[carussell]

I am new to the forum so this may have been posted before; my apologies if so. I am trying to locate the hidden partial VIN on the frame of my 1965 GMC pickup as I am about to start restoration; however, I cannot find any numbers except what is most likely a production data stamping on the driver's side of the frame just below the cab (this is on the exposed side, not on the top where it is hidden by the cab). I cannot find a partial VIN stamping on the frame in the engine compartment as with Chevys. I have a 1964 and a 1965 Chevrolet Pickup and they both have partial VINs stamped into the frames in two locations (as well as a production data stamping like the one mentioned above and in the images below).

Did GMC stamp a partial VIN on their frames and if so, where?

Below is an image of the production data stamping on the left side of the frame below driver's door; what this number means I do not know, but based on my other mid-60s Chevy trucks, the 5 in the middle is the production year. The images below are production data frame stampings from three of my trucks: a 1965 GMC Pickup #2443630, a 1965 Chevy Pickup #3829589, and a 1966 Chevy Pickup #3881391; all are short wheel base pickup truck frames. The two 1965 production year frames show a 5 in the eighth digit location; the 1966 shows a change in sequencing, but it appears to me that the 6 in the 10th digit slot is the production year. Looking at these it appears the frames suggest an early production 1965 (#2443630) GMC, a late production 1965 (#3829589) Chevy, and an early production 1966 (#3881391) Chevy.

Can anyone explain these frame stampings? Other than the production years, I see no correlation between these and the VINs.