47-59 Lost title and can't find VIN, 55 Cameo

[DarksideDave]

Hi- been away a long time, here's the story. 14 years ago I bought a 1955 Cameo pickup project from a young guy in Citrus Grove, CA who was headed off for a Navy stint, would have been around early June, 2010. He was also getting married very soon, like in the following weeks. Sound familiar to anyone? No? Okay then my problem is this. I bought a vacation home near Redding CA about the same time and parked the truck there for the next 14 years. Skip ahead to present day, I cannot find the title or bill of sale anywhere. I went to start the process of obtaining a new title but need the VIN. No VIN tag on the door pillar, looked on the top of the frame rail by the steering box and can't see one, but I'm in a wheelchair and can't really see over the fender. I let the air out of the front tires but still can't see much. I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Is the frame VIN a stamping directly on the frame? Or a rivetted tag? Could it be on the side of the frame? I held my phone as close as I could and took pics but they don't tell much. There seems to be a few layers of black paint on the frame, if its stamped directly on it then maybe I could sand some off and see it, or use some paint stripper. The house is sold and I want to take my truck back to Canada, but no way it can cross the border with no title, any help would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!

[franken]

Whose name is the title in?

[dsraven]

the vin is atamped into the frame on the ones I have seen.

[dsraven]

stamped.
try this thread
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=634676

[dsraven]

here is another htread that has info on the vin location.
my 2 cabs were Canadian so maybe different but the vin location on the 57 GMC and 58 Chev were in the same spot as ogre's

[DarksideDave]

The title I guess would have been in the previous owners name, but I don't remember it. I guess if I had the name and could contact him then that would be a start, but I don't, and would still need the VIN eventually anyways. Here's a pic I took of the frame rail, but from a sitting position I cant reach to wipe it off and really look.

[unclebrad]

Here is where mine is located (also a 55 Cameo). It is on the driver's side, a little behind the alternator (shown at the upper left) and forward of the steering box (out of the frame to the right).

Interestingly, mine came from Elk Grove, very near Walnut Grove. Supposedly purchased new from the local dealer.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...1&d=1723130887

[DarksideDave]

Door pillar is clean, here's a pic of it. Further down is a plate that's been painted over, but I believe its just the GVW info. No stamping is visible.

[mr48chev]

There is a HAMB thread about the same exact thing https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ion-s.1321429/

Pretty good photos of where the serial number aka Vin should be.

I'd say the plan right now should be enlisting a young agile helper to do the crawling/climbing around on it. Have them get photos of it and go from there.

Way too many people too the tags off AD and TF and even up to 72 GM trucks when doing paint and body work in the name of not getting paint on the tag and then lost the tag or now Vin inspectors won't pass the vehicle during inspection because it obvious that the tag has been removed and replaced.

[Stepside Jim]

The last pic of the drivers upper door pillar. look closely you can see either 2 spot welds or rivets.

My 57 has the VIN tag right there, mine is spot welded in place. The paint build up has covered your tag I believe.

I could be wrong so get more confirmation before sanding away the paint.

[mr48chev]

This tag on the door post should be this one with the weight.

[DarksideDave]

So far UncleBrad shows me what I'm looking for the best, but it gives no context. It appears to be right next to where a crossbrace or something is welded to the frame, I'm looking in the area that I think he describes but see nothing welded to my frame, all the way from the rad back to the cab. Here's a pic of my engine bay, drivers side, can someone circle that spot? I'm getting so frustrated I'm ready to send this whole thing to the crusher for scrap value.

[unclebrad]

My apologies. I don't have the stock engine in there so I can understand the confusion.

Here is the same picture with the measurement between the front crossmember and that welded engine mount bracket. (5 1/2 inches)

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...1&d=1723161219

[Lokin4AReason]

https://www.gm.com/heritage/archive/...formation-kits

[mr48chev]

This was one of the items on the HAMB link I posted that should show the spot where the number should be.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ion-s.1321429/

Top photo in post 4.

[DarksideDave]

Hmm, inner fenders etc are still on mine, from the HAMB pic it looks like it could be tucked under the lower edge of the inner fender. This is all complicated by the fact I'm working from a wheelchair.

[DarksideDave]

Hmm, tried sanding some of the dirt and old paint off, not seeing anything. Nearly impossible for me to reach, even harder to see. I checked and I can get 150 bucks scrap for the whole thing. I'm at a loss. No title, no VIN, no info on it, 150 bucks is starting to look good. Is it possible to get a new VIN assigned?

[DarksideDave]

I don't know why site insists on turning my pics upside down, dont know how to correct.

[DarksideDave]

Found it! I had to first propane torch then sand the frame paint off but there it is!

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by DarksideDave

Is it possible to get a new VIN assigned?

Yes, it is. You would need to contact the DMV and speak to someone there who knows what they are doing.

[dsraven]

it seems like you needto find an able bodied person to scrape the frame in the area suggested to look for a vin.
don't sell it for scrap, that would be a big loss for you financially. if the body parts are there somebody would die for the box sides alone.
chck with your local dmv, explain the issues, ask if there is an assigned vin program for vintage vehicles if you can't find the vin on the frame.
surely you know somebody who could crawl in there and scrape that frame for you. stop by the local parts store, ask the parts guys and hang around a bit. maybe somebody would volunteer to drop by. contact the local tri five club. SOMEBODY will come and help you I'm sure

[dsraven]

if you se that area of the frame near the front header tube, thats the spot to look. ahead of that bracket attached to the frame.

[dsraven]

a sharp wood chisel dragged across there, a wire brush, a putty knife, sandpaper, something to get the dirt off the frame. maybe then you can see the vin. if it is stamped there, and the area is clean, wire brush it then rub a crayon or ti marker across the area. wait for it to dry, then scrape the area. the marker stays in the low spots of the stamp and sometimes shows up better that way.

[Lokin4AReason]

i would get something to lift the paint up w a chemical mix

like painting it on , and it remove s the paint off without destorying anything with being a bit abrasive

[mr48chev]

It looks like there is a number there.

Be very careful about cleaning it or when someone else cleans it as those numbers are easy to erase if it is done wrong. It shouldn't take much more than a good stiff old tooth brush or one of those brass bristle brushes that come in the pack at HF or other places.