Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

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.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

Pretty sure GMC didn't put the vin anywhere but on the vin plate. I remember someone saying they had trouble registering in Georgia because it wasn't stamped in two places.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

I have seen the vin stamped on Chevy frames I have scraped, but never on a GMC frame. I recall one member once found the vin painted on the side of the frame rail, but I have not seen that myself.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

It seems strange that Chevrolet would double stamp a partial VIN and not GMC...

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

This is under the hood, forward of the cowl, above the firewall, driver's side.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

That's modern thinking. Back then they were two different companies.

The only place that you'll find the vin is on the title and on the door jamb.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

I understand that, but regulations were for every manufacturer. I cannot find when it became a federal requirement, but I have heard 1966. My 1965 GMC is an early one, and apparently without hidden partial VIN; however, my 1965 Chevrolet truck is late production and does have the hidden partial VIN in two locations.

I have read where Chevrolet and GMC shared many major components as early as 1931. It stands to reason that hidden VIN stampings would have been corporate wide.

As a footnote - there is no evidence of a partial VIN being removed from the 1965 GMC frame, so I am quite certain it was never there, at least not in the common locations on the frame as used by Chevrolet.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

Regulations didn't state that you had to frame (or major part) stamp a vehicle until 1987. Vins were something done by the company not the gob'ment.

Also, Chevrolet's "corporate wide" doesn't apply to GMC, regardless of the parts shared between the separate companies. They were two separate items back then. Like ford and chevy, but both owned by Big Truck Company. They still do their own things and share some parts but they're different trucks until about 1968 if my alzheimers isn't getting in the way of the numbers. That's when Chevy started being made in the same plants and they had a lot more crossover.

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

From what I can find - VINs were first used in 1954, but between 1954 and 1981, there were no accepted standards; as a result, auto manufacturers used different formats. In 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required a standardized format for VINs - all road-use vehicles must have a 17 character VIN.

For hidden VINs -

1987: autos from this model year forward - that had "high theft" rates - were required to have 12-14 of their major component parts marked with the VIN.

1994: the standard was amended to include multi-purpose passenger vehicles and light duty trucks.

1997: amended to mark VIN major component parts such as - transmission, front & rear bumper, engine, hood, right & left door, sliding cargo door, right & left quarter panels and side assembly, pickup/cargo box, rear doors & hatchback/deck lid/tailgate. Other common locations for VINs are the upper passenger side of the firewall in the engine compartment, the left hand inner wheel arch, steering column, the radiator support bracket, the machined pad on the front of the engine and on various component parts.

From this I can surmise that VINs were not required before 1981; hidden VINs - full or partial - were not required before 1987. So, GMC very likely did not use them, but we know Chevrolet did. I can only guess that GMC trucks were not a "high theft" vehicle and Chevrolet trucks were. Makes sense to me!?!?:confused:

As far as when GMC and Chevrolet followed the same path, I will take your word for it (until I hear something different)!:)

Re: Hidden partial VIN on 1965 GMC Pickup frame
 

1967 was the year that GM started to take more control of GMC & Chevy, they started to requier all Light Truck lines to built by Chevrolet and Med/Heavy trucks by GMC. the V6 was an option in GMC light trucks through 1969. It was use in Med/Heavy trucks of both makes from 1967 to 1974.