Hi I'm new here and need some help with the vin # on my 1954 Chevy truck 3100. My vin # is the engine # and I need to replace the motor. Is the motor # and door pillar # supposed to match? I have the ***le from the guy I bought it from in Washington state and the motor # is listed. Is there somewhere else that these #'s are stamped? Thank Joe
Lots of vehicles were registered by motor number back in the day. I bought my '38 Buick from Oregon a few years ago and that is how is was ***led. There should be a metal plate on the driver's side door pillar with a number stamped into it. My Buick has a serial number plate on the ch***is next to the engine. I went to my DMV to change the registration to the ch***is serial #. It required having a VIN Verification form filled out by my local police dept showing both numbers. Ordered a corrected ***le and now I can change the engine with no number matching issues. I suggest you look into doing that BEFORE you pull the engine from your truck. Ray
As Hnstray said, at a minimum make sure you keep the original motor until you get the paperwork showing either the vehicle serial number or a state issued vin number. Every state is different, and you will want to protect yourself. On these pickups there was no number stamped on the frame so they used either the engine number or the body serial number. Some states will not use the body serial number as the plate was not riveted to the body.
Joe, I have a 54 as well. Engine and body "VIN" do not match. In my state you would need to request, and go through the verification process, to get the ***le moved to the body tag before you do the engine swap. It takes a trip to the Highway Patrol for an inspection and some paperwork, and some dollars to get the switch made. Missouri also ***led to engine number in most cases in the 50s. Check your state statutes concerning the process as each state is different. They can almost always be found online.
Thank you, Great info. I wasn't sure if the engine # and body # were supposed to be the same. I will try to get it changed to the body #. The problem is going to be the motor does not run and is already out of the truck.
Since you didn't include your location (maybe you are in a witness relocation program) it's difficult for anyone to give you accurate direction as each state seems to be playing from it's own sheet of music. In Iowa, back in the 70's I had no ***le, only a bill of sale, on the 38 Chevy that I still own. The ***le matches the plate number that were on the cowl tag.
I'm from Connecticut and bought the truck from Washington state. Any an all info is greatly appreciated. I'm going to go to my local police department tomorrow and see if they can give me a VIN Verification form. I'm from a small town and I don't think it will be a problem to get a police officer to come here and look at the truck.
That must be a real old ***le if it has the engine number as the vin from this state. It would be simpler with the engine sitting in the engine compartment but having the block with the number that matches the vin on the ***le should be all you need. Just tell them that you are going to change engines and need to get it straightened out before you go any further. From the looks of things if the truck had current Washington tags you could just go in and transfer the ***le. Connecticut looks to be one of those funky states that thinks you don't need an actual ***le on vehicles over 20 years old which to me is sad. What ever you do, do not let that block get away until after everything is done and you have a clear and proper new ***le in your hands.
in Texas the vin is the same as the engine number STAMPED (not cast) on the block (for 1955 and earlier vehicles except Ford)...if you switch engines than you stamp the vin number onto the ID location of the block being used. This is per Texas Motor vehicle ***le manual and the inspector that does my ***le bonding inspections.
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