VIN Frame Numbers ?

[Ironhorse]

Have a question I am asking for a friend who is looking at buying a " 1967 factory shortbed 4x4" that is purported to be an original and unmolested frame. He has pictures of the partial VIN number above the driver's side frame near the steering gear box. Nice, plain and well stamped. Another picture sent to him is of the frame numbers on driver's side beneath the cab which the cab is long gone. These numbers are rusty and pitted and hard to read but do not seem to match at all? This is a frame, running gear and engine only offering. Found on Facebook Marketplace and out of state by a fair distance. Trying to keep him from buying a "parts truck" he will not be able to title because of VIN issues.

Never had VIN and title issues when I bought my truck but then it had a clean Kansas title and the upper front frame VIN partial matches. So no problemo there.

Are the two numbers supposed to match.....upper frame # near steering gear box and upper frame # beneath the cab which is not there?

[Ironhorse]

Thanks for the reply and confirmation of the matching or non-matching VIN numbers. Not sure why the two don't match but think it would be a deal breaker for me. Never purchased a bare frame and running gear for a build on a vehicle of any sort but as much as I have read about doing such here and a few other websites I am on it can be a real slippery slope. I'll pass on the info to my friend and let him make his choices. Think I would pass and keep looking, he's really set on a factory shortbed 4x4. I mentioned to him that he and a rather LARGE group of people are looking for the same prize.

[Palf70Step]

I have had several of these trucks that only had the vin in a single location on the frame. My original 70 had it at the front near steering box, but not under the cab area. My 69 was opposite, only at the cab, not by the box. Most states I know of do not care about frame VIN, just the one in the cab. Not sure how ur state is.

[Louisvillekytruck]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

I have had several of these trucks that only had the vin in a single location on the frame. My original 70 had it at the front near steering box, but not under the cab area. My 69 was opposite, only at the cab, not by the box. Most states I know of do not care about frame VIN, just the one in the cab. Not sure how ur state is.

Great information

[Ironhorse]

Supposedly there is no title, only a bill of sale. The frame and running gear is bare, no cab to compare a VIN # to the frame VIN #. Seems odd the frame has two VIN #s unless the second set of numbers is from the frame side and NOT the frame top. Seems as if I recall seeing a post sometime ago about numbers stamped into the side of the frame. Production numbers possibly with no connection to the actual VIN? The stamping of the numbers shows a different font or type of numbers between the front VIN # near the steering gear box and the numbers stamped near the front cab mount under the cab that is not there.

Will contact my friend and suggest he talk to our local DMV about a "builders" title before he gets a lot of interest in the situation. Thanks for the replies and info, never dealt with the two VIN number situation before and was in unknown territory to advise my friend a correct approach.

[72c20customcamper]

My 68 only had the partial in the frame rail at the steering box . There were no other markings and I had the bed off and detailed the frame .

[Rickysnickers]

My opinion, I would pass on that frame, unless you know for certain that the rusty number are in fact production numbers. I'm not familiar enough with that particular era of truck to comment any further.

I will say this though. Coming from CA, the title does not go with the frame. The title only goes with the cab. The cab has the full VIN, the frame does not. If someone, again from CA (I'd bet it's the same in most other states as well), is selling a frame with a title, I'd steer clear of that one at all costs!!

[best view]

Keep looking not a hard truck to find

[CUSTOM/10]

To the best of my knowledge there were 2 possible locations to find the partial vin #s on the frame. One by the steering box location and the other was on top of the dr side frame rail under the cab, like near the door on top of the frame.
Other numbers on the sides of the frame rails were part numbers.
Most of my experience is with 72 frames earlier yrs might differ.

Gary

[Grumpy old man]

I just checked my 67 2wd short bed frame and the partial vin on the front frame rail matches the partial # on the top rail of the frame rail where it would be under the cab , cab swaps and frame swaps have been done for many years in here from rust damage or accidents or just buying a new performance frame . the frame is a part not a truck as long as it comes with a LEGAL bill of sale I don't see any problem . It's not a full vin so theres no way anyone could say it's stolen . The bill of sale would end any question of where it came from . Many states like Ga don't even issue titles on these old trucks . I have 2 - 67 cabs built in Baltimore that don't even have a model # on the spid or titles , The 67 first year trucks have a lot of one year only parts and inconsistencies with the later 68-72's . You could go to DMV and open that hornets nest and end up with a 67 truck with a 2022 rebuilt title . I remember years ago when the first Camaro bodies were being reproduced and guys buying a cheap rusted out body for the vin and titles to use on their "new" body . Make it easy and call one of the new frame builders and ask how they do it ? In all my years of owning old muscle cars and trucks I've never had anyone check a frame vin , EVER .

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

To the best of my knowledge there were 2 possible locations to find the partial vin #s on the frame. One by the steering box location and the other was on top of the dr side frame rail under the cab, like near the door on top of the frame.
Other numbers on the sides of the frame rails were part numbers.
Most of my experience is with 72 frames earlier yrs might differ.

Gary

Our 82 is the same.
Vin on the top of the rail, side of the rail are part numbers.

[LS short box]

When I built my 68 I was lucky enough to find a super nice short box frame locally. I did a nut and bolt rebuild on the 68. Sold the long box and frame. MN does not care about frame numbers, they just care about the vin tag on the pillar.

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

To the best of my knowledge there were 2 possible locations to find the partial vin #s on the frame. One by the steering box location and the other was on top of the dr side frame rail under the cab, like near the door on top of the frame.
Other numbers on the sides of the frame rails were part numbers.
Most of my experience is with 72 frames earlier yrs might differ.

Gary

Same for my 72 K20 and 69 K10 factory SWB.
The partial will tell you the year, plant, and the build sequence and nothing else.

Like grumpy said, there’s a ton of stuff in 67 that is different than the other years. Some 67’s (mostly GMC) didnt even get the frame stamps at all. I wouldn’t even to begin to sweat that frame vin here in NM, but I have heard how bad Kansas can be with vin mis-matches and title issues.

[Ironhorse]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the replies and the info. Having never bought a bare frame from out of the state in the past was not sure about a few things. Understand about the title remaining with the cab. Buying a few out state vehicles the only things I have experienced have been matching the title with the vehicle VIN plate which has been no problem. To register and tag there is a requirement for a safety of operation inspection, head lights, brake and turn signal lights, horn, windshield crack free. Pretty run of the mill inspection.

Frame and running gear is in South Carolina, friend is looking into purchasing and shipping. In his court now.

[1970cstblazer]

On my 1970 Blazer, there are two large stamped partial VINS on the drivers side frame rail on the top. First one is just rear of the steering box, and the other is just rear of the parking cable frame bracket about where the drivers seat would be if the body was on the frame. These are very deep and clear.

Example:

0S123456

0-1970
S- St Louis Assembly plant
123456- Specific sequential VIN number.

This should match the last six digits of the VIN located on the door jamb VIN tag. It is not uncommon to see them one digit off. This is a factory error.

[67km1590]

I just got my 67 GMC frame back from being sandblasted, no partial VIN numbers anywhere, just the part numbers on the side of each rail.

[chewychevy67]

My 67 has nothing as well. It's common on 67s