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AstroSafari VIN Decode

78K views 97 replies 44 participants last post by  AstroWill 
#1 ·
VIN Position Description

Position 1 Country of Origin:
1 = U.S.A.
2 = Canada

Position 2 Company built by:
G = General Motors

Position 3 Make or division:
1 = Chevrolet
7 = GM of Canada
C = Chevy Truck
K = GMC Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
N = Chevy Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
T = GMC Truck

Position 4 GVW/ Braking System:
B = 3,001 - 4,000/ Hydraulic
C = 4,001 - 5,000/ Hydraulic
D = 5,001 - 6,000/ Hydraulic
E = 6,001 - 7,000/ Hydraulic
F = 7,001 - 8,000/ Hydraulic

Position 5 Chassis:
M = Van (Astro, Safari) 2WD
L = Van (Astro, Safari) AWD

Position 6 Series:
1 = 1/2 ton
2 = 3/4 ton

Position 7 Body Type:
5 = Van

Position 8 Engine type:
A = 151 ci L4 2.5L TBI
B = 262 ci V6 4.3L TBI
E = 151 ci L4 2.5L TBI
N = 262 ci V6 4.3L 2 BBL ('85)
N = 262 ci V6 4.3L 4 BBL
W = 262 ci V6 4.3L CPI
W = 262 ci V6 4.3L MFI ('98-'05)
X = 262 ci V6 4.3L CPI
X = 262 ci V6 4.3L MFI ('98-'05)
Z = 262 ci V6 4.3L TBI

Position 9 Check digit:
This is a VIN checksum used to verify VIN legality.

Position 10 Model year:
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005

Position 11 Plant:
A = Lakewood, GA
B = Lansing (Reatta), MI
B = Baltimore (Truck & Bus), MD
B = Pupyong, KOREA
C = Lansing, MI
D = Doraville, GA
E = Linden, NJ
E = Pontiac (Truck & Bus), MI
F = Fairfax II, KS
F = Flint (Truck & Bus), MI
G = Framingham, MA
H = Flint, MI
J = Janesville (Truck & Bus), WI
J = Janesville, WI
K = Leeds, MO
K = Kosai, JAPAN
L = Van Nuys ('82-'92 F-car), CA
M = Lansing, MI
N = Norwood ('82-'87 F-car), OH
R = Arlington (B-car), TX
S = St. Louis (Truck & Bus), MO
S = Ramos Arizpe, MEXICO
T = Tarrytown (Truck & Bus), NY
U = Hamtramck, MI
V = Pontiac (Truck & Bus), MI
W = Willow Run (B-car), MI
W = Iwata, JAPAN
X = Fairfax, KS
Y = Wilmington, DE
Z = Fremont, CA
Z = Spring Hill (Saturn), TN
Z = Fort Wayne (Truck & Bus), IN
0 = Pontiac (Truck & Bus), MI
1 = Wentzville, MO
1 = Oshowa 2, ONTARIO
2 = Moraine (Truck & Bus), OH
2 = Ste. Therese ('93-'96+ F-car), QUEBEC
3 = Detroit (Truck & Bus), MI
3 = Kawasaki, JAPAN
3 = St. Eustache, QUEBEC
4 = Orion, MI
4 = Scarborough, ONTARIO
5 = Bowling Green ('84-'96+ Corvette), KY
5 = London, ONTARIO
6 = Oklahoma City, OK
6 = Ingersoll, ONTARIO
7 = Lordstown, OH
7 = Lordstown (Truck & Bus), OH
7 = Fujisawa, JAPAN
8 = Shreveport (Truck & Bus), LA
9 = Detroit, MI
9 = Tillsonburg, ONTARIO
9 = Oshawa 1, ONTARIO

Position 12-17:
Production #
 
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#2 ·
Hi Positive P
This is a great post and I hope AA makes this one a sticky, thanks for the information. :)
 
#6 ·
Seems I wasn't the only one working on this.

http://groups.cardomain.com/groups/17153/pages/46316

I'm trying not to have anything in my list that does not have to do with AstroSafaris hence one country of origin and only one plant.

90soon2blownslow, I'll try to find your third position B.
 
#7 ·
Found it already, position 3) B = Chevrolet Incomplete

I'm willing to bet you have a conversion van. Correct?
 
#8 ·
If anyone wants their VIN decoded post up the first 11 characters.

Characters 12-17 is the production sequence. 100001 is the first vehicle of the model year.
 
#95 ·
1GBEL19W4RB
My question is, is this van TBI MFI or CPI?
I am currently replacing the fuel pump and want to get exactly what I need. I have read through this thread and see that the W in the 8th position is-
W = 262 ci V6 4.3L CPI
W = 262 ci V6 4.3L MFI ('98-'05)
But the parts store is telling me it’s TBI which isn’t listed. The van is a 94 conversion van (raised roof, tv, dvd, fold down seat in back)
Thanks!
 
#11 ·
It doesn't have to have a raised roof or TV to be a conversion van. Conversion vans are any van that was upfitted by a third party. Most often they can be recognized by having windows that don't follow the normal body lines and are equipped with upgraded seats and a bench that converts into a small bed in the back.
 
#17 ·
the guy in the parts shop at my local GM dealer said the last 8 digits are needed to tell which kind of transmission my van used, even though it used the 4l60e like i had told him. why would there be a difference based on the last eight?
 
#18 ·
the last 8 would refer to when the van rolled off the assembly line. could be a different trans computer or something. all dealerships ask for the last 8 of a vin. its easier to look them up that way.
 
#23 ·
the guy in the parts shop at my local GM dealer said the last 8 digits are needed to tell which kind of transmission my van used, even though it used the 4l60e like i had told him. why would there be a difference based on the last eight?
I know that I am quoting an old post but for the benefit of anyone else reading this who might have the same question, the last set of numbers is also used to cross reference factory installed parts that might have come from different suppliers. That way if there is a known variation between certain suppliers or if there was a minor quality control issue that has an easy fix, it makes certain problems easier to identify. I once worked in a factory that manufactured clutch discs and pressure plates for the Corvette and the Camaro (amongst other makes and models). But this was one of 5 other plants in the US manufacturing these parts. So somewhere on the 33rd floor of the General Motors building in Detroit, some bean counter knows that the cars with vin numbers ending in 19202 thru 24399 were delivered with clutch discs that came out that particular factory.
 
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