The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Serial Number location ?

Where would the serial numbers be found on a civilian 1941- 46 Chevrolet ton and a half truck and if they are plates how are they fastened?

-Mike-

Those ID. plates should be on pass. side of cowl. Also the stamped number on motor (next to distributor) may be the VIN.

Mine is screwed on, with clutch heads.

TC, I'm having big problems at DMV at the momenent so this helps. I looked at your diaghram and saw the different places for sn's on the truck, I did not see mention of a frame #. Beside the ID plate fastened with clutch head screws they are telling me there should be one more matching serial # on the truck but I'm in doubt that this is the case. Any additional Information you could give would be monumental in me dealing with the hostile @#$%^'s down at DMV. My truck is a former Army truck and the guys over on the military site are helping me as well but the similarites to a civilian truck are many so I'm looking for help here too.

Thanks!

-Mike-

I do not know about military trucks.

GMC trucks had frame markings through about 1947.

Domestic/civilian Chevrolet trucks, to my knowledge, did not have frame markings until much later.

Some states, like CA, might have DMV-placed frame markings on old trucks.

If life, and DMVs, we're fair, they would be able to show you documentation that Chevrolet used frame markings on 41-46 domestic/civilian trucks.

Maybe your DMV will be satisfied with the GM-documentation-page I showed you and the following documentation:

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1941/41csm003.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1942/42csm0003.htm

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1942_47/4247csm003.htm

Chevrolet didn't start stamping the frames until the early 50's

I believe Chevrolet started putting the s/n on the frames in 1955 (second series trucks).

Mike B

The Shop Manuals (and the Technical Specifications manuals from the GM Heritage Center) describe where the serial numbers and IDs are located.

Maybe someone will find a documented reference to a frame ID for pre-60s Chevrolet trucks and post that information?

Tim,

I've never seen the frame s/n spelled out on paper, but I can tell you all of my 1956 Chevy Trucks have them. The Tech Specs for 1955 thru 1959 only call out the door post location...

Any of you guys with 1955 1st or 2nd series want to let us know if you have the s/n on the frame?

Mike B

I have seen frame markings, but I have not seen Chevrolet documentation for frame markings. Some states and some organizations marked the frames. It would be nice to see Chevrolet documentation. It seems to me that if the frame was regularly marked at the factory, the manufacturer would document that.

http://www.1954advance-design.com/chev-specs/1956-t-ser.pdf

http://www.1954advance-design.com/chev-specs/1958-t-ser.pdf

Those of you who have a frame ID, does it match the vehicle/cab ID or the engine ID?

Tim,

All of my 56/57 truck frame numbers match the Cab numbers.

Also, I believe some where in the mid to late 50's all States stopped using the engine serial number as the identification number, it was to hard to keep things straight when the engine got replaced.

Mike B

yes, starting in at least '56 [maybe 55 2nd] the frame stamping was the vehicle ID number less the first [model] identifying digits - that is, it was the year, plant, sequence number, and the door tags were made from that to match, with the particular model ID added

I've heard that there was no public documentation of that for law enforcement and insurance purposes, don't warn the thieves there's more than one ID number on the truck [cars too?] ... I believe it was '55 when the "vin" started generally being used for title purposes, which would coincide with the frame stamping change, adding a number that couldn't be removed like an engine number or door tag

Bill

Thanks for the info and for Bill's clear photo.. If there is no GM (USA and/or Canada) documentation, yet the frme ID was put on all vehicles at the factories, and the existence of a frame ID was not publicized for secrecy purposes (as if thieves would not quickly figure this out), it should be in (or near) the same place on all 55-2nd and later (let's say 55-59) Chevy truck frames?

What is the location?

Would people with 55-59 Task Force trucks please check that location and post the year and model of their truck and the code they found on the frame? Posting a photo of the ID would be bonus information.

This will move this recurring topic/speculation from anecdotes to a pattern?

There is no reason to doubt the use of frame IDs, and there is no doubt that some trucks have frame IDs (they have also been reported on 47-54 trucks, when no IDs were put on the frames of trucks I have owned). However, if a high % of 55-59 trucks have frame IDs, even this Doubting Thomas will no longer say "show me".

What is the location of the frame ID?
Passenger or Driver side of frame?
Bottom or top or inside/outside of the frame rail?
Can it be readily found/photograped, once you know where it is located?

Please post a description of the location that would allow 55-59 owners to easily check their trucks.

Tim - on every TF truck I've seen [or rather, bothered to notice], the stamp was on the drivers frame rail top web just about over the axle, pretty easy to see once the usual fog of grease/road sludge is gone .... that's been at least 6 '56-'58 trucks, don't recall the few 55.2's I've seen and don't think I've ever looked over any '59's .... that pic is from a friends '56 panel that has had power steering installed

Bill

56 J 011675

56 = 1956, year

J = plant = Janesville, Wisconsin, USA

011675 = 10675th truck off the line that year, in that plant

USA 1956 1/2 ton panel

We'll learn more as more gets posted.

Thanks

put on your glasses Tim, that's a J, as in Janesville - that panel was a radio repair shop truck from N Dakota, not Canadian .... I don't recall what [if anything] was on the 2 trucks I've had that I know were Canadian

Bill

Thanks, Bill

I hope people post information, so we can build a list. I will correct the mistake.