The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Where will i find the vin number?

I,m looking at a 1946 coe but am unable to locate the vin number any help would be very welcome Andy

If it was originally titled in the US, it was probably titled by engine number.

Strickly speaking it won't have a VIN number unless one has been applied sometime since about 1981. VIN is an internationally defined standard that was first used in the US the early 80's. I don't know when they started using it in the UK.

People question the accuracy of articles on Wikipedia, but I think the one on VIN is pretty good.

Wikipedia VIN Article

Crenwelge is right, in the US most trucks used the engine number as a serial number as late as '54 or '55 and maybe later in some states.

I've seen serial number plates on the cowl under the hood on trucks of this era. I'd look there for a body serial number. That number will tell you more about the truck.

In the State of Washington I know the rules for changing the number on the title to match the body. I don't have any idea what the UK rules might be.

Had good look at the engine and found the number DDA590204 is this the right one or a casting number and could anybody shed some more information on it . Thanks Andy

if someone has the right books that number can tell you size of the engine, and it may be the one on the original title, but the number that can tell you the year and place of assembly [and not much else] is always stamped on a metal plate someplace, in the 40's usually on the cowl under the hood, not sure about COEs

Bill

Others will chime in with better interpretations:

D = 1946 regular engine ( 216 on lighter trucks; 235 on COEs; or, is RP0 227 needed for any 235 that year ?)
D = series designation ( 5100, 5400, 5700 COE )
A = Flint, MI

???

Post the casting codes from the engine and head. Someone might be able to help you identify it. I think that a 235 was standard on a COE that year. However, the engine might have been changed a few times over the years.

A 46 COE probably had the 235 (my early 235 had '235' stamped into the pan on the side). Your 'stamped' number next to the distributor should be the VIN, cast number on the block will tell you the CID.

andy53t,

Do you have a title or registration with a number on it?

Do you have a serial number plate on the rear of the dash on your COE cab?

Well it finally arrived in the UK today ,the guy who sold it
to me took all the identity off it so he could sell it on another
one later.

We traced it back to the original owners son and got the information off him to enable us to get a title .

It came over in a container with the back outer wheels taken off,does anybody know how wide it will be at the front and back wheels so i can make sure the trailor i take to the docks will be big enough? Thanks Andy

Are you serious? If you can prove that, report it to the proper authorities as soon as possible. Even if you can't, file a complaint with the authorities where he is.