The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
2 members (NorthCoast3800, DadsFirstPickup), 53 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,153
Posts1,056,849
Members48,456
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
4
New Guy
New Guy
4 Offline
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
Would anyone be able to tell me where you can find the vin serial number on a 42 chevy PU? I have one im working on but lost the title so im looking for a frame # to ID the truck so i can get a bonded title...I looked where info said to look like door rail, under cab, fire wall, no id tags or frame numbers to be found but a friend said it has to be stamped on the frame rail somewhere, I looked still nothing? Any suggestions?

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,228
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Offline
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,228
You will not find a serial number anywhere but on the engine, right by the distributor. If the original engine is missing, you have no VIN. The cab tags contain other information. It wasn't till 1955 or so that the VIN was stamped in frames.

You will need to get with the DMV and see what is needed for your state.

Your old title would not have been any good if the engine was changed or going to be changed, so don't worry about loosing it to much.

Joe

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,596
4
'Bolter
'Bolter
4 Offline
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,596
There is a serial number on the cab tab on the passenger side of the cowl, right under where the hood sits.


1946 GMC Pickup - S-10 Frame, 455 Buick, TH400, original patina.

My 46 GMC on Photobucket
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
4
New Guy
New Guy
4 Offline
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
Im calling DMV again now that I have no title and no SN to give them...Oh Boy!!!....Thanks

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,228
J
'Bolter
'Bolter
J Offline
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,228
Serial number on the tag is the unit build number, not the VIN number.

Joe

Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,596
4
'Bolter
'Bolter
4 Offline
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,596
Mine's registered by that, no matter what you call it.


1946 GMC Pickup - S-10 Frame, 455 Buick, TH400, original patina.

My 46 GMC on Photobucket
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
F
Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
F Offline
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
the number on the body tag actually is the 'vin' [lower case, vehicle identification number], which contains info beyond the production sequence [serial] number - the one on the engine is the engine number - different jurisdictions used one or the other in the box on the paper title that's labeled "VIN" [all caps], regardless if it matches the modern VIN [Vehicle Identification Number] format

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
4
New Guy
New Guy
4 Offline
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
Thanks everyone No ID on frame and No title so Im screwed

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 55
C
'Bolter
'Bolter
C Offline
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 55
AZ will just assign a state issued red tag sticker type vin number. In California they are blue tags. This of course diminishes the value of the truck when it comes time to sell it. One thing I always do is verify the vin matches the title before buying any vehicle. Good luck..


LOS ANGELES, CA

48 FLEETLINE AERO, 50 CANOPY EXPRESS

52 SUBURBAN, 57 BIG WINDOW Pickup, 64 Malibu CV
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,377
T
Ex Hall Monitor
Ex Hall Monitor
T Offline
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,377
Use the engine number like they did in the day??? Have you spoken with your state DMV yet? EVERY state has a process for resolving this issue. Some just have a few more hoops to jump through. It's actually a fairly common problem.


Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 595
1
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
1 Offline
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 595
In cal. Now you need actual picture of the vin number.you need to go to dmv and have them pull out the book that tells them that GM trucks didn't have vin stamped on frame until 1955 and get the name of the person you spoke with then find a old motor and use the stamped numbers by the dist. I have been in situations in wa. State where who knows how many times the engine had been changed and didn't match and you had to find someone that knew this was how they did titles way back. I usually get somebody that only knows how to licenced a HONDA CAR!


Moderated by  Gdads51 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0