VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION New User Forum Data Plate, VIN, Serial Number Mystery. …41 vs. …46.

The numbers stamped into the data plate of my 1940s Chevy 1/2 ton are confusing. They don’t seem to jive with the charts I have seen. The numbers are; Line one, 46. Line two, a 1/2 size zero> space> BK41> space> 4181.

Line one;
Indicates model year 1946.

Line two;
I have not seen any info on the meaning of a small numeral 0 or letter o, in the sequence location supposed to indicate place of manufacture.
BK41 seems to indicate the truck is a BK model, built in 1941. However, Line one says it is a 1946 when 1/2 ton trucks were designated as model CK or DP. It also seems odd that a truck built before the War Production years of 1942-43, would still be left in stock after commercial sales resumed in 1944-45, and then in ’46, finally let out to the commercial market stamped as a ’46.

Can anybody straighten me out on deciphering my data plate?

Can anybody tell me if and what the physical differences are between a ’41 BK and a ’46 CK or DP?

This has become particularly troublesome since I just received the rather pricy Complete Parts Catalog No. 571-B, 1946-1957. It shows very few illustrations or parts for my truck. It seems I would have been much better off buying the previous version of master parts catalog covering 1941-45 1/2 tons.

Also, I got the truck recently as a “basket case”. To make matters worse, the previous owner is dead…and was quite disorganized. I think I am missing a fair number of parts, but KNOW I AM MISSING any sort of organized collection of hardware. These 2 shortages is why I bought the big parts catalog.

Can anybody advise me on getting a publication containing a complete illustrated parts list for my 1941-46 Chevy 1/2 ton, Series 3100?

Hi Idaho

Two easily seen differences between 1941 and 1946 trucks are:

1941's have the right door lock in the door handle, and have a separate metal frame around the rear window.

All others including 1946's have the right door lock in the door panel just below the door handle, and the rear window is rubber mounted directly in the cab panel.

Hope this helps! :-)

Could you post a picture of the plate and the screws that attach it to the truck?
Also, where is the plate located?

Alright...

Are you sure about the 46 on the first line and the small 0 or o at the beginning of the second line? They don't make sense to me.

Regarding the rest of the serial number, that does make sense to me.
BK is the model designation used for 1/2 tons in 1942... and I could be wrong, but I think was continued to be used up to and including into early 1946 (before May or June 1946).
The numbers immediately after the BK represent the month of production and...
again, I could be wrong but I think from 1942 up through the war the month numbers on trucks continued past 12 as Chevrolet viewed any trucks produce during 1943, 44, 45, and early 46 as actually just extensions of the 1942 model.
Therefore, the number 41 represents the 41st month of production of the 1942 model. I'm guessing that would probably represent May of 1945.

There were apparently somewhat over 6000 Chevrolet pickups produced for 1945. Yours may be one of them.

Hello Ole and Others,

The lock is on the door panel (but rear window missing), indicating '42-'46.

Model Identification for 1/2 tons; '41, Ak. '42, BE. '43 ??, '44, BK, '45, BK. '46, CK or DP. As you can see, my cross-referenced scourses say '42 is a BE Model yr, not a BK yr. However, if '43 was a BK yr, using your month of manufacture code understanding, Jan, '43 + 41 months = May of '46. Since '46 is CK or DP Models, that formula doesn't seem to work either.

At this point, I am mainly looking at this stuff to determine what publications will show me the most about parts and hardware for the hair-pulling puzzle. However, I am interested in the truck's pedigree.

The data plate is located on R cowl, under the hood. It's screwed on with 2 "clutch" drive screws.

I wanted to include a pic with my post, but have yet to figure that out. However, look for that. I want you to see the 1/2 size zero.

Your profile pic looks like you have a similar truck. Excellent. I was in Saskatoon in winter of 1969 to attend a wedding. That trip included the coldest hitchhiking I ever did do!!

Thanks,

Jake Lemon

Hi Jake

I'm seeing BK as the "commercial light delivery" for the 1942 model year as per this document dated Sept 30 1941:
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/chevyresto/4206.htm

I assume the light delivery is a 1/2 ton as no other 1/2 ton is listed.
And it would make sense to me that BK would follow AK for 1/2 tons.
And CK followed BK for the 1/2 tons produced in 1946 but before May or June when the "new" 1946 models came out.
But then they called the new 1946 1/2 ton a DP!

At any rate, it looks to me like Chevrolet literature calls the 1942 1/2 ton a BK.

My truck is a 3/4 ton DR produced in October of 1946.
No, hitchhiking in Saskatchewan in the winter probably isn't a good idea. :-)

By the way,
The clutch head screws in your serial number plate would suggest your plate hasn't been tampered with.
Not a guarantee, but most likely.

Since I can't figure out any way to post a photo within this window, (not good VCCA), I have now cheeted Craigs List by making a posting I can send you to in order to see photos of what I am talking about.

https://boise.craigslist.org/wan/d/boise-vintage-vin-identification/7389677716.html

Great pictures!

In comparing your plate to mine, there are some small differences in layout, but it appears that on yours the number 46 is in the area where the "gross vehicle weight" should be.
I think 1/2 tons in 1946 had a GVW of 4600 pounds, so that might explain that.

As for the small o before the BK, I don't know what to make of that.
Normally one or two numbers would be there to represent which plant the truck was manufactured at.
Looking closely, it appears the right side of the small o may show the beginning of a straight line going downwards.
Is it possible the small o is actually a poorly stamped 9?
That would mean the truck was built in Norwood Ohio.

Also,

Here is a very good description of how to post a photo on the VCCA chat site:

https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/436976/how-to-post-a-photo.html#Post436976

HolyShmoly Ole!!

You are most certainly correct on the GVW of 4600 lbs stamp!!

And tonight I took a little spot light and magnify glass to the small zero. After working the whitening around a little, it is extreamy subtle, but I think you are correct on that too!! I thought I was a detail guy, but all these mistakes of mine are getting embarrassing. You can certainly tell I'm a greenhorn at this stuff.

So, the Data Plate does not even show what year the truck is!?! I find that unbelievable! I see how a guy can figure it out if he knows the hieroglyphics. I think you are correct, GM started the BK Model in '42. So if starting in January, '42 + 41 months = May of '45. I see that is what you got way back in this thread! Damn you're good!

Man, I've made some related mistakes on title work. This is going to hurt.

Well, I am certainly a believer in you & this VCCA Forum! I'm going to join. With this basket case, I think I'm going to need a lot of help. The more I learn about my situation, the more I shake my head at what I've gotten into. I'm a pretty stove-up 73. Hope I can go the distance.

My tandem project has been readying the '45 motor to be started. The flake previous owner "rebuilt" it. Even having squirted penetrating oil in the cylinders, I still need a big pipe wrench on the crank to turn it over...with all the plugs loose!! Next ol' Indian trick I'm going to try is turning the oil pump with my corless screwdriver down thru the distributor hole. And XXL cords on the new battery.

Thanks Much Ole,

Jake

Glad I could help!
I kind of like the minutia as well as the big picture experience of owning and driving an old Chevy.

I for one will be glad to see you join the VCCA.
And I'm sure you will be a valuable contributor for many years to come.

Welcome!