The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Vin Location - 1946 2 ton?

Hey bolters, I just finished restoring my '46 2 ton and need to do a vin verification in order to get my plates. Problem is, I can't find the vin number. I have the title with the vin number, but can't seem to find it on the truck. In one of the tech tips, it says it's to the right of the cowl, under the hood. Anything more specific? I also have the original GVW and Serial # tag, but the vin isn't on there either. I tore the truck apart with my own two hands and never remembered seeing the vin stamped anywhere on the body or frame. Any info would be great. Thanks, guys and I will post pictures of the completed truck soon.

Adam

There was no VIN in 1946. The truck was probably titled by the engine number. If the engine has been changed you probably need to ask a supervisor at the DMV for the procedure.

Well, that figures. Looks like I'm calling the DMV in morning... Thanks for the info, guys. Nothing has been easy with this truck, so I just should have assumed the streak would continue after the restore was complete.

Adam

My serial # was on the right side cowl under the hood mounted by two screws but is a 3/4 ton. Brads Site has some info that maybe helpful. One of the old truck supplier had the plates and you stamped the numbers on but I can't remember who it was. I'd still follow Cletis info and check with your DMV. Have fun and good luck
Dan

I'm surprised no one has jumped in here yet... There absolutely were vin plates on 2tons in 46' I've had 3 of them, one is in the "truck parts for sale" section of this site. you can see the vin plate in the photos(PHOTO#35). 46 2ton vins are decoded on several sites.Go to: (oldcarmanualproject.com) and you should get the info you need. Many times in order to paint the cowl, guys remove the plate,time goes by...and it's lost! Good luck.

VIN is a modern government invention. The plates on a '46 were serial number plates.

colloquially known as "vehicle identification numbers" [not capitalized]

Bill

V.I.N. =VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER UP TO THE 60'S THE SERIAL # WAS THE VIN#, AND WAS USED AS SUCH ON THE TITLES. I CURRENTLY HAVE 4 TITLES FOR 41-54 CHEVY TRUCKS, AND ALL HAVE THE NUMBER FROM THE ID PLATE AS TITLE #S. IN 30= YEARS OF BUYING,OWNING, AND SELLING THESE TRUCKS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO.

So maybe I should track down a blank plate and stamp the numbers myself...

No, you should find out the proper, legal procedure from your DMV.

Adam,
If I read your initial post correctly, you state that you have the original GVW and serial # tag. If that is so, then you have all that the truck came with. If the numbers on your title are not the same as your serial number, then you have a problem. Check your engine serial number. In the past, many trucks were titled with the engine number, but then the engine may have been changed, leaving the owner without matching identification. You will need to find out from your DMV how to deal with this. There will be a solution, but stamping your own numbers is not recommended.

Cletis is right. The real benefit of the I.D. plate is that it tells you all the "factory history". Lacking the correct plate-it would all be guesswork. If you have the old title, you could get the #s from it. post the numbers on the title to us, and lets see if they are the 46 id codes.If they are, you can take the documentation to the dmv and they will usually use them,so you can keep the "history" correct.

Adam,
I spoke with Seminole county, Florida Tag and Title office 3 weeks ago about a title and tag for my truck. They gave me a form to be filled out by my local law enforcement agency verifying the vin#.

They will then do a search for this number. If nothing comes up showing other ownership they will give me both for the right $ which is around $200.

I do have a title issued in North Dakota in my name so I know all the numbers match.

In your case you should contact your county office and ask what the procedure is.

I am not trying to belabor the details of this discussion regarding how people misuse the term VIN in reference to vehicles before there was a standardized VIN. However, thinking that one answer fits all older vehicles is incorrect (at least prior to 1981, perhaps).

Depending on the year of the vehicle, the state in which the vehicle was first registered, and, apparently, on the whims of the dealer or buyer and/or on the whims of the person/office where-in the initial registration took place, the Title Vehicle ID and/or the Registration Vehicle ID might have used the vehicle ID (vehicle serial number) or the engine ID (engine serial number).

I have seen titles and registrations in two states (Washington & Virginia) in the same year where one original title used the vehicle ID (vehicle serial number: the cab/body/frame tag/plate ID/number) and another original title used the engine ID (engine serial number).

Coincidentally, 1954 is the year given as the first year a VIN was supposedly used. HOWEVER, until 1981, the manufacturer was left to determine what ID was used as a VIN: "The early VINs came in a wide array of configurations and variations, depending on the individual manufacturer." GM did not define what was to be used as the VIN (check Shop Manuals), so this was most likely left to the dealer/owner who filled in the first registration form.

I won't stamp the numbers myself. That was just a desperate statement. I contacted the state patrol regarding the vin verification, and it sounds like they have to do a search to make sure whatever number I have (the state patrol refuses to call it anything but a vin and I'm tired of telling them it's a serial number) isn't already registered. I have a serial # on the GVW plate, a vin number on the Kansas title (which I ran through the vin buster and the info matched the year and model of my truck), and a engine ID, none of which match one another. I told the state patrol and DMV this, and they were at bit lost at that point. My engine is a '52, the truck is a '46, and the serial number, which is different from the number on my title, is a '46. Now I'm starting to confuse myself. I will do some more research before taking it to get vin verified. I have a temporary tag until Oct 25th, so I have some time. Has anyone done a vin verification with a stovebolt before and had complications with the procedure? Thanks for your time and patience, guys...

Adam

MY EXPERIENCE IS THIS;( I HAVE DONE 3)
A.- DON'T EVEN BRING UP THE ENGINE #
B.- DO THE REASEARCH AND PRINT IT UP FROM THE I.D.PLATE ON YOUR TRUCK THAT SHOULD CLEARLY INDICATE THE YEAR ,TRUCK MODEL ETC.
C. TAKE IT ALL TO THEM (THEY WILL POSSIBLY WANT YOU TO GET IT WEIGHED-IF SO, GET THAT CERT. FIRST) THEY MAY WANT TO SEE THE VEHICLE.
ONCE THEY HAVE ALL THAT IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH $ THEY WANT, YOU PAY THEM, AND THE TRUCK IS REGISTERED... SOME STATES WILL ATTACH THIER OWN ID PLATE- MOST DONT.

I can send you a clear '46 title and VIN (serial) plate for $150,000. I figure that is the value of the time I have spent sitting in line at Kansas, Nevada and CA DMV offices. They make SUCH weird faces when they see my serial number: 1JPY -Yup, that's all, folks! It works! (the remaining numbers must've been obliterated long ago, so somebody along the line just used the remaining numbers as the VIN!) hah, adds to the mystique, don't you think!

Thanks for the offer, johnton, but I finally got things worked out. Turns out the serial number on the plate does match the number on my kansas title. The first three numbers were clear as day and large, but the other five were tiny, I mean tiny, and tucked way in the corner. I removed the plate again, turned it over, and felt the raised numbers on the backside. So I did another deep cleaning, and sure enough, there was the rest of the serial number. Bingo. Had a successful vin verification today and will bring it to the DMV tomorrow. Thanks again for all the great advice, guys, and I will post a pick of the truck soon...

Adam