Parhaps a little help for a newbie....

[doc_gawpo]

Hello Friends!

I am a luthier by trade (violin maker) and consider myslef a bit of a handyman. I've repaired vehicles throughout my life as my Father was a mechanic and always insisted on saving the coin and doing the work ourselves.

I made a couple instruments for a client in trade for what I am told is a possibly a 1948 General Motors Truck. What I'd like to do is verify that but I have no idea where to start.
I've looked for the VIN number but can't seem to find it. I've been able to locate a bunch of serials on various components of the engine and the engine itself has number stamped on it...

Any help with narrowing down what vintage GM I have a what it needs to get back to it's original shape would be greatly appreciated. I understand that if I'm able to locate the proper VIN, I should be able to spec the vehicle pretty easily.

Kind Regards,
Doc

[PDW HOTRODS]

Post some pics, or a link to some pics, and we will try to help. Was there a title with it? Is it Chevy or GMC. Does it have outside door handles with push buttons, or turn down handles? Does it have 1 piece door glass or wing windows?

[doc_gawpo]

Originally Posted by PDW HOTRODS

Post some pics, or a link to some pics, and we will try to help. Was there a title with it? Is it Chevy or GMC. Does it have outside door handles with push buttons, or turn down handles? Does it have 1 piece door glass or wing windows?

The handles have been removed at present, but I believe from the bolt holes that they would be turn down handles...and it has the 1 piece door glass, not the wing...that is where my Father found the discrepencies from the title and his research...
I have taken some photos, but have no place to post them for the link...

Cheers,
Doc

[doc_gawpo]

Thanks for the reply! Is the only way to post pics via a link to existing pics on the web? Like something I upload to flickr?
There is a title that is around somewhere and the owner is getting it to me soon.
The vehicle belonged to a friend of my Father. The issue with the title, as my father explained to me was that he believes it lists the truck as a 46' but when he looked into specs for that year, they had the triangle window vents that this truck does not.
It is a GMC truck...says Genral Motors Truck on the dash.

Thanks,
Doc

[doc_gawpo]

Ok, so I made a flickr account...please pardon the absolute mess of the vehicle...it is in my Father's house garage and apears to have many things on/in/around it...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4010341...n/photostream/

Hope that works...

Cheers,
Doc

[Atomsplitter]

Whats up Doc?
I looked at your pictures and it would appear you have a mid 1949 to mid 1952 GMC pickup. I base this on the fact you have a column shifter, pull down door handles and no vent windows. We could narrow it down more if we knew if the gas tank were inside the cab behind the seat of under the front of the truck bed. The VIN plate should be located on the drivers side door pillar so it can only be seen if the drivers door is opened. GM used 3 spots for the VIN: a plate on the drivers door pillar, or stamped on the motor block or the top of the frame near the front of the cab (if I remember correctly). I live in Newcastle which is just East of Toronto and drive a Canadian made '48 Chevy truck similar to yours (mines built in Oshawa). The Vin decoders found on the internet do not apply to Canadian trucks of this age, I believe they are only good for 1956 and newer. If your really eager to know its exact history and are willing to pay $$$ to have this knowledge, you can get intouch with GM Canada. They will put you in touch with a service that can access GMs archives and tell you where it was built, where it was sold and the options it was sold with.

I was curious to know how many miles are on the odometer as the truck seems to be in very good condition, In fact it looks so nice the motor looks like it was repainted and the interior, other than the dust, looks great! As long as the floors and frame are rust free you have an excellent start to a project. Do you plan on keeping it stock or are you looking to modify it?

PS= There are a few links to a sites that describe the year by year changes the AD trucks went through to better identify your trucks model year.
http://www.antiquechevytrucks.com/Co...ation_main.htm
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1947-1...let-trucks.htm

Good Luck

[av8tr33337]

The wing windows on the Chevy version didn't come out until 51. So assuming the same is true of GMC it is 47-50. Unless of course, the doors are not original.

[PDW HOTRODS]

It looks like a 47-49. There should be an ID plate in the drivers door jam just below the upper door hing.

[dan42]

It looks like a pretty nice start...