Vehicle Identification Number Decoding 1969-1991

Vehicle Identification Number Decoding 1969-1991

1969

The first letter is B. The second letter is the chassis type: C for two wheel drive, K for four wheel drive. The third letter is the engine: S for 6 cylinder, and E for V-8. The remainder of the VIN is numerical with the exception of the letter idetifying the assembly plant. The first number represents the load capacity: 1 for 1/2 ton. The 2nd and 3rd numbers indicate the cab to axle measurement: 07 meaning 42-47 inches. The 4th and 5th numbers indicate the body style: 14 for the Blazer utility body. The 6th number is the last digit of the model year: 9=1969. The next letter indicates the assembly plant. The remainder of the numbers are that vehicle's particular serial number.

1970-1971

The first letter represents the chassis type: C is two wheel drive, K is four wheel drive. The 2nd letter is the engine: S for 6 cylinder, E for V-8. The 1st number gives the load capacity: 1 for 1/2 ton. The 2nd number is the body style: 8 for Blazer/Jimmy utility body. The 3rd number is the last digit of the model year: 1=1971. The next letter indicates the assembly plant. The remainder of the numbers are that vehicle's particular serial number.

1972-1980

The first letter indicates the make: C for Chevrolet, T for GMC. The 2nd letter is the chassis type: C for two wheel drive, K for four wheel drive. The 3rd letter represents the engine: in 1972 it's S for 6 cylinder, E for V-8. For 1973-1980 the engine ID letters are:

ID Letter

Engine Description Notes
Q250 c.i. 6 cylinderThrough 1975
D250 c.i. 6 cylinderFrom 1976
U305 c.i. V-8
X307 c.i. V-8
V, M350 c.i. 2 bbl V-8
Y, L350 c.i. 4 bbl V-8
U400 c.i. V-8Through 1976
R400 c.i. V-81977-1979
After the engine identification letter, the 1st number gives the load capacity: 1 for 1/2 ton. The 2nd number is the body style: 8 for Blazer/Jimmy utility body. The 3rd number is the last digit of the model year: 8=1978. The next letter indicates the assembly plant. The remainder of the numbers are that vehicle's particular serial number.

1981-1991

For these years, the new "world" style VIN consisted of 17 characters. The decoding is as follows... The first number indicated nation of origin: 1=U.S.A. 2=Canada. The next symbol is a letter: G for General Motors. The third symbol is a letter: C for truck. The fourth symbol is a letter: E for a GVWR of 6001-7000 lbs. and it also designates hydraulic brakes. The fifth symbol is a letter: K for Conventional cab, 4x4. The sixth symbol is a number: 1 for 1/2 ton. The seventh symbol is a number: 8 for Blazer. The eighth symbol is a letter identifying engine type and make. Please refer to the table below:

ID Letter

Engine Type Displacement in Cubic Inches (Litres)

Engine Make

RPO

F305 V8 4BBL (5.0L)ChevroletLF3
G305 V8 2BBL (5.0L)ChevroletLG9
H305 V8 4BBL (5.0L)ChevroletLE9
L350 V8 4BBL (5.7L)ChevroletLS9
M350 V8 4BBL (5.7L)ChevroletLT9
P350 V8 2BBL (5.7L)ChevroletLF5
W454 V8 4BBL (7.4L)ChevroletLE8
T292 L6 1BBL (4.8L)ChevroletL25
Z350 V8 Diesel (5.7L)OldsmobileLF9

The ninth symbol is a number: This is a check digit. The tenth symbol is a letter: B=1981, C=1982, D=1983, E=1984, F=1985, G=1986, H=1987, I=1988, K=1989, L=1990, M=1991. The eleventh symbol is a letter or number indicating the assembly plant: A=Lakewood, B=Baltimore, F=Flint, J=Janesville, S=St. Louis, V=Pontiac, 1=Oshawa, Canada, 3=Detroit, 4=Scarborough, Canada, 7=Lordstown. The last six digits are that truck's sequential serial number.


The information on this page was compiled from Chilton's Repair and Tune-Up Guide for Blazer and Jimmy.

About This Web Site | Specifications & Pics of My Blazer | About Me | Pictures of Blazers and Jimmys | Technical Info. | VIN Decoding Info. | Links to Vendors | Gear Calculators | Historical Facts | Main Page