VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 Novice 490 Owner Questions

My missus inherited a 1922 490 Touring. We had it fully restored. Just got it back from the restorer. How do we determine where it was manufactured? Engine block is stamped "1-13-20 FMP Co. Mason". We know that's Jan. 13, 1920. [Lower engine block imprint = "12-1-19 407D".]

Also, is the spare tire "carrier" so supposed to accommodate a tire that's mounted on a rim OR just the tire itself? We've got a spare that's mounted on a rim; the carrier won't "close" fully.

Thanks much!

Mine is a little older but there should be a metal plate on the firewall in the engine compartment that has the vin stamped on it , the first number is the factory number where it was made.

VIN is 112219. Which factory produced it?

Flink, Michigan, according to this article:
"CHEVROLET U.S. AND CANADIAN PRODUCTION FIGURES 1912 to 1931
May 17 2002
ByKEN KAUFMANN, MONROVIA, CALIFORNIA
scrippsbooth@earthlink.net
DAVID HAYWARD, SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND
gmhistorian@btinternet.com"
I found this interesting PM 2006 or 2007, searching for information as I had bought my 1922 Four-Ninety. You can find this article as pdf-file on this website: http://www.gregwapling.com/hotrod/chevrolet/1912-30chevroletproduction.pdf.
Are you sure it is a 1922 model? According to Floyd Clymer's "Early Chevrolet History, Passenger Cars 1912 to 1928..." (1966) a 490 with serial number 112219, the first figure "1" meaning Flint, Michigan, 12219 is within the range for 1917 model. The numbers on the engine block indicates that it is 1920 model. Either the metal plate or the the engine, or both, are from other cars. In that case it is not possible to state which factory produced the car.

If you describe the steering column, dash instruments and switches it will help verify the year of manufacture. It is more likely for the engine to be changed than the serial number plate.

Thank you, sir, especially for the reference to the exhaustive article. Incidentally, the firewall doesn't have a metal plate bearing a VIN (firewall must've been replaced in the distant past, i.e. pre-1966). Got the VIN from the car's title document (which was dated 1966), so we presume it's accurate. Perhaps, there's another place on the car where the VIN would be noted/imprinted?

Are you sure the first number on the date casting is a "1"? If instead it is an "I" that would be from September.

Haven't actually found the VIN on the car. As noted above, there's no plate on the firewall (apparently, a replacement firewall). Only evidence of VIN is what's written on the title document when car was purchased in 1966. Is there a place on the car (other than firewall) where I can find VIN?

Tried to post a photo of the dashboard but had no luck (may try again later). Don't know how much this helps: L-to-R - steering column, choke, 3.5-in diameter Stewart odometer (incl "trip" ometer), hole for a (missing) gauge, ignition/light switch, 2.5-in diameter oil pressure guage, and 2.5-in ammeter.

Could it be the engine number, on my 24 it is stamped on the flywheel?

Dave

I just checked the flywheel. It's stamped 62519 - i.e. June 25, 1919. As I've come across 3 dates on the engine (incl flywheel), it appears the vehicle may very well be a 1922...but assembled with a few parts there were manufactured in previous years. We know nothing of the car's pre-1966 history. That is, we don't know whether the engine was ever replaced. Thanks for your input.

It is a common problem that the teeth on the flywheel are worn in the places where the rotation stops when the engine is shut off. Because the teeth were part of the flywheel and not a separate gear ring replacing the flywheel is a common fix. Today we either weld and grind new teeth or but a replacement ring gear and have the flywheel cut so it can be installed.

So relying on the flywheel for engine or vehicle ID is iffy at best. I know that the F series cars had the engine number stamped on the front engine mount as well. Don't remember if the 490s did the same. Might look on the top of the front mount left side (driver's side for most but passenger in the commonwealth).