Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-19-2020, 09:40 AM

This is on the frame rail, behind the RH front cab mount.

I know what a part number is. There's nothing on the web for it less a succession number 12-1971.

4-23 is probably April 23rd, kind of cool, pretty much all the cast dates are a month earlier than build date.

I don't see a year.

Don't know what 26 means.

Don't know what 572 means.

Somewhere in the mix is 2WD, SWB with leaf springs, a pain in the *&%. Inline Tube suggested the E-brake cables don't exist, and rear bumper brackets prove abundantly rare.

**DeadheadNM** · 08-19-2020, 09:46 AM

Could 572 denote May 1972?

gmc684x4 · 08-19-2020, 11:49 AM

Is there any numbers by the steering box?

My understanding is the frame vin is partial vin tag number starting from the year of manufacture

http://www.47287chevytrucks.com/TitleVIN.html

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-19-2020, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Could 572 denote May 1972?

Truck was built May 1971

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmc684x4

Is there any numbers by the steering box?

My understanding is the frame vin is partial vin tag number starting from the year of manufacture

http://www.47287chevytrucks.com/TitleVIN.html

Correct, the partial VIN is located on top the LH frame rail next to the steering box, and front of the carrier bearing crossmember too:

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-19-2020, 03:19 PM

Where's SSTIM when "you" need him

**DeadheadNM** · 08-19-2020, 03:56 PM

Dang - maybe a replacement frame?

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-19-2020, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Dang - maybe a replacement frame?

Just the RH frame rail was replaced, the LH rail shows 71

BigBird05 · 08-19-2020, 08:22 PM

If 3987552 is a part #, its the frame production #, not a Dealer part #.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-19-2020, 10:52 PM

Where's Jocko?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBird05

If 3987552 is a part #, its the frame production #, not a Dealer part #.

Definitely factory numbers. 572 & 26 are a mystery, are you saying one of the numbers could be a sequence number, such as this is the 572nd or 26th frame of its type?

**FirstOwner69** · 08-19-2020, 11:14 PM

Here are the similar numbers on my '69 C20. The first is on the left frame rail. The second is on the right frame rail. I believe these are the part numbers for the frame rails rather than the frame. If a similar parts are used on both sides, GM assigns odd numbers to the left side and even numbers to the right side. I don't recall where the stray 452 is located.

My truck was produced the second week of Dec.,1968. Based on that, I can't see any relation to dates.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-20-2020, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Here are the similar numbers on my '69 C20. The first is on the left frame rail. The second is on the right frame rail. I believe these are the part numbers for the frame rails rather than the frame. If a similar parts are used on both sides, GM assigns odd numbers to the left side and even numbers to the right side. I don't recall where the stray 452 is located.

My truck was produced the second week of 1968. Based on that, I can't see any relation to dates.

Heck Jim, I was ripped off, I only get production numbers on the RH frame rail

I mentioned all the date stamps on my 71 are a month earlier than build date right, so they obviously had a nice control of inventory, if not pushing them out too. Looks to me they didn't have that control in 68-69 right, two separate months on a truck built two months later.

They missed three rivets on my frame though

One on the front leaf spring hanger, and both one back of the transmission crossmember.

That leaves me drawing an even bigger blank on the mystery numbers. Seems to me the 7-digit part numbers would account for the various frame rails. Perhaps they're Q/A or locator stamps.

**FirstOwner69** · 08-20-2020, 12:49 PM

I don't think GM built the frames. The numbers, like 452, may be some sort of ID for the supplier. I know A. O. Smith used to build a lot of frames.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-20-2020, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

I don't think GM built the frames. The numbers, like 452, may be some sort of ID for the supplier. I know A. O. Smith used to build a lot of frames.

That makes sense. I don't know A.O. Smith, but cool he has that experience.

BigBird05 · 08-20-2020, 01:17 PM

FirstOwner69, You are correct. GM didn't build there own frames. They bought them from a supplier. 71 was a bit before my time, so I don't know if AOSmith supplied them or not.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-20-2020, 01:23 PM

Check it out man

Jim you gave me a clue to look up 3987551, which would be my LH frame rail, which doesn't show a part number. It only has the partial VIN in two places. Anyway, came up with info., that's my frame alright.

The book threw me a change-up though, because it reads 68-70, this is a 71. I have to take back my certainty this RH frame rail was built April 1971 now

It's possible it's really April 1970, and they were using up inventory. For one thing, only a few conventional SWB with leaf springs were built. That all said, the succession parts for this frame are dated 12-1971.

Further review seems they all end 1970. Perhaps they didn't need to build any frames in 71

**69cam** · 08-20-2020, 03:21 PM

wouldn't the partial vin be stamped at the assembly plant when the truck was being built, rather than by the frame manufacturer?

**FirstOwner69** · 08-20-2020, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

That makes sense. I don't know A.O. Smith, but cool he has that experience.

This is the history of A.O. Smith. Car frames are mentioned.
https://www.aosmith.com/About/History/

**FirstOwner69** · 08-20-2020, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69cam

wouldn't the partial vin be stamped at the assembly plant when the truck was being built, rather than by the frame manufacturer?

Yes.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-20-2020, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

This is the history of A.O. Smith. Car frames are mentioned.
https://www.aosmith.com/About/History/

Real impressive.

**tim71** · 08-20-2020, 08:14 PM

Another frame number, from my 71 K1500, 3987574 230 3 5 52 ....... not sure why my photo loaded up side down, the numbers are stamped right side up.

**71CHEVYSHORTBED402** · 08-21-2020, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim71

Another frame number, from my 71 K1500, 3987574 230 3 5 52 ....... not sure why my photo loaded up side down, the numbers are stamped right side up.

I couldn't help it Tim, already have a headache

Nice looking frame

They stamped either direction, because my 71 reads upside down.

I have bad news for you, like mine that's not a 1971 frame rail

- per the parts book it's 68-70 "only".

08-19-2020, 09:40 AM	#1
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,329	Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? This is on the frame rail, behind the RH front cab mount. I know what a part number is. There's nothing on the web for it less a succession number 12-1971. 4-23 is probably April 23rd, kind of cool, pretty much all the cast dates are a month earlier than build date. I don't see a year. Don't know what 26 means. Don't know what 572 means. Somewhere in the mix is 2WD, SWB with leaf springs, a pain in the &%. Inline Tube suggested the E-brake cables don't exist, and rear bumper brackets prove abundantly rare. Attached Images __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 Last edited by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402; 08-19-2020 at 09:48 AM.*

08-19-2020, 09:46 AM	#2
DeadheadNM Carpe manana Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 12,449	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Could 572 denote May 1972? __________________ 1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 Members met: ORANGBLAZ, 2003 silverado, MikeCofield, BB72CHEVKT, Duncan&Son, Sameyrasmea72, THENEWMEXICAN, HotRod C/10, brianthelion02, Sport/Truck, ryanroo, michael bustamante, Dirt's72, Already Gone, WestButteTruck, 57taskforce, Moreyel, painterljp, AASmedic, SoCoC10, Lumaestas, carbuff382, Chevyland

08-19-2020, 11:49 AM	#3
gmc684x4 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Whitehorse yukon Posts: 1,218	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Is there any numbers by the steering box? My understanding is the frame vin is partial vin tag number starting from the year of manufacture http://www.47287chevytrucks.com/TitleVIN.html

08-19-2020, 03:19 PM	#5
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,329	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Where's SSTIM when "you" need him __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025

08-19-2020, 03:56 PM	#6
DeadheadNM Carpe manana Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 12,449	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Dang - maybe a replacement frame? __________________ 1972 K5 CST Highlander Blazer: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=708547 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=528308 Members met: ORANGBLAZ, 2003 silverado, MikeCofield, BB72CHEVKT, Duncan&Son, Sameyrasmea72, THENEWMEXICAN, HotRod C/10, brianthelion02, Sport/Truck, ryanroo, michael bustamante, Dirt's72, Already Gone, WestButteTruck, 57taskforce, Moreyel, painterljp, AASmedic, SoCoC10, Lumaestas, carbuff382, Chevyland

08-19-2020, 08:22 PM	#8
BigBird05 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Cheraw Posts: 1,300	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? If 3987552 is a part #, its the frame production #, not a Dealer part #.

08-19-2020, 11:14 PM	#10
FirstOwner69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,852	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Here are the similar numbers on my '69 C20. The first is on the left frame rail. The second is on the right frame rail. I believe these are the part numbers for the frame rails rather than the frame. If a similar parts are used on both sides, GM assigns odd numbers to the left side and even numbers to the right side. I don't recall where the stray 452 is located. My truck was produced the second week of Dec.,1968. Based on that, I can't see any relation to dates. Attached Images __________________ Jim Last edited by FirstOwner69; 08-20-2020 at 12:45 PM.

08-20-2020, 12:49 PM	#12
FirstOwner69 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin & Arizona Posts: 4,852	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? I don't think GM built the frames. The numbers, like 452, may be some sort of ID for the supplier. I know A. O. Smith used to build a lot of frames. __________________ Jim

08-20-2020, 01:17 PM	#14
BigBird05 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Cheraw Posts: 1,300	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? FirstOwner69, You are correct. GM didn't build there own frames. They bought them from a supplier. 71 was a bit before my time, so I don't know if AOSmith supplied them or not.

08-20-2020, 01:23 PM	#15
71CHEVYSHORTBED402 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 7,329	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Check it out man Jim you gave me a clue to look up 3987551, which would be my LH frame rail, which doesn't show a part number. It only has the partial VIN in two places. Anyway, came up with info., that's my frame alright. The book threw me a change-up though, because it reads 68-70, this is a 71. I have to take back my certainty this RH frame rail was built April 1971 now It's possible it's really April 1970, and they were using up inventory. For one thing, only a few conventional SWB with leaf springs were built. That all said, the succession parts for this frame are dated 12-1971. Further review seems they all end 1970. Perhaps they didn't need to build any frames in 71 Attached Images __________________ Tony 71 Custom Deluxe, SWB, 2WD, 402, A/C. I developed an assembly kit for restoring the (a) truck from the ground up. My build thread, and more on the assembly kit https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=730025 Last edited by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402; 08-20-2020 at 01:37 PM.

08-20-2020, 03:21 PM	#16
69cam Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Olney Il. Posts: 231	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? wouldn't the partial vin be stamped at the assembly plant when the truck was being built, rather than by the frame manufacturer?

08-20-2020, 08:14 PM	#20
tim71 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Brownsburg, IN Posts: 1,107	Re: Frame cast numbers on RH frame rail? Another frame number, from my 71 K1500, 3987574 230 3 5 52 ....... not sure why my photo loaded up side down, the numbers are stamped right side up. Attached Images __________________ 1972 Blazer Highlander 1971 GMC K1500 SWB (sold) 2004 Corvette Z06 CE



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