numbers

[Nick Bombini]

I found the USA numbers on my truck this weekend and I was wondering about the last one. It looks like an oblong nine. I was hoping someone could tell me what it stands for.

I enhanced the numbers so that they can be read.



I have a feeling that this may have been a replacement hood from another truck as there is another set of numbers underneath these ones (which made it somewhat hard to figure out what these numbers were).

[armydriver]

I know that the standard use is no more than seven numbers, by all accounts on this site, but my trucks original numbers were a total of eight, like this truck. It was formally an Air Force truck so the addition of the eight number would have some significance, maybe locally to a unit. My guess is that the number could mean truck number 9. My reasoning comes from being a company commander of a unit and it is easier to send a driver down to get truck number 9 than giving them the whole number. Alot of this is purely conjecture on my part. We numbered our aircraft and assigned crew to that number. Often they would refer to the Number 7 bird or number 15 bird or ect.

[armydriver]

My thought process run slower than they used to. Keep in mind when dealing with old military vehicles, and that goes with aircraft also. What the regulations stated and often what the units in the field did would not necessarily match up. Markings and modifications became local unit decisions. When we mid -night requestioned an M151 in Viet Nam, we repainted the hood and made up some new numbers. Hopes were that no one would go to the trouble to actually run down the serial numbers on the vehicle. Most of the time they were temporary in a combat zone anyway. There will always be exeptions to the rule in this hobby.

[Matt]

Hi Nick,

It could be that you have the same number on two different layers and the last 9 is from an earlier layer. the two sets of numbers wouldn't line up exactly so on rubbing down you have exposed some of both. I'd say you have the original hood,the only way to tell for sure would be to carry on sanding through the numbers you have uncovered to see whats beneath.

Any luck in finding unit markings on the bumpers?

Matt.

[retro-roco]

Nick,

You're making great progress. I noticed that there is a hint of blue in the photo, and I can't tell if it is a reflection of the tarp I see in the picture, or if youu've started to uncover what should be the original numbers. The original numbers (ie from the factory) were painted in blue. There might be exceptions to this, but as far as I know all CCKWs and Chevy 1-1/2 tons (gee I wish there was a nickname for the Chevy's) left the factory with their registration number painted in a light blue. I think I have seen Joel even mention the federal number for this blue, but it was standard. After documenting your progress so far, which you've done a great job of I would suggest that you keep sanding slowly and carefully. I found a total of four (4) registration numbers painted on my truck. They were all the same number, but had been re-painted several times. The first and second were in blue, but different sizes, and the last two were white, again in different sizes.

Good luck!

[Nick Bombini]

Thank you for all of the replies. I will try to uncover the second layer of numbers on the other side of the hood to see if the numbers are the same. There is no doubt that there is blue numbers underneath (although I think what you see is a reflection from the tarp).

Matt,
There are unit markings on the bumper but as you can see in the photo below, the bumper paint is badly scratched up. I am hoping that I will be able to piece together what they are between the bumperettes (which are just as badly scratched) and the front bumper. I need to pull the bumper off to straighten it out so I will sand it then since it will be more comfortable.

[42cckw]

HI NICK
Is your truck ex Norwegian It has the same tires my truck had on it when I bought it, and my truck came from Norway
JIM 42CCKW

[dr deuce]

>(gee I wish there was a nickname for the Chevy's)

How about "Once and a half"

[retro-roco]

Actually, if GMC 2-1/2 tons were known as "Jimmys", then the corresponding nickname for Chevrolet 1-1/2 tons would just be "Chevys". I'll have to do some digging to see if there was a standard nomenclature like CCKW for the Chevy's. If each letter in fact stood for something like wheelbase, and drive type, etc. then it would make sense that there would be a similar name for the 1-1/2 tons. Unless it was a GMC only thing...

[Nick Bombini]

Yes Jim, the truck is ex-Norwegian and I'm glad it is (all of the hard to find/expensive parts are there). I bought it from Kevin Kronlund who imported it from Europe about one and a half years ago. There is actually a member on the board who says he remembers seeing my truck when it was still over there.

[Barry Churcher]

I think in Australia they called the Chevys " Yankee Joes".

Barry

[Nick Bombini]

I was able to uncover the other set of numbers today. The numbers are the same (4208699), they are just in a different location, are closer together, and are a different font. Unfortunatly, some of the paint was already worn away down to the metal but you are still able to tell what they say.




I'm glad it's done because my arms are sore and my fingers are shriveled up from the water. But hey, that's just part of the fun .

[Matt]

Hi Nick,

Those look like the WW2 numbers.there should probable be -S after them.

Oil under finger nails,skinned knuckles and various cuts,scratches and gashes,aren't MV's great?!!

Matt.

[Nick Bombini]

I sanded in front of and behind the numbers and didn't find anymore markings. I still can't find a star on the hood. Did all trucks have the star or just some?

Yes, MVs are great. The second day I had the truck, I was trying to put the tailgate down but the hinges where a bit rusty. Needless to say, I was putting a lot of pressure on it when it finally gave way smashing my finger between the truck and tailgate . Ouch! I lost that fingernail. But, I knew the pain would come with the fun.

[armydriver]

Thats the wonderful part of MVing. I ripped skin from the back of my left hand yesterday while replacing some of the wood on the bed of old Betty Boop. I had to laugh though, because only a wooden bed truck could have termites. Others fight rust and corrosion but the guys with the wood bed CCKW's have to worry about insects eating their prized old vehicles.

[Nick Bombini]

I already know the answer to my question but I'm going to try anyhow. Is there any possible way to track a truck's history with the hood number?

[rhinexing]

I sanded in front of and behind the numbers and didn't find anymore markings. I still can't find a star on the hood. Did all trucks have the star or just some?

Nick-
Is your truck a closed cab by chance? If so, there's a good possibility of the star being painted on the roof of the cab rather than on the hood. The cab roof was the "regulation" location for the star.

That being said, what the manual prescribed and what was carried out by individual units were often times two different things. When I sanded the hood down on my Dodge WC-56, I found that the star had been painted upside down (pointing towards the front of the truck). Vehicle marking was sometimes assigned as punishment. I'm sure it wasn't always a 100% effort!

-Mike

[Nick Bombini]

No, it is an open cab truck. Thanks for the advice though.