The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Numbers Matching?

Hello all,
I've been asked by a couple people if my numbers matched with my engine to the pickup as far as being the original??? What does that apply to and how is that figured out? I vin decoded my pickup for find out it was a 38 3/4 ton not a 37. Anyway, I was just curious as to what numbers matching meant and how that is found out. Thanks

Nevada

"numbers matching" means "is it 100% as it came from the factory" ... every date code on the vehicle would indicate that piece was made in the year of the truck [or maybe late the previous calender year] ... meaningless on something that old and pretty unlikely if it has any real mileage because the mechanics were likely rebuilt/replaced more than once .... the main clue is if the vin on the title is actually the number on the current engine, as that's the way it would have been titled originally rather than by the serial number [vin] plate

and if the title says it's a 37, that likely means it was first registered in late 37, as they used calender year back then, not "model year"

Bill

As Bill states, you'll never know if you have original parts but you might be able to check codes/dates on several other parts (if you are interested), such as:

engine block
engine head
transmission
rear end

(and, maybe, you may have an original title/registration matching the engine serial number, if as Bill posted, there is an engine serial number and that number was used on the original registration/title).

Some 1937 codes are in this manual/booklet

Some 1938 codes are in this manual/booklet

Other people might have information on date casting code locations in 1937/38?

Problem is I don't have the title for it, it was lost between the buyer before me that bought it from another person. Would there be any way after that? Would Chevy have copies of those titles or a historical record of who bought it from them with useing the VIN?

Thanks guys for the help, I'll get started on finding the numbers!

Nevada

Nevada (name or where you live, or both?) I don't know what state laws you would be under and or how your DMV works, but this would be an issue for your DMV. I would find the engine code and go to the DMV and try and have them trace it. If you can't trace down the title by previous owners, and or if you know the owner that "had" the title and they are still living, they can apply for a lost title.

Chevy would no nothing of whom bought this, only states would.
Good luck. For some people this is easy, for some prolly not. I have never personally dealt with it. YET!

tracking back to an original owner is usually pretty tough, the only records would be from the state DMV where it was first registered, but I'd be suprised if any state has good records that far back and you'd have to know you had the original engine number .... GM couldn't tell you anything

Bill

To most people "matching numbers" means about as much as "black plate California car". All that tells me is the owner thinks it's special and it is priced too high. Matching numbers does not equate to original parts.

Nevada is where I live and I use it since it is part of my Stovebolt name, my real name is Leighton (to answer your question)

I'll start on that and see where I'll end up. It really wouldn't matter to me either if the title wasn't original, but I was wondering what the hype was about numbers matching. Anyways, thanks for the help!

Nevada (or Leighton )

"Numbers Matching" means different things to different folks.

The most general use of the term “matching numbers” would mean that the engine, transmission and the rear axle/differential’s stampings, date codes and casting numbers correspond correctly with the vehicle that's being checked.