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1951 chevy pickup VIN questions??

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by fuzzyktu, Dec 4, 2009.

  1. fuzzyktu
    Joined: Dec 10, 2008
    Posts: 46

    fuzzyktu
    Member
    from Michigan

    I bought a 51 chevy from a guy in Tennessee. He never told me he did not have the original VIN plate. I got the truck and a repop vin plate in the mail from him. I have the ***le, but is it to this truck? Is there another spot on the truck where the vin can be found? If so and i stamp the repop vin plate, does this hurt the trucks value??

    Thanks!!!
     
  2. fordcragar
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 3,198

    fordcragar
    Member
    from Yakima WA.

  3. fuzzyktu
    Joined: Dec 10, 2008
    Posts: 46

    fuzzyktu
    Member
    from Michigan

    Thanks. There is no vin tag on the truck anywhere! I dont believe truck were built with the cowl tag.
     
  4. Plate's supposed to go on "rear face of left hand door hinge pillar, on right side of cowl under hood" per my book. That sounds like two different locations to me. You can look over the frame but I think it's too early for a hidden serial location.
     
  5. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,931

    squirrel
    Member

    pretty sure the frame stamping began in the mid 50s? 56-newer trucks have it on top of the driver side frame rail in two places, near the steering box, and under the cab.

    There might be some law about what you're doing, I'd look into what your state laws say pretty carefully before proceeding. I also like to know what I'm getting into before buying a vehicle...so I look at the ***le and vin tag on the truck before forking over the $$$....this is the kind of problem that I'd rather have the seller deal with, not me.
     
  6. shadetreerodder
    Joined: Aug 4, 2006
    Posts: 291

    shadetreerodder
    Member

    The number on the frame has nothing to do with a vin. The tag on the cowl has the serial number of the vehicle. This is what they used for the vin. Chevrolet did not ***ign vin until after 1954. If you have a ***le go to stovebolt.com and use the "vin" decoder on the site. If not get creative.
     
  7. classicdreamer
    Joined: Nov 5, 2009
    Posts: 593

    classicdreamer
    Member
    from nyc

    My 54 only has the VIN plate on the door jam. No where else. You can buy re-po door plates and have them stamped to match your regi or ***le. As long as the ***le reads 1951, your all set. Just went through this with mine. Good luck
     
  8. dabirdguy
    Joined: Jun 23, 2005
    Posts: 2,404

    dabirdguy
    Member Emeritus

    My 50 GMC has vin plate on doorjam.
     
  9. OldSub
    Joined: Aug 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,063

    OldSub
    Member Emeritus

    I have a couple of questions I now always ask before bothering to go look at one of these old trucks.

    1) Does it still have the original serial number plate in the door jamb?

    2) Does the number on that plate match the ***le?

    If either answer is no I immediately cl***ify the truck as parts and know I'l be cutting up what I don't want. Usually that means it doesn't come home with me because I don't need those h***les.

    There are legal ways to resolve the issues in my state, but its time consuming and a pain.
     
  10. classicdreamer
    Joined: Nov 5, 2009
    Posts: 593

    classicdreamer
    Member
    from nyc

    old sub, if the plate doesnt match the ***le and the ***le is clean, why not just get a new blank vin plate and stamp it with the number on the ***le?
     
  11. fuzzyktu
    Joined: Dec 10, 2008
    Posts: 46

    fuzzyktu
    Member
    from Michigan

    The guy sent a repro vin plate with the truck. I can restamp it and install it no problem. what about when it comes time to sell it. Did they use any special size stamp at the factory. I am an old harley guy and they used different styles of numbers and letters through the years.
     
  12. THE_DUDE
    Joined: Aug 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,601

    THE_DUDE
    Member

    The engine block number is the vin on the Chevs till 54.
     
  13. fuzzyktu
    Joined: Dec 10, 2008
    Posts: 46

    fuzzyktu
    Member
    from Michigan

    who sells the rivets to put on the plate. I was told it is illegal to buy vin rivets in michigan.
     
  14. THE_DUDE
    Joined: Aug 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,601

    THE_DUDE
    Member

    I wouldn't put that plate on man , it will just throw up a red flag to a inspector who knows that its not stock.
     
  15. fordcragar
    Joined: Dec 28, 2005
    Posts: 3,198

    fordcragar
    Member
    from Yakima WA.

    Let the guy that you bought the truck from, stamp the VIN and install it. It was his problem and now he has p***ed it on to you.
     
  16. the original used clutch head screws rivets were not used on trucks til 54
     
  17. fuzzyktu
    Joined: Dec 10, 2008
    Posts: 46

    fuzzyktu
    Member
    from Michigan

    do you know what size they should be and where to get them?
     
  18. Truckedup
    Joined: Jul 25, 2006
    Posts: 4,660

    Truckedup
    Member

    That is not the case...Some are registered with the engine number,many more use the number on the ID plate.It varies from state to state and whatever went on when the truck was registered when new.No stamped numbers on Chevy trucks other than the plate until the late 50's.
    Better to check around in your state to see what's accepted before presenting an ID that may lead to trouble with your state's DMV
     
  19. THE_DUDE
    Joined: Aug 22, 2009
    Posts: 2,601

    THE_DUDE
    Member

    Huh... Thats how they do it here. I guess its best to check with your dmv.
     
  20. nvsteve
    Joined: Nov 22, 2009
    Posts: 11

    nvsteve
    Member
    from Minden NV

    I have a question along the lines of this thread. A friend of mine just put a deposit on what was advertised and appears as 54 GMC p/u. The truck does have an earlier year bed. After he gave the seller a deposit, the seller told him the truck is ***led in Colorado as a 48 Chevy. This raises a red flag in my opinion. Wouldn't that raise the possibility of something illegal being done somewhere along the line? I told my buddy he should get out of the deal. What do others think? Thanks.
     

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