The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk VIN from Engine Serial??

Hi Guys,

Is the GM Heritage pack capable of returning you info from only an engine Serial Number? I have no original VIN plate, and so no number.

I'd like to know my original VIN.

I searched around the forums a bit, but I couldn't find an answer.


thanks

stu

no to that, the engine serial number was used by states to register vehicles, but only tells you about the engine [and with a 58 engine, what can that say about a 51 truck?] the vehicle number was the GM way to ID them by year, plant and production sequence, it doesn't tell you a lot more than what you can see looking at the truck .... the resto pak for 51 is available here for the basic info on each model, including the format of the vehicle number

but welcome to the garage, you can learn a lot about your truck here - check around the various forums and fire away with your questions

Bill

VINs became standardized in the 1980s. Our old trucks do not have a VIN. They have a body serial number and an engine serial number. Some states used one, other states used the other for registration purposes. I believe California used the engine number.

If there is no door jamb tag your body number is lost forever on a '51 Chevy truck.

As for the GM Heritage site policy, you'd be better off asking them. If you need a body tag number for that purpose, make one up based on an actual '51 number. The info you receive from them is general, not for a specific vehicle.

California used and uses the Engine Serial Number at least in my truck case... This tag is attached to the transmission, in my case it is a Hydra-Matic...

I do not know how long they did this for or for what years...

On my registration it is referred to as Vehicle ID Number...

Yup, about what I figured.

I have a '51 with a clean title in my name, but no door tag and the original engine has been replaced. So now I have a truck and title with nothing matching. I'm gonna try the tranny numbers, but it's a 3-on-the-tree, so I don't hold much hope.

Can you just stamp the old engine serial on the new engine? I've read that they used to do that when they swapped engines back in the day.

I'm clear with the CA DMV, but my INS Co.(AAA) is gonna want to inspect before I put it on the road (they said so), and they will want some matching numbers ( i assume). Also if I ever want to sell it.

Anyone have a similar situation in Cali? How did you handle it?

Apply for a new VIN?

I'm not looking for a felony to go with my truck.

thanks to all

stu

stu I do not have the original engine in mine either... The engine that was in the truck when my grandmother had it in the late 50's had a blank engine serial number, so I figured it was the second engine in it...

The dealers used to stamp the engine serial number on replacement engines, but in my case they did not.. Most of the time when these old trucks needed a different engine the owners just put one in it and called it a day and did not worry about telling the DMV...

My truck fell off the DMV register so I had to have CHP officer come out and inspect it so I could get it re registered... So in case you have it on non opt do a inquiry to keep it on the DMV register or you have to get it inspected by a peace officer or the DMV... You can do this on their website...

As for AAA, they most likely will mainly be concerned with it being safe for the road and possibly the replacement value if you decide to have full coverage... If you have a want to know call them up and ask what is entailed in their inspection... I can ask my wife about it, she was a claims adjuster for AAA for 23 years...