it registered at any point? maybe they can file for a lost title.thats available to us here in ohio,dont know about nevada.good luck and welcome to the bolt..............dave

I will start with what I have at this point.

The truck had plates on it and I have a friend in the Sheriffs Office in Ca. The plates were issued to a 1955 Chevy. The VIN shows to be a '55...The guy I got it from said it is a 54!!!
Pictures I have seen tell me it's a 54! I read a little blurb somewhere that 54-54 is where the big change took place. Could I have one of the last "Old style" grills??? The front end looks exactly like every 54 I have seen! Anybody know???
Can you have a 55 that looks like a 54???
LOL! I hate being the [censored] new guy! I'm a quick learner though!!! LOL!!!

Yours is a '55 first series.(they changed body style in the middle of '55) Your plates are giving you the correct information.

The first series 55's look like the 54 models. The 55 first series have an open driveshaft, whereas the 54's have a torque tube. We were all new here once. I've had my 54 since 1976, and I'm still learning things!
Samantha

THANK YOU!!! OK...so now I know what I have, I still need to know if there is a VIN anywhere else on the vehicle EXCEPT the drivers side door jamb.
I have the VIN that goes with the plates, but I need to find it somewhere on my truck!
I went to Jim Carter Truck Parts and didn't find a VIN plate

55 was the change over year. what you have is known as a 55 1st series.yes they are the same as a 54.................dave

Some states used the engine ID # stamped on the block next to the distributor. See if that one matches the # given to you.

sory ,i dont know how to do a link but go to oldchevytrucks.com select the47-55 catalog and go to page 126 your identification plates are toward the bottom of the page...............dave

Welcome,"MYKIDSDADDY"!! Dont sweat it,,we were all the "dumbassnewguy" at one point. I have two '54s and have owned a few '55 first series. I think what you have is a '55 first series,and theres not a thing wrong with that!!
They still used the engine# which was stamped on the engine,just behind the distributor,on a smooth,machined surface. That was still the V.I.N.# back then.
Pretty much all the parts suppliers sell the repro. I.D. plates that go on the drivers side door jamb.
Maybe try going to the Nev. Motor Vehicle Dept.and filing for a lost pink slip? A couple little white lies may save you a bunch of $$$$$ and running around,hassles,signatures,forms,inspections,,etc..............
Good Luck,
Marty

Disclaimer:: I have never,nor do i condone telling fibs to any government agency to save a few bucks.
(yeah,right!)

It's easy, Dave - just highlight the address bar of the web page you want to link to, right click, and select "copy". Then, at the point in your post you want to show the link, right click and select "paste". This is the simple way. To create a "hyperlink" you will press the little globe with a chain.(the first button on the reply screen) Right click again, and paste your link into the first window that pops up(select OK), then add your title into into the next window(select OK again). The "hyperlink" turns this:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk109/AC-DC_96/?action=view&current=2005_1225Image0058.jpg

into this:

Batman Ball

Mykidsdaddy -
Bookmark this link - it is the shop manual for your truck. Keith Hardy has created an invaluable resource for all of us.

Allright!!! Things are going from bad to worse!!! The number on the block does not correlate to a 50anything pickup truck~~~ Checking the number on the engine block...it is a 1960 Sedan pickup mfg.in Shrevport La!
If I run the number my buddy got for me...it comes up as a 1960 Suburban mfg in Flint, Mi!!!
Needless to say...I am confused and dis appointed!
When I was scrubbing the wax like grease off the boss on the motor...i thought I was going to come up with a matching number!

Thanks...that one is for a second series truck though! I figured out the home page from the info in the link! I found the 1954 truck shop manual...that should be right! They don't list one for the 55 first series!

Duh - Sorry - I was rushing.

I'm glad you found the right one. Have you checked the number stamped on the engine yet?



rushing again - I need to slow down

Yeah i checked and it AND the number the CA DMV have don't ring out in the decoder!!! See two posts above!

Yep - I read it. That was the reason for my "duh" edit.
Someone must have swapped the engine a second time from the sound of it.
They didn't know that the engine # was also the VIN.
I think that the California Highway Patrol may be able to help you.
It sounds like you will need to jump through some hoops, though.

Keep us updated...

The guesses people throw at a question like this never cease to amaze me.

The procedure to register it in your state will determine what info you need. What people do in other states has no bearing on it.

Even if it was registered under the cab serial number in CA that doesn't mean it can be registered that way in Nevada. Maybe, maybe not.

You need to find the procedure from your registration office.

Thanks Cletis! I am going to stop by the DMV tomorrow. It's my day off and I have an errand on that side of town anyway.
I just hope I am not screwed! It will break my boys heart! But if it all goes south...i WILL find another! This one was just a fluke! Traded a jet ski for it!

I bet you will need to go through the California lost title procedure before Nevada even touches it.

We shall see!!!
I found the ID Tags on Jim Carter.com!!! Cool
Now...if I can get the missing title with the door tag stamped~~~

Just go with what you have, and let us know what they say.(it's better than doing something fishy and getting caught)

Fishey isn't an option!I've never had a record for 55 years...don't plan on starting now.

Didn't you say that your sheriff buddy had gotten the VIN when he ran the plates?
It would seem that you could use this no. to apply for a new title, following whatever the procedure is in your state. Or am I missing something here?

Well,,,,,,,,,,,,Thats telling you that the motor has been changed,,,to a newer motor,,somewhere along the line.
Dont give up!!! Still go to the DMV and see what they say.
As i mentioned before,,"some" people tell little white lies to get these things processed. Hint,,Hint.
Good luck,
Marty

Congrats on the truck- Don't worry about the title and engine stuff- with a level head and some time you can work it out- There is always some form or some method that will solve the issue at hand- and there are plenty of folks here that will gladly help out- I put over 200 miles on my truck this weekend- the break in run for the truck since restoring it- You will be there in no time.
Can't wait for pics

Just in case you would like to know, the '55 second series introduction date was March 25th, 1955.