41 or 46 truck?

[Javelin360]

Looked at a project truck today. Current owner can only provide a bill of sale. He is not sure if it is a 41 or 46. There is a tag on the cowl but its not readable except for some stamped characters. How do I determine the year? I can pick the truck up for $500.00

[CSHADES]

the easiest way to tell a 41 cab from a 46 is the rear window. the 41 will have a bolt on ring around the window and the 46 will be a rubber gasket on the pinch weld with no bolts. the tag on the cowl usually doesn't mean a lot. is the engine in it ? they are usually titled with the engine number.

[Javelin360]

I'll take a look at the back window and the engine is in it but I'm not sure if it is original.

[CSHADES]

the problem you are going to have is getting a title for it. I would check with your dmv about getting a title before purchase. of course the price is very reasonable and since I cant stay away from these trucks I personally would buy it for parts even if I couldn't get a title.

[Javelin360]

I talked to the DMV and getting a title issued (due to the age of the truck) entails some paperwork a vin/engine # inspection and signoff by the local Justice of the Peace. This is easy since I went to Highschool with the Sheriff and I've known the JoP for forty years.

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Javelin360

I talked to the DMV and getting a title issued (due to the age of the truck) entails some paperwork a vin/engine # inspection and signoff by the local Justice of the Peace. This is easy since I went to Highschool with the Sheriff and I've known the JoP for forty years.

title it on the plate number on the firewall, not the engine number, in case you change it.

1941 tag ID starts with a number (production plant ID) and then an A for production year 1941, so a kansas city built 1941 will be 5A and the next letter is the truck body style. a 1/2 ton would be a K and a 3/4 an L, so a 1941 3/4 ton would be 5AL

1942 was the same, except the year would be a B. not many 1942s out there

1945 would be a C. not many out there.

1946 would be a D. a half ton 1946 made in KC would be a 5DK prefix.


I can tell the 41s by the rear window like Cshades said, but also by the front parking lights, 1941 was the pontiac die cast assemblies, 42-46 were stamped steel. also the headliners were one piece in 1941. also the dash knobs were square in 1941. for 1942 and 1945, they mostly looked like 1946 but the window cranks and inner door handles were bakelite instead of die cast, and the outer door handles were stamped steel, from war shortages.

good luck!

[mr48chev]

The stamped number is all you are concerned about on those tags. The printing doesn't mean much of anything as far as ID of the truck or the DMV is concerned.

I wouldn't get rid of the old block before I had a clear title to it though.
This link should help you id the engine number that is stamped in the pad towards the rear of the distributor http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/models/engine.htm

I'm kind of partial to those trucks as my best bud in Texas had one that I rode a lot of miles in.

[VWNate1]

For the price it's a no brainer .

Titles are easy unless it's stolen, it just takes some time and paperworks .

Look closely for rust in the body .

I used to own a 1946 3100 (K series), it had originally been a telephone truck, I ran it as a shop & tow truck all over the South West for 13 years, I loved it .

[LILREDGMC]

Joedoh was correct with his codes.

i have a 1942 and it is a BK model. It was titled a 42 but was alleged to be an early 1945 production for the Nebraska Continental Telephone Company. A VCCA member Austin Ott from Missouri got me straightened out on the letter prefixes.