The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Rookie needing help identifying

I pulled a pickup out of a barn that I believe to be a 41-46 Chevy. The only identification number that I have found is on the engine behind the dipstick. The number is 869947. I have looked at the all the engine casting number websites that I could find and haven't found this number listed. I have looked for the VIN on the door posts and on the cowl. Any help identifying would be appreciated.

You should also have some letters before the number

Is there not a plate on the cowl? Do you have the title or other paperwork like an old registration?

There isn't any letters before the number and I don't see any plate on the cowl. No title or other paperwork. I have pictures but don't see a spot to attach them.

Welcome to the bolt'

1941-47 gallery photos

Casting Numbers

Posting Photos

Identifying Art Deco Trucks

Does anyone have a picture of where the VIN plate should be on the cowl?

I found az homemade looking plate that has 46 engraved in the middle and in the bottum right corner it has 5A 05 14983. Still doesn't seem to add up.

1941 Manual

1946 Manual

Deciphering the VIN code

No vins on old GM trucks. Vins came about in around 1968 or so.

True, they were not called Vehicle Identification Numbers, they were referred to as Vehicle Serial Number Tags, but used as VIN's in many states and are considered Vin's today by most DMV'S. Many DMV'S used the engine numbers as the VIN, but through the years the engine was replaced making it difficult to transfer the vehicle to another owner. Lose the body tag and see if DMV will register your truck.

That is the right plate for the years you posted. The plate mounts on the outside of (passenger side) of the cowl. There looks to be some missing info on the plate, the model identification a two letter code (example) AK, AL. and the unit # looks to be way to large. Try to clean the plate or post a picture here for us to see.

Thanks for all the help and support. Although it didn't really help me identify my pickup, I do appreciate it. Since the numbers on the engine and the numbers on the home made identification plate don't add up, is there other ways to tell things about my truck? Such as, how do I know it is a half ton?

You should be able to copy and paste the link below. Let me know what you think. There is a 3 at the end onf the number on the bottum right.


http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag132/rafrohlich/truck/TruckPlate_zpsf71bddaa.jpg

that plate isn't factory, and the engine number is likely a rebuilders number, no telling what it's been thru in nearly 70 years .... the 41 to 46 trucks are very similar, not much change after 42 until the 47 Advance Design model came out .... without a title, you're left being a detective -this site might yield some clues for dating it .... and 1/2T's have 6 bolt wheels, larger trucks have 8 bolt

Bill

How can I tell if it is a 216 or 235?

Find and post all of these codes:
block casting code
block date casting code
head casting code
head date casting code