1976 vin number. How many digits is your vin?

[Itali83]

The tag in the door jamb is missing on my truck. The frame is literally mint condition and I’ve found the vin number is two places clear as day. It’s only 9 digits. I know older trucks don’t have the 17 digit standardized VIN. Just want to make sure 9 is enough and the same that you guys have that may still have the actually data tag on the door jamb.

thanks

Ben

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Both my 76 gmc and 77 c30 have 13 digit vins

 

[Itali83]

Both my 76 gmc and 77 c30 have 13 digit vins

can you find the vin on your frame? Is the frame vin the first set of numbers of your 13 digit vin or the last?

ben

 

[Keith Seymore]

The numbers on the frame are a partial VIN.

The digits represent the nameplate (C = Chevrolet, T=GMC), model year (=6), final assembly location, and then the last six digits are the serial portion of the VIN.

You can recreate the first part of the VIN based on what you know about the truck.

https://www.genuinegmparts.com/src/pdf/resources/1960-2020_Vincards.pdf#page57

K

 

[75gmck25]

For example, my ‘75 GMC K25 is TKY245Zxxxxxx (last 6 are unique serial number)
T - GMC
K - 4WD
Y- 350-4
2 - 3/4 ton
4 - pickup
5 - 1975
Z - Fremont assembly plant
The only one I have no way to verify is the assembly plant.

 

[Itali83]

Ok thank you. That helps me line up my missing digits

 

[RoryH19]

Where on the frame is the partial vin number? Would it be the same for all the squarebody trucks?
I have a 78 k10, 82 k5 and 87 r10.

Thanks

 

[Bextreme04]

Where on the frame is the partial vin number? Would it be the same for all the squarebody trucks?
I have a 78 k10, 82 k5 and 87 r10.

Thanks

It can be in several different places. I found mine on my 1980 K25 stamped on top of the passenger side frame rail, right behind the cab. I also had the same partial vin stamped on my TH400.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Where on the frame is the partial vin number? Would it be the same for all the squarebody trucks?
I have a 78 k10, 82 k5 and 87 r10.

Thanks

It does vary a little bit by final assembly location and model year (passenger side vs driver side, and where along the length of the frame).

The key is that it will be on the top side of the top horizontal flange of the frame (making it difficult to see when the truck is assembled), not on the visible vertical side of the frame.

K

 

[Keith Seymore]

Very quickly, since I am here: I ran for a little while (as a summer student) the portion of the chassis line in Flint where the VIN was stamped.

The VIN stamper is a large hydraulic "press" hanging from a tool rail and with the weight offset by a "balancer" (imagine a Harley-Davidson hanging from the ceiling that you are supposed to maneuver into position and press a button). It sort of "smashes" the numbers into the frame, so no drama (it's not percussive, like hitting it with a hammer). When Chevy and GMC have different VIN sequence numbers there will need to be (minimum) two stampers hanging at the ready (I say "minimum" because there might be an extra for backup in case something goes wrong with the primary stamper). The operator would be required to grab the correct stamper based on the nameplate of the approaching vehicle and make the hit in the two separate locations. The VIN machine is then triggered so that it goes to the next number.

The frames are hanging from chains, in vehicle postion, which is why the fact that the numbers appear on the top surface of the top flange is relevant.

K

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Itali83]

Mine is directly under the cab passenger side. And again just ahead of firewall on passenger side easily visible.

Ben

 

[Keith Seymore]

You can recreate the first part of the VIN based on what you know about the truck.

K

I should add: you are a little bit lucky. Starting in 1981 a "check digit" was assigned as the 9th character in the leading portion of the VIN. It was randomly created, so you would be able to construct the VIN like we just did, except for that specific digit, which would force you to try ten permutations (0-9; I don't think any of the check digits were alpha characters) to see which one worked.

K

 

[RoryH19]

@Keith Seymore and @Itali83 thanks. I'm going to try and find mine today.
I'll let you know the location on my trucks.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

(0-9; I don't think any of the check digits were alpha characters) to see which one worked.

X

 

[Bextreme04]

Do you not have a title or registration for your truck?