For the second time in the last two years, I have spent some time cleaning and examining the firewall of Gertie to see if I can suss out any discernible characters in the area where the paint code and other data should be.

My conclusion? The truck was never stamped. Period.

The area that is supposed to have these numbers is as smooth as glass. Not the faintest impression can be seen. I have closely examined the entire area below the seam, and from the regulator to the VIN tag, nothing is there at all.

I suppose it is possible that the stamping is so faint as to be completely filled with paint. But I have no intentions of sanding that area down until I re-paint the entire cab. I guess I will just have to wait till then, and look one more time.

The good part, is that I really don't need those numbers. I am fortunate in that I pretty well know the history of the truck since new, and that it was almost pristine when we got it in 1969 or so. The original paint is easily discernible (Meadow Green), it had the original engine (42K miles on it when we got the vehicle, painted red), and the optional tranny and heater are correct. Outside of the Dana rear, almost all of the changes made to Gertie through the years, have been documented by me in various logs, notes, and through receipts.

Still, it would have been nice to find the codes.

 

If the code is painted over it might be possible to check it If you maginfluensa the area, then The magnetic field would make the magnaflux liquide to rise over the letters and numbers..

Just a thaught

Good luck

 

I think it is so cool that you have the entire history of your truck and such a connection to it.

Sounds like your going to either have to wait to strip some paint or come up with some high tech CSI method to find your numbers.

 

I have considered using some other forms of testing, but have decided to fore-go any other methods at this time. As I said, I'll just wait till I re-do the body.

Added a couple photos. First is me with the truck at my "Little House" in Fayetteville, IN. Picture was taken in March of 1983. Dad had given me the truck the previous December. Petting my dog Ruby, and have the ever present cigarette in the other paw. Gave up that habit around 20 years ago. Don't figure I'll ever give up the truck. Dirt poor back then. House had no electricity. Used to tell people my house had two rooms and a path (to the outhouse).

Next photo is Gertie now. West Coast style mirrors are now gone, along with the turn signals and side boards. Engine, tranny, axles, body parts, etc. are all still the same. Just replaced parts that were worn out with original units from NAPA or Carpenters. On my third set of dash *****, pedal pads, and floor mat, been through three exhausts, and four sets of tires. Tires had to be replaced mostly for dry rot and checking/cracking. Lost count of points, plugs, and batteries. Info should be in the files.

 

Cool truck with a great story and history. I wouldn't change a thing. Some trucks were not stamped, so it's no surprise if yours wasn't. On the patent plate on the firewall, there is typically a "Branch" code of 3 letters behind the serial number. That will tell you your assembly plant.

What is going on in the circled area here? It almost looks like it could be a stamping.

 

Just plain dirt Wayne. I looked at that entire area, and have seen nothing. That was the first area I looked at, as someone had once posted that there were sometimes stampings above the seam.

As for the "Branch" code, it is HP, or Highland Park. Truck didn't travel too far from where she was built, about 382 miles.

 

At the time that top photo was taken, there was one helluva recession going on, and Indiana's unemployment rate hit 13%. Still, I found a job, and kept a roof over my head, and the wolves away from the door. Lost a bunch of weight though. By the time I got married that September, I had a 27" waist, and weighed 135.

I hear "I can't find a job! moan, moan, moan..." now, I want to slap them.

 

I had a hard time seeing mine too so I used various Photoshop filters to bring letters out. This is the best that I could do from your picture. I still can't make it out but it looks like something is under the paint:


My only negative view of this is that my truck, built in St. Paul, MN plant, has large dents where they hammered the markings home (See below). Yours appears to have none of that . . . unless it has been filled.

Number stamping process dented cowl at St. Paul plant in 1950

 

Interesting work there Pete using the filters. There may be something under the paint. At this juncture, I am not going to look any more for the codes. When I finally do get to the point where I can do a frame-off, I will look more closely at the suspect area.