The frame nunberfs are stampedinto the frame usualy on the driver's side outside flat portion of the truck's frame, in pretty large blocky font .5" + , and sometimes can be faint, due to shallow stamping, rust or previous sanding and restoration attempts by the previous owners. There are two groups of numbers that compose the Vin of the Deuce, with a small space in between them.
Some may have a letter or two prefix in the number as well, depending on the make and year of build. The most correct way is to confirm the Vin # from the frame, and stamp it into your new empty data plate which are available here on SS site. Some times, during a military rebuild they switched cabs and did not correct the Vin number, or assigned a different one for some other reason during a rebuild at some point in the truck's life. So it is always good to verify the frame number in any case for your records. If nothing has been changed in the truck, as in frame or cab or a major rebuild, the Vin Number of the truck should match the frame number, usually with out the letter prefix.
The Number is usually on M35 series is 1.5-1.75" is found from the top of the frame rail flat, right above the center-line of the front axle, and in some cases 1.5-2.5" behind the front axle center-line. Paint remover spray or paste, and a thin metal blade scraper a sharp one, will get you there easily, all the way to bare metal, and without damage to the existent number, and without having to sand or hard scrape Carc from the frame.
Hope this helps.
ALFA2
