Is there a place on the frame that will indicate what year it is?

I'm begining to think I purchased a frank'n'truck.

 

Some says its on the drivers side stamped into the frame, however, I had a 55 & 54 frame and I couldn't find the serial number on either.

 

It is stamped on the drivers side top of the frame - near the cab mount bracket.

 

My is a 56 and I found the stamped number on the right side of the crossmember behind the radiator.

 

My 53 was on the crossmember as well.. Couldn't find it till I sandblasted.

 

Ok, so I have a couple of places to check. Is the number susposed to be the same as the vin or does it actually have a year or is it something different all together?

 

Will be the same as the vin number.

 

Hope you find it. I never did locate mine. Careful search before and after it was sandblasted and no VIN to be found on the frame. Plate in the glove box was long gone.

 

What is making you think it is not original?

 

My 56 has the number on the passenger side frame rail just forward of the cab firewall. Had to remove the inner fender to locate it. On a 54 I had it was on the passenger side just aft of the radiator and could be seen without removing the inner fender. If someone in the past cleaned the frame using a grinder and or painted it with thick paint then I can see how it may not be visible.

 

On my 52 f1 it was on top of the passenger side frame rail just in front of the shock mount. Hope this helps.

 

My 56 is also located on top of the passenger side frame rail, about 6 inches in front of the front cab mount.

 

I wasn't able to look for it last night but by the sound of things, it's probably not going to be visible. My radiator and cab still are mounted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bessie

What is making you think it is not original?

There are a couple of things that have thrown up a red flag: the engine is from a 56, steering column and shaft is from a 56 (2 inches shorter), and the VIN plate located in the glove box is in held in by screws, which I can tell has been taken off before. The engine and column, I've heard, were a common replacement for a 53, but I'm just curious at this point of my resto. Makes me wonder what other things am I going to find that are from a different year. I've read that the springs are a different length in a 56. I'm not quite ready to replace the springs yet, but I guess that would be another way to check to see if it's a 56 frame, with a 53 body.

 

I found mine on my '55 on the Passenger's side just in front of the the cab mount. There a stars before and after the number. Location may be determined by manufacturing location.

 

My 53 S/N is in the same location, built in the Dallas plant.