I'm part way there, thanks to some of the 2015 posts on HAMB. I found that the number on the engine near the distributor does indeed match the serial number on the title. There is a tag on the lower part of the passenger side "A" pillar that has some other numbers. I checked the info on numbers at the "Old Online Chevy Manuals" website, and although it explains the breakdown of the numbers found on the passenger side "A" pillar, it says that for '42 -'49 cars, that tag should be on the floor under the carpet on the passenger side. BUT, the numbers on the "A" pillar tag indicate it is a 1947 Fleetmaster/Fleetline body made in September in Janesville, Wisconsin, with 5 digits after that for the sequence number. The breakdown in the section on engine numbers explains the first 3 letters of that number being the identifier for a car (as opposed to truck), with the engine made in Flint, Michigan - which would leave the 6 digits after that as the the "sequence number". Is it possible that the sequence number for the engine would be different from the sequence number for the body? It seems so, with the engine and body being made in different places - and actually, the note says that EVERY assembly plant started with sequence number "1001"! This must mean that it would be nearly impossible to have matching body and engine sequence numbers. I'll just take my chances at the DMV, since the previous owner titled this vehicle with these numbers in 1995.... But if the engine is ever swapped, I'll lose the number that appears on the title....
I am not an expert but GM cars vin numbers usually decode as body year, body style, plant of manufacture, and sequence number. I would check "Chevs of the forties" website, they should be able to tell you what you have. Good luck
The sequence number on the pillar will be different than the engine number. Back then the title was issued to the engine number. In some states you can get the DMV to reissue a title to the number on the pillar.
Thanks! After studying the stuff on the "Old Chevy Manuals Online" site, I came to the conclusion that it would be impossible for the engine and body numbers to totally match, because part of each number specifies the plant of manufacture, and there were 2 engine plants and 12 body plants. Flint Michigan was the only plant that made both engines and bodies, but the engine codes had much less info than body codes - so even those would not match. Interestingly, every plant started with sequence number 1001. This means that each of the 13 total plants would have produced items with identical sequence numbers, if you disregard the prefixes! I know now I'm OK, even if I can't get the DMV to change the numbers on the title - except that I won't be able to swap engines and still have the title match.....
On Chevys, the numbers never matched....but they did start to include the vehicle number as a separate stamping on the engine, in the 60s...first on Corvettes, then on some big block powered cars, then then around 1968 or 9 on every vehicle. You got lucky that the original engine is still in the car, so you can see about getting the title matched to the number on the body, in case you decide to change the engine at some time. Although how difficult it would be to do this, depends on what state you live in, and we can only guess at that, since you haven't completed your user profile, which has a place to enter your location.
Thank you, Jim! I'll get that profile set up. I'm in South Carolina. Before springing this on a hapless clerk in a field office, I'm tying to call the help line at the DMV main office - but so far, "call volume is heavier than normal" and I'm being told to hang up (?) and call back later... Steve
The 40 Chevrolet I just put back on the street had the engine number on the registration and pink slip. At that time either body or engine number could be used in our state. With the help of a contract DMV office we had the 2 changed to the body number. The only tag left was on the passenger floorboard. It contained by code the year, model, and sequence number. The contract office had the correct forms to make the change and verify everything. The fee was reasonable and no other person, Highway Patrol, etc was necessary. Good luck
After numerous calls, I got thru to the DMV. South Carolina does indeed allow changing which number shows up on the title. The lady seemed vaguely familiar with the process, which involves bringing the vehicle to the DMV or having a Patrolman inspect the vehicle and fill out a form for "reassignment of title". However, I could not find that form online and started the process of calling over and over again. But then I thought, "is it worth trailering the car to the DMV and unloading it for verification, and how would a Patrolman feel about being bothered to come to my humble abode to look at the numbers and sign off?" After all, the Patrolmen work for the Department of Public Safety, not the DMV - and I'd fully expect to hear from them that they've never heard of such a form or process. I will be titling the car with the numbers as they are now, which will allow driving the car to the DMV after establishing its reliability. Since my plans don't currently include swapping engines, there's no need to bother the DMV employees or a Highway Patrolman with special requests. Hopefully, my notes on the process will be enough to get me going if I need to change the title later. Now, if I can just make an appointment (pandemic requirement) to visit the DMV. It looks like appointments aren't accepted for the current day, so it will have to be tomorrow or later.....
As long as you're keeping the engine in it, you'll be fine...but the fun starts when the original engine disappears, the car gets sold, and there's no number on the car that matches the title. So...keep that in mind, maybe when things get better, and the car is driving, you can take care of it. Do it before you remove the engine.
Normally folks just stick to one thread when they are discussing the same subject. Per your other thread on the serial number on the 47. Many thanks for the help!!! | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com) Since the engine number matches the title life is good until you swap engines. Then if you do swap engines you SAVE THAT BLOCK until you go to the dmv and tell them that you swapped engines and need to update your title to reflect that and you do have the old block with the matching serial number. That simplifies things greatly because the number on the block proves that you indeed own that vehicle. Then the officials decide how they are going to update the vin on the title. When I bought my 48 in Texas in 1973 it had a Texas title marked "engine change" and the cab's serial number was used as the vin. When I moved back to Washington the WSP inspector here didn't give a rippy doo dah about the engine change designation as the vin on the title matched the tag on the door post. As long as the number on the title matches a number on the car life is wonderful until you change the part with that number stamped on it. Note: any time you are dealing with the dmv or car license offices on older vehicles the higher up the food chain you go in that office or with the state the better off you are. You don't need someone to help you cheat, you need someone who has been around long enough and has the knowledge that things aren't always as the computer on the desk says it thinks it should be.
That sounds like good advice! Maybe after the car has proven a reliable driver and the need for for DMV appointments has ended..... I'll certainly hold onto my notes!
After my first post, someone suggested I make another with the "Serial Number Help Needed" title. I think that person was pointing out that the title needed to contain a defined subject. Maybe I should have edited the title instead? Sorry! I'm a novice on this forum... I sure appreciate the help, though. Nothing like talking to someone who's been thru it!!!!
See Post 3: just experienced this in Mich with a 47 Fleetline. Title had the old motor serial # and motor is long gone. Someone moved the floor tag to the passenger side door pillar when floor repair was done. Unscrewed the tag and took it to Mich DMV (Secretary of State), they had information about changing the title serial number (not called a vin # back then) from the motor to the body tag and they were fine going with that tag. Doubt if Calif would have done that, Mich is user friendly that way. Their authentic plate program is also user friendly, with a yom plate, they will forever register a 26+ year old vehicle for a one time fee of $35 - amazing!
Wow! That is cool that it worked out for you! It's a toss-up how user-friendly SC will be - just depends on who you get and what mood they're in. I'll look again at the SC YOM policy, but I remember the DMV site saying it was handled just like a personalized tag - plus, for YOM you had to call and be approved for the numbers (not already used), then send a picture of the plate along with the paperwork for processing. Plate has to be free of rust and corrosion, and cannot be repainted! That's a tall order.. I take it that they don't want people using old plates!
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