VIN info
 

Hey lads and lasses, I'm new to the board and am glad it is here. Hope someone can help me. I have a '69 or '70 GMC 1/2 ton. Based on the VIN decoder on the site, I haven't learned much. It doesn't match up with my VIN. My truck is Canadian but I don't think that should change much. The VIN is CS134-1Z53376. I'm not sure if that first 1 is a 1 or an I but I think it's a 1. I am wondering if the stock six that is in it is the 292 or the 250. I have to get some parts and that would be good to know. It's been sitting for like 8 years and it is finally time to finish it. Let me know what you know. Thanks.

TAlbertaBoy
That looks like a model instead of a VIN
The C is for Chevrolet
The S is for six cylinder
Not sure of the rest
Get the number off of the trim tag on the door jamb tag or the title.
It should start with the same CS but will be 1 long number
The 292 will have the numbers embossed on the block and the motor mounts are staggered.

Hi and Welcome to the board.

According to the Factory Assembly Manual I have your truck should be:

C = Conventional Chassis 4 x 2
S = V 6 Gas
1 = 1/2 ton
34 = Cab and pick up box ( Fleetside? )
- = no State Certification code
1 = Made in Oshawa
Z = 1970 15 Series
53376 = is the Unit made. 53,376th one made.

You will probably have to get the ID #'s off the engine to figure out what size it actually is.
GMC VINs don't cross over with Chevys from what I have figured out. Under Chevy, mine is a '64 Chevy not a '70 GMC.

Hope this helps. Also, do you have any pics of it? You'll see this alot on here.

Mike

:gmc: :flag:

TsgtE662 got most of it right... but its a straight 6 not a v6... v6 code was letter M.
Also the latter part of the vin is the sequence number ... not really the number built for production. There was a starting number... and in this case it may have been 50000... so its the 3376 built at the Oshawa Canada plant. Different factory plants had different starting numbers. 34 was fleetside box type. Good job overall decoding it though. The GMC vins stump quite a few people.

Wasn't the V-6 (305/351) avalible in one tons in 70?

The Factory Assembly Manual and the Chevy ID Number Catalog show the S letter as for a V6 Gas. Neither show a M letter code. I don't know how the Canadian VINs coding differ if any. I haven't seen the M code before. Wouldn't it be for straight sixes? Or would that be where the difference is between the US and Canadian VINs? I don't see why it should be different, but then I am fairly new to all this. And like to learn more on it.

The 305 and 351 V6's (CM and KM) models are GMC only, therefore a Chevy catalog would not show them. Nothing to do with Canadian vs US VINs

CS indicates an I6 for both Chevy and GMC, and unless there is an RPO isted for a 292 engine on your glove box, then it's the base 250 (assuming original engine of course).

That CPNE knows his stuff!WOW!
:bowtie:

Mine is a CM truck, and it was built here in the US. And it did come with a 305 V-6. Chevyfatman has one too.

Ya learn something everyday, especially on here.

Thanks, gonna have to update my "file" now for future refs.

When I went to add your info about the M code and I 6, I found that I already had it in my notes. Which I didn't look at before, only those two books.

Oops.

I guess I shouldn't have said Canadian vins earlier... I editted it...it was more correct to say that style vin identification is more typical for 1970 and 1971 GMC's.

Thats the first I've seen of a v6 in a light duty truck past 69 in this vintage era. Vin says its made in St. Louis from what I can read.

Just goes to prove that GMC's were made in the USA and Canada and not just in Canada as some urban legends say.

TsgtE662.. your listed addy is from St.Louis... they still do GMC's there.

Rod - I don't think they do anymore. The only auto plants around here that I know of is the Chrysler plant in Fenton and the F**d plant a couple of miles from me. My 70 GMC was made here, my '92 came from Indiana.
I posted a thread a while back asking for VIN info for basically all GMC trucks to try and compile as accurate as possible a decoding list for everybody to be able to use. But not very many responded to it. I would still like to get one made up.
I would think that with so many people on here who know so much about these trucks we could do it and maybe end up getting included on the web site along with the Chevy decoder part. We would probably have the only site that has it.

Ive posted enough pics and scan of gmc vin decoding procedures over the years.. I'm sure myself and others have a good probable collection of materials.

Maybe Ill get around to it.

Wow, good to see a board with a wealth of knowledge. I still don't know what motor it is though. It would either be a 250 or a 292 Straight 6. Is there a good way to tell them apart short of cleaning all that crap off the block which I should do anyway...

Easy way to tell is by the size of the covers that cover the lifters on the passenger side of motor... if there about 4 inches tall there a 250 size engine... if there closer to 6 inches tall there a 292.
If your glove box dosent list an option of a 292 then it probably isn't if its the orignal glove box sticker also. Original standard equipment motor would have been a 250 and it wouldn't have been listed as an option because its standard equipment.

292, note side cover size, also the fuel pump is behind the motor mount.

Well thanks. It would appear that I have a 250 on my hands. Well, get it running, finish the truck, then look for more displacement. Someone swapped a 4 speed manual in and did a sloppy job. I guess I have a bit or work to do. Along with my other project, this could be a long summer. Building a FORD Bronco II into a decent trail rig. 351W, Dana 44's, and 35" Boggers. I would like to be loyal but I think everyone deserves a chance. Besides, who else is gonna have one. Thanks again.