Confusing VIN number for 80 pickup

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

K

koolminx

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
3
Location
seatle
First Name
gary
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
pickup
Engine Size
unknown
I’ve checked many sites many Van decoders but none of them are set up like this one because it’s as hell to me lol can you guys hook me up with each digit up to the unit number?

TCD14A1-504933

T is GMC-
C is Conventional cab
D is 4.1 liter
1 is Model designation 1/2ton
4 is confusing according to this picture.


Can yall hook me up?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_8325.png
    IMG_8325.png
    288.2 KB · Views: 18
K

koolminx

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
3
Location
seatle
First Name
gary
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
pickup
Engine Size
unknown
OK, awesome
Now the last two?

A is for…
1 is for…

These rest is the sequence number I understand.
 
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,971
Reaction score
9,611
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
koolminx said:
These rest is the sequence number I understand.
Click to expand...
Ackshully - it's more of a "serial" portion.

The numbers were assigned sequentially, starting at 100001 for Chevy and 500001 for GMC, but they were not built in that order (Chevys with about every ninth vehicle being built as a GMC).

Think of it like a checkbook: you write the checks in order but they don't necessarily clear the bank that way.

K
 
Last edited:
K

koolminx

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
3
Location
seatle
First Name
gary
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
pickup
Engine Size
unknown
It’s the same way with the Fords that I am used to when it comes to the sequential number sometimes it’s not actually sequential because of the different bills ordered
 
RetroC10Sport

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,191
Reaction score
2,518
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
RetroC10Sport

RetroC10Sport

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Posts
17,191
Reaction score
2,518
Location
Green Bastard Parts Unknown
First Name
Jay
Truck Year
2001
Truck Model
pontiac aztek
Engine Size
3.4
Keith Seymore said:
Ackshully - it's more of a "serial" portion.

The numbers were assigned sequentially, starting at 100001 for Chevy and 500001 for GMC, but they were not built in that order (Chevys with about every ninth vehicle being built as a GMC).
Click to expand...
Exceptions do exist. In certain years, Flint built Chevys started with 300001 and GMCs started with 700001 then there was a weird year for the Pontiac plant in 1980 when GMCs started with 600001. This comes from studying hundreds of thousands VINs for 40 years plus my job kinda helps.
 
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,971
Reaction score
9,611
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
RetroC10Sport said:
Exceptions do exist. In certain years, Flint built Chevys started with 300001 and GMCs started with 700001 then there was a weird year for the Pontiac plant in 1980 when GMCs started with 600001. This comes from studying hundreds of thousands VINs for 40 years plus my job kinda helps.
Click to expand...
Agree; I remember.

I should have been more clear I was stating an example. Cadillac Escalade VINs also started with 600001 for some years. We in engineering and product planning got to pick that.

Back to my stream of thought: most plants* have a body bank between the cab shop and paint, and another between the paint shop and trim line. This allows re-sorting bodies to allow work load leveling downstream (ie, can't have too many stick shifts in a row, can't have too many A/C trucks in a row) or for an extended off line repair.

This process jumbles the VIN order as well; my original point being that vehicles are not (necessarily) built in VIN order.

K

*Fremont is the exception here. Fremont builds straight through.
 
Last edited:
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,971
Reaction score
9,611
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
They used to pass these VIN cards out at the beginning of the year and we would carry them around in our shirt pocket, along with our pocket protector and note cards for the day.

I don't know why. It's not like we were going to de-code a particularly sticky VIN while we were using the bathroom or at the local bar during lunch or something, nor did anyone care about the VIN in the assembly plant.

The General Assembly sequence number was/is the gold source when referring to a particular vehicle. The VIN is just another part to put on the right truck, just like a tune up label or SPID label or Mulroney window sticker.

K
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:
Keith Seymore

Keith Seymore

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2015
Posts
2,971
Reaction score
9,611
Location
Motor City
First Name
Keith Seymore
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
4.3L
RetroC10Sport said:
Exceptions do exist. In certain years, Flint built Chevys started with 300001 and GMCs started with 700001 then there was a weird year for the Pontiac plant in 1980 when GMCs started with 600001. This comes from studying hundreds of thousands VINs for 40 years plus my job kinda helps.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry - one more thought: Since Flint Assembly had two separate assembly lines under the same roof the separate serial number starting points may have been an attempt to provide some additional differentiation for those VINs.
K
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TheHoundsman
Searching for My Dad's 1979 Chevy Suburban
2 3 4
Replies
49
Views
2K
TheHoundsman
TheHoundsman
NickTransmissions
4L80E Information Thread
Replies
14
Views
5K
MrMarty51
MrMarty51
NickTransmissions
  • Sticky
700R4 Information Thread
9 10 11
Replies
153
Views
22K
NickTransmissions
NickTransmissions
Captcorvette
New to this site. Looking for VIN decode info.
Replies
6
Views
2K
Keith Seymore
Keith Seymore
Vbb199
Trade my k5 for a decent c or k series 1/2 or 3/4 ton?
2
Replies
15
Views
3K
78C10BigTen
78C10BigTen

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,414
Posts
956,950
Members
36,734
Latest member
wjh1175
Top