The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Frame VIN number

Does anyone know what year Chevy started stamping the VIN on the frame? Having a bit of trouble getting a title for the 55.1 parts truck. Thanks.

A quick look at Specification Manuals shows the door hinge pillar tag was the cab/truck ID at least into 1958.

Some states might have punched an ID onto the frame before Chevrolet did (people have posted that being the case in CA).

Do you have the engine ID?
Do you have the number of the original door hinge pillar ID plate?
Do you have the last title/registration (what code is on it)?

Good luck, Keith

Can only speak to one year...1957...but between me and smarter people here, we may be able to "range" it.

Mine was stamped. Probably at the frame factory before it was supplied to the line as mine is missing the the "3A" series code at the beginning. I assume that means the pillar tag was added after they decided on the 3100 series on the assembly line.

Could be wrong but Hope it helps.

it's generally said the frame stamped number started with the 55 2nd, but as Tim notes, documentation doesn't state it until 58, I believe it varied at different plants .... having seen quite a few of the TF series trucks, '56 up years have always had the frame numbers, here is a pic of a '56 showing the format [from the Oakland plant]

4brads - the leading model designation was never used on the frame any of the TF years

Bill

My 55 second from Oakland plant has the stamped frame number.

My '55 3200 built in Baltimore is stamped twice (???) on the frame, once by the steering box, and another under the cab, both on the left frame rail.

interesting Bill, I believe the stamp under the cab became standard in the 60's, maybe Baltimore set the standard

Bill

Then, in answer to Kieth's question, there might have been a "VIN" ID on the frame of your 1955-1st Chevrolet truck, but GM does not designate it in the Shop Manual or in the Specifications Manual.

The 1960 Truck Shop Manual does not show a frame ID but indicates that the Vehicle Serial Number was on metal plate on the upper left hinge pillar. And, a Vehicle Identification plate was attached to the lower left inner cowl. The 1960 Specifications Manual designates the same locations. No frame ID is referred-to in either manual.

As I and others have indicated above, frame IDs might have been required in some states.

Maybe the people with trucks with frame IDs will post the locations of those IDs, as Bill has done?

Tim - a possible urban myth told me by an older lifetime mechanic is that when the frame number stamping started it wasn't "advertised" so as to not alert car thieves, but law enforcement knew about it .... as you say, it may have been mandated by certain jurisdictions so only done at the plants that shipped to those locations

Bill

Thanks to all for the replies.

According to the very nice MDPD Detectives from the Auto Theft Division who are helping to get this sorted out 55 shows as having a stamped frame. I explained there were 2 different 55's built and they're gonna do some more research.

This evening I took the drill with a wire brush to the top of the frame, drivers side, from the front shock mount back to past where the e-brake crossbar is located. No indication of any stamping.

In answer to Tim's first post.
Engine ID 030I343F55Y
VIN H55N004775
Last Registration What "code" are you referring to?

Another question re engine serial #'s. Are all 216, 235 & 261 blocks stamped in the same place?

Keith,

Yes, all 216/235/261 USA engines are stamped in the same place. A factory replacement engine might not have a serial number; and, a swapped engine might have had the serial number ground off and possibly re-stamped.

Engine ID 030I343F55Y
1955 passenger car 235 with RPO 313 (Powerglide) assembled in Flint, MI - it would have had hydraulic lifters

VIN H55N004775
1955-1st 3100 made in Norwood, CT

If you have an old registration certificate or an old title, there would have been a vehicle ID on it/them?