The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 52 0r 53 COE? Door handles may hold key!

i purchased an old GMC COE with no title and am trying to decipher what it is i actually got for my money. Spanky was nice enough to fill me in that it was a 350 series and by the picture that it was either a 52 or 53. i was looking at a 52 GMC 5 window COE on ebay and noticed the outside door handles twist while mine are push button. Does that make mine a 53? my COE, however, is not a 5 window, but rather a regular cab.

If the outside door handles turn down, then you have a 1947-1951 door (those doors would fit/work on a 47-55 cab; however, you would need to use the 47-51 door catch/striker).

If you have a vent widow on a door with turn-down handles, it is a 1951 door.

Vent window and push-button door-handles are on 1952-1955 doors.

Your truck might be a 52-53, if you have vent windows and push-button handles on the doors (and if those are the original doors) and a split windshield with flat glass (a 54/55 has a single-piece curved windshield).

Do you have an ID plate on the driver's door post or on the glove box door (I am sure Spanky asked you this, if you have been discussing your COE with him)?

i'm sorry, i didn't get that.

The doors have push buttons and vent windows, but from what I gather, those options were on 52 through 55. So the door handles don't tell me if it's a 52 or 53?

Check again in my first post - I do not know how to distinguish between a 52 and a 53 GMC, except for a model tag.

Spanky directed me to OldGmcTrucks.com to decipher the vin, but the website has never sent me my confirmation email to make me a member.

I have contacted the oldGMCtrucks.com site and asked that your verification be checked into.

Until then, post the codes here (and where you found them) and maybe someone can help you.

I really appreciate that, thanks. The codes are as follows:

F354 24P 6293

I'll try the decode but I am not well-versed in this (check your email)

F = COE

35 (350x) = 2 ton

4 = 179" wheelbase

24 = 248 ci engine

P = Pontiac, MI production plant

6292 = sequence number (serial number = 6292-1001 = 5,291th of this model truck off the Pontiac assembly line that year)

To find the year, I think you need a chassis serial number (which I think is found at this location).

Hy Guys, if I'm interpretting that serial number correctly, that is a 53 truck. 53 began with number 4529, 54s begin "Z1001", hope that helps.

Thanks, Bobb