G506 / G7107 / G4112 Identification help

[M35a2duece]

Hi guys. I recently picked up a Chevrolet G506 1-1/2 ton variant. It has a dump box on it but I highly question that its original. My problem is that it has no title and I am attempting to get one thru a program our state has for historic vehicles. However, I cannot find a single identification number anywhere in which to attempt to associate a title to. I have looked on the pass side frame over the front leaf spring and even carefully sanded off all the paint. It's not excessively rusty and it does not appear to be ground off but there is no number to be found. I have no data plates anywhere. It appears to be a earlier model based off of my internet searches. Rounded 4x4 shift levers, Chevrolet embossed hood panels, big countersunk flat head screws holding the front grill on, no blackout lights.

If anyone can please give me an idea where to look it would be greatly appreciated. A picture of someone else's number location would be amazing. Thanks guys!

[M35a2duece]

[waayfast]

Hello,
I'm certainly no expert but my experience with these are the older trucks have the data plate listing the vin number and date on the dash. I have 2 1941 trucks.
The newer trucks , mine are 1942 and 44, have the data plate with the info on the over head panel just above the steering wheel.

To my knowledge, the chevies did NOT have any numbers stamped into the frame. Oddly enough, their close cousin the GMC 2 1/2 ton CCKW trucks did.
I do recall (I think??) some discussion on here that some chevies may have frame numbers stamped as a result of a depot overhaul.
Hope this helps, and there a lots more much more knowledgable folks on here that chime in and give you more info I'm sure.
Jim

[M35a2duece]

Thank you waayfast. Unfortunately all the number plates in my cab have been removed by a previous owner for some reason. That is where the trouble lies.

I did not know only GMCs had the numbers on the frame. That's good to know!

[waayfast]

Well, glad to help even if it just prevents a big waste of time for you.

Seems like with this old stuff it must be MANDATORY that bubba and the boys first break ALL the glass in everything then remove the data plates and sand off any hood numbers or other markings.
I knew of a local fellow that (according to him anyway) was restoring a Chevy, and removed the data plates to sandblast and prep for paint. Made the mistake of contacting the state title people to get paper work straightened up while he had the plates removed. DMV guy said there is no way to be sure the plates lying on the workbench actually went with the truck. Sorry, says he and walked out the door. No Title.

[Tonywan Kanobby]

To my knowledge also, I believe no frame numbers were stamped in the original Chevys. Some may have had some added since. My truck, when I obtained it while registered, had the the original (with the prefix BV) engine’s number as the VIN.

[42cargo]

If you can post more photos, particularly of the rear end, the rear springs, the bed, the hoist, and the hoist controls in the cab, I think I can help you determine if this truck was a cargo, dump, or other configuration when it came out of the factory.

John

[M35a2duece]

Thanks guys regarding the vin numbers on the frame or lack of any numbers on the frame. I have already spent a huge amount of time cleaning and hopelessly looking and im actually a bit relieved to here there is none there so I know not to waste any more time.

I like that engine code idea. The one in it now is blown, but I belive it is original. Perhaps I can use those numbers to submit for registration.

Thanks for the ideas guys!

[M35a2duece]

If you can post more photos, particularly of the rear end, the rear springs, the bed, the hoist, and the hoist controls in the cab, I think I can help you determine if this truck was a cargo, dump, or other configuration when it came out of the factory.

John

I can get pics for sure. But I am 99.99 percent sure the dump box is not original. There's even a wheel well from the old truck it was on notched into the box in the wrong location. Even a stub of another trucks frame goobered to the back of this one to extend it to fit the current box.

Knowing this, what pics would be most helpful? Rear end pics? Even the pto engagement lever is cut up and redone with linkage to be more on the drivers side.

[42cargo]

Totally concur the box is not original. First item of interest would be the springs. If there are no overload springs or if they clearly came from Bubba Industries, Inc., that would start steering things toward it being a cargo. If the helper springs are original, then it would be good to see the PTO and the other things I mentioned.

Looking forward to sleuthing this out with the group.

John

[M35a2duece]

Totally concur the box is not original. First item of interest would be the springs. If there are no overload springs or if they clearly came from Bubba Industries, Inc., that would start steering things toward it being a cargo. If the helper springs are original, then it would be good to see the PTO and the other things I mentioned.

Looking forward to sleuthing this out with the group.

John

Here are some rear end pics

Just gonna guess the springs are all original in the back because there is a lot of rust jacking between the leaves. If there not original they have been unmolested for a very long time

[M35a2duece]

Totally concur the box is not original. First item of interest would be the springs. If there are no overload springs or if they clearly came from Bubba Industries, Inc., that would start steering things toward it being a cargo. If the helper springs are original, then it would be good to see the PTO and the other things I mentioned.

Looking forward to sleuthing this out with the group.

John

Some pto levers, pto, and the hoist ram thing just for fun

[M35a2duece]

And idk if these things help with the year or anything in relation to finding any identification. Would that data plates have been above the window? Also pics of grill, flat head screws, chevrolet embossed panels, split notch down the middle of the radiator.

Thanks a lot guys! Your a great help!

[retro-roco]

The engine side panels are defintely early, but were likely swapped. The grill guard is the late style, the engine compartment does not appear to be early, and the dash and gauges are also consistent with the later 'N' model trucks. The battery holder is also mounted outside the frame, and behind the cab. The cab has the corresponding cut out on the passenger side lower rear corner. The early trucks had the battery under the floor board inside the cab.

Bubba was quite busy with this truck with the windshield header, dumpbox, dumpbox hydraulics and control levers (is that another lever between the fron seats??)

There are a number of things that make me think a fire department might have owne this truck at one time. No sign of the frront mounted pump that some of the crash tracks have. You might try removing the sheet metal covering the windshield header to see if you can find data plate screw holes or even plates. I'm guessing the plates are gone from when they added the new sheetmetal.

BTW, under the hood it appears to be relatively untouched (from what I could see).

[42cargo]

Thanks for the additional photos. A lot of potential on this truck, for sure.

For certain, that bed, lift assembly and PTO are off something else. Here's what an original Hercules hoist looks like:



Lift up the mat on the floor and see what the floorboard looks like. The G506 dump should have two controls, PTO engage and up/down:



Here's what the PTO levers and the bracket the mounts to the inside of the frame under the driver's floorboard looks like. See if the bracket might still be bolted to the frame:



The helper springs look like they could be originals and yet the bracket for mounting the bed in your photo looks like what was used on cargo trucks, although it's upside down on yours. Here's an image from my old project where I converted a cargo to a dump. The shorter bracket is for a dump truck. The longer one is for a cargo bed:



Are the stops for the helper springs welded or riveted to the frame? If they are welded, then I'd lean toward this being a cargo.

What's really nice is that you have a bunch of original items under the hood, including noise suppression straps and filters; what appears to be an original voltage regulator; and the radiator bypass valve that runs from the top of the radiator to the rear section of the head.

Look at the engine serial number, which is on the flat boss by the distributor. It should start with BV if it's the original 235 engine. Also, if you remove the starter (or possibly get a mirror to see between it and the block) you'll find an alpha-numeric code cast into the block. That's the date it was cast. I'm doing this from memory, but it should be something like B 6 2, which would be February, 6, 1942.

Feel free to post more photos if you have the chance.

Hope this is helpful,

John