Serial Numbers on Trucks

[dorvedahl47pu]

Good afternoon,

I recently purchased a 1947 1 1/2 ton stake bed truck. I have found serial numbers on the transmission housing and the glove box door that match the title, but I have not found anything stamped into the top of the front of the left side frame rail as I have on my 1/2 tons. Is this normal for trucks? All the info I can find on serial number locations specifically mentions cars and commercial but not trucks. I found one post in another forum from 9 years ago that stated big trucks did not have the serial number stamped into the frame.

Can any of you big truck owners verify that statement?

Thanks.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by dorvedahl47pu

I found one post in another forum from 9 years ago that stated big trucks did not have the serial number stamped into the frame.

Can any of you big truck owners verify that statement?

Thanks.

There are some "EXPERTS" out there that don't know squat! The number should be located NEAR front crossmember, on LEFT frame rail. It has been said that "Truck" frames will ONLY have the ONE front, left serial number location, whereas automobile frames are stamped in THREE locations. 1-1/2 Ton TRUCK frames have a "T" (for "truck") in the serial number.

1947 1-1/2 Ton trucks have a serial number beginning with "799T *******". There will be a "STAR" before the first digit "7", and after the last digit in serial number. All NUMBER "1" digits appear as the letter "I". The "I"s and the "STARS" are for fraud-preventing measures. Example in picture below. Search your frame very carefully....it's there! Sometimes, a "human" stamped the numbers very lightly. DD

[alanwoodieman]

on my 47 1 1/2 ton truck the serial number was stamped on the right -pass side-frame rail almost at the front of the frame, my 49 1/2 ton also has it there. I will look to see if my 47 1/2 serial number is tomorrow

[dorvedahl47pu]

Thanks. Well, I was afraid of that. There is absolutely nothing stamped into the usual location like my 47 half tons and 40 one ton. The frame rail doesn't appear to have been altered to remove the number. Perhaps its covered by the horn? I'll keep looking.

[HD]

I had 2 1947 Ford pick-ups at the same time, I still have 1, the one with a 6 cylinder G engine did not have the # on the glove box, only on the frame, the other had a 6 cylinder H engine and had the # on the frame and glove box, also the 1 with the G engine had a kidney cover on the firewall for the wire connections, and the 1 with the H engine has a 1 piece wiring harness, no kidney cover

[JSeery]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The numbers on the frame can be really difficult to find sometimes. I have spent a lot of time attempting to locate them on bare frames. But, with enough effort, I have always located eventually.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by dorvedahl47pu

Thanks. Well, I was afraid of that. There is absolutely nothing stamped into the usual location like my 47 half tons and 40 one ton. The frame rail doesn't appear to have been altered to remove the number. Perhaps its covered by the horn? I'll keep looking.

Did you check the RIGHT frame rail like "alanwoodieman" suggested in post #3? I had heard stories of right side for trucks before, but have never seen one. Obviously, HIS truck has it that way. DD

[dorvedahl47pu]

I'll keep looking! I've got to find it to get it titled here in Utah...

[FortyNiner]

To prevent causing any damage to the characters, use a scotch Brite pad and some soapy water. Typical, there is a few decades of grime in the way.

[rawlir]

Should be maybe lightly stamped individual numbers stamped on driver side frame rail about 18" back from front of rail. Numbers closer to outside of frame rail near round head rivet or hole in frame. Number starts parellel to steering box gear. My experience is that they ALL (Conventional) 46&47 trucks, I bet it is there but rail needs to be really cleaned and numbers could be very lightly stamped.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by rawlir

Should be maybe lightly stamped individual numbers stamped on driver side frame rail about 18" back from front of rail. Numbers closer to outside of frame rail near round head rivet or hole in frame. Number starts parellel to steering box gear. My experience is that they ALL (Conventional) 46&47 trucks, I bet it is there but rail needs to be really cleaned and numbers could be very lightly stamped.

That sounds about the same as my '46-'47 big trucks. Always on the left, and the radiused corner has far less give than the open side and will stamp better.

[dorvedahl47pu]

Success! I found it. Its on the left side but further forward than I was thinking. The horn is over the entire number.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by dorvedahl47pu

Success! I found it. Its on the left side but further forward than I was thinking. The horn is over the entire number.

WE knew it had to be there somewhere! I should apologize, as I had read that the number MAY be covered by the horn, but I forgot to mention it.....SORRY! DD

[JSeery]

Cool, I have always found them, but sometimes with great effort.

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by dorvedahl47pu

Success! I found it. Its on the left side but further forward than I was thinking. The horn is over the entire number.

Next step, off to the Utah DMV. Good luck.

[dorvedahl47pu]

No worries!

[dorvedahl47pu]

Thanks...always an adventure at the DMV.