Truck ID Again

[scwaters]

I purchased a 1976 SWB Chevrolet K10. I have since found that it is a combination of several vehicles. The VIN on the cab door sill is clearly from 1976 pick up. The identification number on the passenger side front cylinder head defies identification as the listied numbers end prior to the number. The code on the back of the driver side block ,while not on any published list, was noted by a member of this forum to be from a 1978 to 1985 factory installed crate engine. I spent yesterday afternoon searching the driver side frame member looking for a number or ID stamped under the cab to no avail. HOWEVER, having once read on a Corvette site that the each side of a SB was stamped during casting with the original displacement no one in this forum has been able to validate that factoid. But I do have a “379” stamped on each side of my block which would equate to a 6.2 L. Unfortunately there were no 6.2 L gasoline engines until the Vortech era. The major problem exists that a number of accessory items on the engine change between 1976 and 1977. As I go about working on this truck I need to be able to define my replacement parts by year.

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[idahovette]

I think you should be looking on the passenger side frame rail cab area. That is where I found the number on my 78 K-20 frame. Good luck!!!

 

[roundhouse]

I bought one that has no identifying numbers on it anywhere

All removed apparently
Has a state issued VIN in the door frame

Solved the engine ID via an LS swap

So far have determined it has a 76-77 cab with the separate shoulder belt

73 doors with the small roller track
Core support from a 80
Grill from a 76


Maybe helpful to take it to a napa store and have the guy with the most grey hair look at it

That’s what I did with my 78 Firebird that turned out to have a Chevy 305 engine in it

 

[scwaters]

Thanks, both of you. I do have a riveted plate on the rear drivers doo surround.

 

[scwaters]

Someone must have info on the block number, please

 

[hatzie]

That's not the block casting number. It's some other code... Date or shift or some such.

The casting number should be behind the LH cylinder head on the block along the bellhousing.

The stamped Ident code should be on the machined pad behind the alternator. If the block has been decked the stamped alphanumeric code will be obliterated.

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[bucket]

They did start casting the displacement right onto the block, but that wasn't until the late 80's or so. And it was in liters, not ci. So you would see 5.0 or 5.7 on the casting.

 

[scwaters]

Update - found numbers on the passenger side rail of the frame. Smaller font 363924 then next to it in a larger font is 77 4 21 76

 

[scwaters]

Can anyone shed some light what, if anything, the above numbers indicate, please?

 

[bucket]

If I had to guess, it's a partial VIN and a date stamp. And an unknown pair of digits.

@HotRodPC

 

[HotRodPC]

Partial VIN is on top of the frame rail. That's likely the Part # of the frame and the plant and date code.

 

[scwaters]

Figured that was a date code which is what I really wanted to know. I have used a mirror and searched the top of the frame rail on both sides from the back of the cab to the engine compartment and found nothing. But the real issue was always to date the frame and see if it matched up with the cab. Close, The cab VIN shows a 76 model year. The frame, as I interpret the date code, says built in 76 for the 77 model year.

 

[HotRodPC]

I don't think so. I think it's a 76 frame for a 76 model. @Keith Seymore Might know that code. The codes mean something. Depending on what it is. Sometimes you might see 3 90 76 and it mean 3rd shift on the 90th day of 76. Sometimes codes are 21 76, that'll mean 21 week of 76. NO telling, there's 100 different ways things are date coded. Engine blocks and heads usually use Julian Date codes, and many times they'll show a clock with an arrow that tell at what hour the part was manufactured.

As far as many parts, GM's assembly line only stayed an hour or 2 ahead of the contractors bringing in parts. This is why when a GM plant shuts down, you don't only lose the GM plant workers. There's many many businesses and hundreds of other empoloyees and truck drivers that are now out of of a job and it hurts a community bad.

 

[DanMcG]

Update - found numbers on the passenger side rail of the frame. Smaller font 363924 then next to it in a larger font is 77 4 21 76

Does the 13632 match your VIN number? if you found the numbers on the side of the frame it's probably a part #.
My vin numbers were on top of the frame rail behind the cab on the passenger side

 

[HotRodPC]

Here is the VIN on top of passenger side frame rail from an 85 C20 I scrapped. I should have zoomed out a bit, then you'd have a better reference point to look with your mirror. Be assured, it is on the passenger side frame rail. I'd start at the frame rail about under the passengers ass where he'd be sitting, then go back toward the rear of the truck from there. I'd say it's going to be between the passenger's ass and not past the dual fuel switch valve. Probably just under the backside of the cab.

If I can find the pics, I also have pics of those other #'s your talking about on the passenger side of the frame rail. Not on the top, but on the side facing out.

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