VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 1918 Chevrolet 490 Touring

I am a new VCCA member. I purchased a 1918 chevrolet 490 touring in near mint condition a few months ago. It was in a dry storage since 1974. This car was owned by the same family since new. It was sold new in Fitzerald, Georgia. I am trying to figure out if it is truely a 1918 model. There is no title or other documentations. There is no plate under the dash to verify the car number. I found a very old registration that is wrinkled up and had gotten wet in the past. It is not very legible. There is a registration number. I have found some other numbers on the engine as follows:

Original license plate no: 66693
GA 1918

Registration no: F39334 (????)
Flywheel no: A9C264
Top of head casting numbers: MASON
DF Co
407
D

Left side of block casting numbers: 967 CWC 2

Front of head casting number: FM-98

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Al

Congratulations with the car. Someone here will be able to tell you about the right year based on the details you have written. But some pictures of the car will also be helpful.

Congratulations to a fantastic find.
I made a similiar finding a few months ago, a 1919 490 with 20000 km on the meter, imported new to Sweden in september 1919 and sold to customer in october 1919. The car was used for three years, then put in a museum until 1963 when it was again registered, to a new owner who used it until 1969, then put away in a garage, until I bought it this summer. Three owners before me.
Everything in excellent condition, probably partly reworked in the 1960s, repainted with original colours/paint.
Car no on plate inside firewall 275665, no motor number but casting date on block 8 13 18, flywheel 18 12 17, top of head markings same as yours.
Gary Wallace at Early Chevy Parts has everything you need for putting it up for running again.
Good luck.
Olle

Thank you for your reply. When I. Picked up my 1918 Chevrolet 490, it had not run for almost 35 years. The original honeycomb radiator had some corrosion. My radiator shop saved the outter case that had factory stamping (dated 1913) and used correct new honeycomb core at a Cost around $1,050. It was a success. I took out the fuel tank, had it boiled, and coated. I cleaned and polished the original carburetor. I drained the existing oil and filled back using 30w oil. I filled up the radiator with fresh antifreeze. Installed a new 6 volt battery and a set of new spark plugs. The car cranked almost instantly. It is running like a sewing machine. The clutch works great. It is a great car with a great history.
I have a few pictures of the car from the early years. Also, pictures of the grand parents that bought the car new and gave it to their sun with the car showing Georgia license dated 1918.

I agree with all of your procedures. At the next oil change I would go to 10W-30 Detergent oil. So it does dislodge some old crud, remove the pan and clean it out. Watch the oil pressure carefully in case it gets stopped up. You might also consider putting some transmission fluid or MMO in the engine and mix with the fuel in the tank. At some point a partial disassembly must be considered.

Hope you keep excited with your 490 and have fun driving it.

(I also have a 490 touring)

About9 months ago I bought a 1921 490. The oil pump was so bad it broke when I tried to tighten up the oil lines. One of the best things that happened to me in the long run. I was able to get a new oil pump with an updated double lip seal instead of the old packing nut and pusher type. It was $300 ? I think but the piece of mind is awsome. It came from Gary Wallace. I plan on driving mine alot and hope you will also. GoodLuck

I would like to thank everyone for their complements and support.
However, I am still desperately trying to veryify the year and VIN for my 490. Any input?
Thanks, Al

I still have not received any input regarding my 1918 VIN from anyone.
Any recommendations?
Regards, Al

"VIN" numbers were not used in 1918. It was a "car serial number" instead.

The serial number for your car your car is normally engraved on a plate which is mounted under the dash panel near floor level. The flywheel number normally coincides with that number. I do not believe that the flywheel number you have quoted is correct, I don't think it should have a C in the middle , and may be a miss stamped 0. There should also be some casting numbers on the side of the engine block which indicate the month, day and year the engine block was cast at the foundry.
There should also be a number stamped in the end, but it is under the gasket face for the exhaust manifold, and the manifold needs to be removed to find it.
Does your 490 have straight front fenders from the top of the wheel arch to the Running boards. Does your car have 4 nearly identical running board brackets, or is the front pair a heavy steel angle wich goes from one side of the car all the way through to the other side.

Hello Jack,
Thank you for trying to assist me with my car number. The car is stored at my warehouse. I will verify the fender brackets tomorrow morning. Also, I try to post a photo of the car on the site.
As I had indicated, my car is missing the plate under the dash with the car number. The previous owner is passed. I only found an old damaged registration that is barely legible. I think it shows the registration number as :
F39334 (???). Does this number make any sense to be the vehicle number for my 1918 Chevy 490 or any other years? Also, I had listed all the casting numbers that I found on the engine and the head. I need to register the car with Georgia DMV but I have to come up with a car number or engine number.
Thanks again, Al

Hello Yazdi,
I agree with Jack that the Engine Serial Number is in fact # A90264 with the 'C' miss stamp and should read 'O' as in the #
A90264. This number is stamp on the engine flywheel and was used by most States for registration because it is more perment then the inside Car No. plate. The block cast #967 which is correct for a water pump block. The 'A' prefix engine serial number was used in about 490's built from around March 1917 to January 1918.
kenK