VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum Numbers Matching 48 ?

Hi,

Is there any information available that could indicate if a 1948 216 was mated to the car at the factory or married later?
The title uses the VIN, so no help there.

I had bought the car thinking 'hot-rod' but after further review thought maybe it's worth keeping stock.
Everything needs service but it's all there and never been butchered up.

Anyway,
I know how to decode the numbers but don't know how they apply.
One fellow in our car club believes each model back then had its own sequence but wasn't sure.

The FKJ in the mid 40K's and the FAA in the mid 600K's - but which November? 47 or 48?

The Tri-Fives ran Aug-June but I don't know about the 40's.

Hi Boardwalk25 and welcome to VCCA Chatter. This is the right place to get answers to your Chevy questions, so come back often.

Post the actual numbers here and someone will probably decode them for you............or........you can look at the link below and probably figure it out for yourself.....

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/models/index.htm

Good luck with your project either way.....and don't forget to come back anytime.......might even think about joining VCCA for even more info.....

Thanks Ken,

The oldcarmanualproject is where I learned to decode these year numbers but still couldn't figure out if they matched.
I found a break down of production numbers by model but couldn't find one by month.

The actual numbers are:

VIN sequence 44350 (It's a Fleetmaster Town Sedan)

Engine sequence 645572

The 1948 models were in production from 1-12-48 til 12-22-48.
Engine numbers ranged from 1001 -825234.

That should be Fleetmaster serial numbers ranged from 1001 through 825234. The car was assembled in The 9th month.
The numbers seem to be in the correct sequence for a car assembled in August.
The date the block was castwill be on the right side of the engine near the distributor.
The window glass will have the date the glass was made and the car would have been assembled in the following month for the most part. Look for the LOF and the date - example 7-48

Thank you very much Chevgene,


Sorry,

Early on I transposed the 'K' and 'J' which resulted in me thinking November when the J = October.



Seems to be a later marriage.

825234 divided by 12 = 68769 (.5)
68769 times 10 = 687690 through October.
But doesn't add up with two engine plants.
If each plant made about half - an original vehicle wouldn't have an engine number exceeding ~ 412617.






The ninth month (Sept) = 'I'

And the tenth month (Oct) = 'J'

And your data indicates an 'H'? (8th month = Aug)

Now I'm wondering the VIN is a fake - Below is a link to a picture of the VIN tag.
The tag is front p.door jamb mounted and it sure looks like a 'J' too me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v365/88burb/vin.jpg

The authorities ran both the VIN and engine numbers under Chevy and GMC but nothing unlawful showed up.
As far they are concerned - that is the VIN number for this car.




It is there but I can't see it clearly enough to read.
Sooner or later the front clip is coming off, then I'll have good view.




LOF dates:

The front windshield corners are too cloudy to read the LOF numbers.
From what I can see of them, the logo matches the side glass.

No LOF was found on the rear.

Side glass:

D.wing = 12 - 48

D.door = 1 or I - 47

D.rear = 2 - 48

P.wing = 2 - 48

P.door = ? - 48 (1st is unreadable)

P.rear = 8 - 48

The numbers all display above a number 7, except for the D.wing which display above the letter 'F'

Let me run this again-
Most states used the engine number for registration prior to 1955.
1948 Fleetmaster serial number
First number or two numbers indiactes assembly plant.
F=1948
K=Fleetmaster/Fleetline
Next letter indicates month assembles , A-Jan, etc and I not used
Serial number began with 1001 at each plant and for each series.
5FK-A-2322 would be assebles in Kansas Citycar number 1301.
The isher Body plate on the firewall will also givr the plant and month body was assembled.

Engine number-
Will begin with an F for 1948
First letter an A =engine made in Flint
First letter a M engine made in tonawanda,NY
(letters will be C or F if it had the heavy duty clutch option
Engine numbers ran from 1001 and up at each plant.
Flint made about 80% of the engines.
1948 engine numbers ran from 1001 -825234 (this includes cars and trucks)
Serail numbers for Fleetmaster/Fleetline ran from 1001-81603
For Stylemaster 1001-30590

Wing window glass replaced at one time with those numbers -not unusual.
Back glass did not have a date because it was tempered glass
5-fk-