What to do?

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:11 pm

Well since my frame is down to just he axles I decided to look at the frame number vrs the SN on the data plate. So I wire brushed and sanded till I got good clear numbers to look at. ....and it is not the same as the number on the data plate. Both numbers indicate that the truck would have been made in March of 1953 so at least they are close to each other. My question is which one should I use for the title. The truck was never titled as far as I can tell and never in my state so I'm going to be getting one from scratch. Should I go with the frame number or the data plate number. I'm thinking since I'll be replacing the data plate with a new one of going with the frame number, but wanted some input from you all.

captain kirk · Post by **captain kirk** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:25 pm

I would use the numbers off of the frame, because you stated you are going to replace the plates and the frame numbers will stay and are permanent.

Nickathome · Post by **Nickathome** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:52 pm

I'd use frame number because the data plate was more than likely replaced at some point before you got the truck. Frame vins are hard to switch.....

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:15 pm

k8icu wrote:Well since my frame is down to just he axles I decided to look at the frame number vrs the SN on the data plate. So I wire brushed and sanded till I got good clear numbers to look at. ....and it is not the same as the number on the data plate. Both numbers indicate that the truck would have been made in March of 1953 so at least they are close to each other. My question is which one should I use for the title. The truck was never titled as far as I can tell and never in my state so I'm going to be getting one from scratch. Should I go with the frame number or the data plate number. I'm thinking since I'll be replacing the data plate with a new one of going with the frame number, but wanted some input from you all.

Diffinatley the frame!

knattrass · Post by **knattrass** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:22 am

Use the frame and take a pencil impression holding a sheet of paper over it or take good photos - you may want to apply a thin coat of gray primer and sand it to leave the numbers just for photos. I copied off the specs page from the manual showing the govt spec'd weight. Take both of these with you to the DMV and hopefully no problems.

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 8:55 am

Well as I've stated for those of you keeping track this was an Airfarce truck....complete with Strata Blue and everything.... My son-in-law and I looked at it last night and can see that the frame is painted strata blue even on the top of the frame under the cab...and areas of the cab are blue where they would have been hard to spray if the cab and frame where mated together. Also under the strata blue is good old Army OD for the cab and chasy black for the frame. So here is my hypothesis.... that when the truck left the assembly line at the Dodge factory it was OD with black frame. It was then sent to the Air Force (maybe it was destine for the fly boys in the first place) and once the zoomies got their hands on the truck boke the truck down for painting maybe doing a batch at one time and in true GI don't give a rats behind fashion took cab A and put it back on frame B and cab B went on frame C and cab C went on frame A.... or something like that....What also leads me to this is the fact that both serrial numbers the frame and the data plate put both numbers produced in March of 1953. Therefore, my hypothesis is IMHO a valid one.

Just something for us all to ponder....

I'll go with the frame number when I get to that point....I have a long long way to go....

MSeriesRebuild · Post by **MSeriesRebuild** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:52 am

How is the number different between the 2 locations? I ask this because the number on the data plate is NOT the full VIN# on any truck. It is simply the sequence of manufacture portion of the VIN#. Example, on my truck the frame# is 668008649. The number on the data plate is 08649, the last five digits of the complete VIN#, or sequence of manufacture. Mine is a 1963 model. If this example is the way yours is, you are correct if the last 5 or so digits match up. If the numbers are totally different, then a component change off has taken place at some point, most likely being a change of a complete glove box door at which time the changing of data plate info simply didn't matter. The military is a grab & go society when it comes to parts replacement. When I was there, if another truck was left unattended that belonged to another outfit & we needed a part to get ours up & running. We had quite the elaborate theft ring that swung into action rather than waiting on parts to come through the system. Keep them rolling at all cost was the name of the game.

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:30 am

The data plate reads XXX48337 (numbers left out on purpose).
The frame is XXX48476. So they are totally different.

DAP · Post by **DAP** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:16 am

Charles summed it up well.
On a funny/sad/ annoying note about serial numbers:
I was given 2 "parts trucks" of which I am trying to slowly build up 1 out of the 2. One of the trucks had an official title and had been licensed and on the road 12+ years ago. Looking at the title serial number it didn't look anything like a real serial number for an M37. I checked both frames and found serial numbers. Nothing even close to a match but that title serial number looked oddly familiar. I poked around and the best I can summarize is that someone years ago took the Federal Stock number of the dataplate and then combined part of it with one of the manual numbers off a data plate. With that assumption the "serial number" looks correct but could be applied to other trucks. I talked to the local police inspector that does untitled vehicles and asked how I could have it fixed in NC. He said I had a piece of paper for a nonexistent truck and I would have to get the truck bonded, blah blah blah for 2 years and then they would give it an official serial number a data plate that I could rivet on. I don't like using made up serial numbers. Since I plan to take 10-20 years to redo this one I think I will wait and see if they change the law like in Georgia and maybe in a few years it will be easier to title.
Now the sad news. The one without a title might have been one of first 300 aka the serial number range according to the book I have. Unfortunately the fire company made all kinds of "modifications" to the frame and cross member with a torch and some heavy plate welding. It wasn't worth trying to rebuild that one but the frame for the 54 was in good shape once I ground off some of the extra weld ons - at least they hadn't cut parts of the frame. sigh...................... Just more fun when it comes to working with these trucks and trying to sort out historys.

knattrass · Post by **knattrass** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:55 am

Whoa - you got it totally wrong here..... the Air Force would have taken Cab A and tried to fit it onto the M35 which was in the next bay. Kinda like the B52 started out as a F4 and they kept adding engines until it would get off the ground. Hey - someone has to defend the USAF while Lifer is off line.... sounds like you are making progress in spite of it being blue.

m-37Bruce · Post by **m-37Bruce** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:29 am

Not to change the subject, but Stratos Blue is Lifer's color, any body heard from him since his move from Chi-Town?

What to do?

What to do?

What to do?

VIN

Re: What to do?

Charles is right

Lifer's Twenty?