The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1940 GMC VIN Question

Looking at a VIN Tag on 1939 or 1940 GMC. Trying to figure out what it is. The Title says A22845528 which I assume is the Motor Serial because the Plate on the Cab says "Serial I4048" and "Model I02". Any GMC experts out there that can help me. Wondering what year it is ? The VIN Buster came back with an UNKNOWN.

Thanks

Check this out- http://www.oldgmctrucks.com/page0010.html I know it won't help a whole lot but gives some clue as to why it's so hard to nail a year down on old GMCs. It looks like you have a '39-'40 1/2 ton long bed with a 228. That doesn't help much on the year now does it?

By the way, I love your '39 Chevy!

Thanks for the info. I'm pretty sure it's a 1940 because of the instrument cluster in it looks just like the one in my '46 Chevy.

If anyone else has info or more links about '39 and '40 GMC Trucks, I'll take whatever you got.

Thanks

A=1939-1941
228=Engine CI

Are you sure the '45528' is correct? That indicates the number off the line that the truck was and the numbers for '39-41 don't go that high.

The 102 indicates a 100 series with a 123 3/4" wheelbase, long bed on a 1/2 ton truck.

There should be a 2 letter designation before the 102 in the model # which would indicate exact year.

Hope that helps, Jeff

Nevermind, I didn't read properly. The title number is the engine serial number. The A means the block has a different bore or is a replacement if I remember correctly. They had B and C designations as well, but I don't clearly remember.

The serial number is 14048 which indicates a 1940 model year.

Jeff

Here is a little more information regarding the "A" prefix, compliments of Rob English (that "A" prefix is incorrectly called on suffix in this documentation).

Tim, thanks for that. Do you know which GMC book had that information in it?

Jeff

Jeff,

It shows "Maintenance Manual" at the top of the page. As you know, a "Maintenance Manual" is the GMC equivalent to a Chevrolet Shop Manual.

I do not have a GMC Maintenance Manual readily available.

Well I went ahead and bought the truck or should I say "Rodent Hotel" ? It's been parked since '66 or '67 down in San Luis, Colorado. I have been looking for a '40 Chevy Truck to make a pair out of the '40 Chevy Sedan I'm building. Didn't plan on finding a GMC, so of course now the sickness has already got me thinking....Should I still keep an eye out for a '40 Chevy Truck and go for the Trifecta ??

Congratulations for stepping up to GMC.

Before you go to cleaning it out read the thread about crap in the cab.

Tim,

I have a ton of GMC Maintenence manuals for differing years of trucks from the 30's through 50's. I hadn't seen this portion in any of them, but then again, maybe I never looked in the proper place.

Jeff

Thanks for posting this info I was able to identify my truck with this.

Yep Yep...

A= 39-41
C= conventional cab
100= 1/2ton
A228- bearing designation/engine displacement

39 no park light on the fender
40 park light on fender
41 headlight on fender park light on top of headlight.

the title number has the engine size and sequence #. if this is correct the engine could be from 49. look at the date codes on the block and head to verify what year it was made

Had the Colorado State Patrol look at this. The Trooper said the motor serial breaks out to a 1941 engine. I will need to get a Colorado Assigned VIN before I pull this engine to replace it because the Title won't match anything on the truck after that. Has anyone had this done before ? I was hoping the Title could be changed to reflect the serial number on the cab, but I guess in Colorado that's not the case.

My '54 Suburban was titled by body number on a CO title. TX and many other states were still titling by engine # in '54. It's possible CO was too and someone managed to get this one changed. Wouldn't hurt to check into it.