vin locations for ADs

[kulturekat]

i have what has been told to me to be a 47 but the more i look the more i think its slightly later than that. and i cant find a vin number anywhere. i find where there was once a plate riveted on the cab but its been taken off. is there a place stamped on the frame like there is on the 67-72s? any help would be great thanks.

[Fred T]

There are no frame stamps on the AD. Some states used the cab plate, most used the engine serial.

Do you have pictures?

[bjcaldwe]

Kulture I cannot remember the link, but one of the parts site has a break down of what features came on what years. Maybe it was LMC truck's online catalog?

[kulturekat]

from what i have read on random sites im almost leaning towards a 49

[Dan Bowles]

How is the door gasket held on? Screws or channel? That can help you narrow down late 49 vs early. Not sure when exactly the tank went into the cab, early 49 or late.

[kulturekat]

from what i read they all say 49 is when it went into the cab and i have the gas tank in the cab

what do you mean by gasket are you referring to weatherstripping? i can go out and look its right out the window.

[Fred T]

That's a 48-50. There should be a stamped number on the engine block. It is aft of the distributor, the same surface that the distributor clamp is on. That will be your vin. You should be able to run it through one of the websites or get someone here to decode it.

[kulturekat]

Well the only bad thing is that I don't have the original engine.

Didn't in 50 the add the vent window? Or was that 51? I also read in 49 they moved the parking brake to a push pedal on the far left and mine has that. I'm not sure about the door gasket.

[bjcaldwe]

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/ca/t.aspx?Page=8

Try that link.

[bmacdona]

The drivers side cowl vent was dropped for '51, so this would be a 50 or earlier.

Hope this helps!

From the Wikipedia page:

Early 1949 - Gas tank now mounted upright behind seat in cab; filler neck aft of passenger door handle. New serial number codes: GP 1/2 ton, GR 3/4 ton, & GS 1 ton.

Late 1949 - Hood side emblems no longer read "Thriftmaster" or "Loadmaster", but are now numbers that designate cargo capacity: 3100 on 1/2 ton, 3600 on 3/4 ton, 3800 on 1 ton. Serial number codes remain the same as on early 1949.

1950 - Telescopic shock absorbers replace lever-action type. Last year for driver's side cowl vent, its handle is now flat steel, not maroon knob as in previous years. New serial number codes: HP 1/2 ton, HR 3/4 ton, & HS 1 ton.

1951 - Doors now have vent windows. Mid-year change from 9-board bed to 8 boards per bed. Last year for 80 MPH speedometer, chrome window handle knobs, and chrome wiper knob. New serial number codes: JP 1/2 ton, JR 3/4 ton, & JS 1 ton.

[Fred T]

Jim Carter goes into a little more detail on the differences.
http://www.oldchevytrucks.biz/47_55/full.asp?page=10

I assumed that the engine was a 216, but now that I look closer I see it isn't.

Going by Carter, it looks like you have a 50 with the tube shocks. Check the cowl vent handle. Also understand that changes didn't always take place at the model year change. The factory used the parts from the previous year until they ran out. You could have a 49 built near the end of the year with parts from a 50, or an early 50 with parts intended for a 49. I have seen 48s with the in-cab fuel tank. My 52 has the radiator support for a 51.

I'm assuming you don't have a title for the truck. Have you contacted the DMV about what it takes to get a title assigned? I would be hesitant to do much work until I knew there aren't any problems there. Without any numbers you could title it as a 49 or 50, as it really doesn't matter which year it is.

[kulturekat]

yeah it really doesnt matter to me which year just more or less would like to know for buying parts. the engine that is in that picture is out aof a 66 malibu so its not the correct engine. im putting it on an s10 frame so even the frame doesnt matter to me. i also ead that in 49 they added a cross bar to the radiator and mine has that so more effidence leading me to belve 49. thank you all so much for your help i really appreciate it.

and no unfortunatly i dont have a title the truck was pretty much given to me.

[Dan Bowles]

The door gasket I'm referring to is the one the goes all the way around the opening. In 49 they changed it from a screwed on type to a channel type. This will matter when you go to replace them.

[sweet70beast]

The tube shocks and no windwings, I would say it's a 50.

[kulturekat]

i think i agree with you all on it being a 50. or mybe like fred says it could be a late 49 or something. i agree with the shocks here are somewhat pictures of the gasket or channel i think.

im also not sure if i mentiones or not but its originally a 3/4 ton truck.

so this is my next question since we narrowed it down to a 49 or 50 do i order for a 49 or 50 when i buy parts for the cab or does it even matter?

[Fred T]

From what I remember there are difference in the door windlace and the headliner. I will recommend that you order those parts from one of the stores that can tell you on the phone which parts you need.

Is that frame for a transplant? I see it's 5 lug. I noticed the 8 lug wheels the other night.

[kulturekat]

yes the frame sitting next to it is an s10 the frame the cab is currently siting on now is the original its a 3/4 ton 8 lug frame.

[mr48chev]

Is there a plate above lower hinge on the drivers side door jamb? If it isn't there you will probably see two staggered holes where it should be and it may be painted over due to a sloppy painter who didn't mask it off.

It shoud have a number three letters and then more numbers Many states now use that as the vin number.

[kulturekat]

Yeah I know where the plate should be but there's no plate and I do see the holes and it's not due to a moronic painter it has the original paint origial patina.

[Steve@OldSub.com]

Those plates sometimes just fall off. Some of them were screwed on and the screws back out over time.

[Dan Bowles]

I'm not certain but that looks like the channel style windlace gasket. I'd say its the later 49-50 cab. You'll know when you go to change it if you get the wrong stuff!

[kulturekat]

Thanks so much Dan I appreciate your help it's nice to be pretty close to confirmation. It'll be a custom so not sure I should care so much I'll just MAKE everything fit but nice to be able to be close to a year when I go to order.