VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Serial no's and accessories

Good afternoon,
I am new to this forum and really appreciate the information that is passed through too new and old restorer's alike. I have been restoring cars for over 40 years and still enjoy the brotherhood as much today as I did back in my younger days when things were done quite different(not better, just different). With my current acquisition I have come across a few curious items that is baffling me and hope that you can help. Three weeks ago I got in a 1936 2dr town sedan(1011) and this will be my first restore back to factory original specs. The family I bought the car from has owned the vehicle since it was but a few years old, so they knew the car well. They told me the car is all original and I have no reason to doubt them. After going through the vehicle I can believe it is all original right down to the hub caps. I even found a complete June 1942 newspaper under the seat, how cool is that! My 2 questions are, does the engine block serial number always match the floor pan tag number, as this is what I have been told in the past? Car serial number is 12FA07 37707(I understand how to decipher this number) and block number is 6695563. Unless I am missing something those numbers are not even close, including knocking off the first 1000 number as I believe GM always starting their sequencial numbering with 1001 and Canadian numbers began with an “M”. So, is this absolutley a differeent block than came with the car or is there something I am missing? Lastly, the car came with an Arvin installed radio head, antenna and tube box with built in speaker in the tube box. I talked to the previous owner about this and they stated it was a dealer installed option that was a promotion, at the time, by Arvin Electric. Anybody ever hear of this? I have a 36' Master coupe(1017) that I restored(resto-moded with 5.7 LS3 and a 4L60E) MII...etc.. and it came with a Chevrolet radio head. So I am real curious about this Arvin radio.
Thank you to whoever responds to this thread. If you live in the DFW area you are free to come by and inspect the vehicle.
Ron

The assembly serial number on the floor tag will not match the engine serial number. FYI, from an earlier post the 36 engine serial number range is 5500179-6784512

The engine number is STAMPED into the raised pad on the right side of the block behind the fuel pump. 1936 engine numbers ranged from M5500179- M6784512.
The car was built in July, the production ended in probably late September so the numbers indicate it is probably the original engine.
Prior to 1955 most states used the engine number for registration.
The car serial number is the number stamped into the plate mounted on the front floor between the battery opening and the right door opening. The serial number has no relation to the engine number.
The Arvin radio is an aftermarket unit. Aftermarket radios were made bt several companies. The 1936 Chevrolet did not offer a cowl side mounted antenna. The Genuine Chevrolet antenna was straps mounted under the running boards.
My guess was the radio was probably installed after the car was a few years old.

Ron,
The car number is the sequential serial number beginning with 1001 for each model type (Master, Standard) at each assembly plant. In 1936 engines were produced in Flint Michigan with different sequential serial number. There is no relationship for the two numbers. Most states used the engine number for titles and some also noted the vehicle serial number. If the assembly date of the vehicle is 2-3 weeks after the casting date on the engine block it is highly likely it is the original engine.

The Arvin radio may have been installed by a Chevrolet dealer. Regardless it is an aftermarket accessory. Chevrolet, as you already know, had factory approved accessory radios in 1936.

Live 300 miles South of DFW so don't expect me any time soon.

Thank you for the reply,
I am very familiar with the Chevrolet floor plate but not the engine serial numbers. However, it was my understanding the engine numbers beginning with an "M" were Canadian built models only. Clearly my engine block serial number does not have or start with an "M" as I stated the stamped number on the block in it's entirety(and I know it is on the raised boss behind fuel pump) is 6695563. Are you also saying the Arvin radio could not have been a dealer only install accessory when it was originally purchased? The last owners sure seem positive it was. Thanks again for your replies.
Ron

Chipper,
Thank you, exactly what I wanted to know. I am trying to keep this as original, to the original owners, as possible but would not be so detailed if something had been changed over the years, including the Arvin radio. Being that it was dealer installed I look at it as that is the way the original owners wanted to buy it and wish to keep it so, especially since it still works.
Thank again
Ron

A lot of "matching number" stuff gets tossed around but it is my understanding that Chevy did not correlate any engine/trans/etc numbers to the vehicle I.D. number until sometime in the 60s.
Does anyone know when this happened?

Mike

Mike,
I was not aware that Chevrolet kept the records on what components were installed on their production vehicles. There may have been a build sheet or record that was kept for a while in the assembly plant. Some vehicles had a build sheet placed under a seat or glued to the body but I am not aware that they had serial numbers or other means to know which part was installed. Yes the part type but not individual part IDs. Some GM divisions kept more records and they are available today. Not Chevolet.

For Canadian built GM cars after a certain date 1949 ????

Vintage Vehicle Services Canada can tell you what options the car came with by its serial number.

That info has been preserved here, but that info is not free.

mike lynch..........

Show the contact information, for other members to make contact, knowing they will have a fee incurred.

VINTAGE VEHICLE SERVICES ..........gm CANADA

`1-888-467-6853 THIS # MAY NOT WORK ANYMORE


1--905--440--7697 DIRECT NUMBER

frank.agueci@cc.gm.ca

mike.................

Good info and thanks for posting details.

Is the statement above true?

When Frank gets back from florida in next couple of weeks and I will quiz him on it.

mike

Guess that Canadian production facilities kept records that the USA Chevrolet facilities did not. I know that records were spirited out of GM by concerned or forward looking employees. Much of the early production records and specifications were preserved that way.

Arvin Electric is a well known 1930's Company. They are still in business today. They are still traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The name has changed. They began as a pipe manufacturing Company. I have a Dealer, Arvin add on heater in my 1936 Town Sedan.

Arvin made a custom fresh air heater for Chevrolets from about 1951-1954.

RFields,

Check you Private Messages. I sent you a PM.