SPID Sleuths

[73737373]

Seller claiming this is a Sierra Grande, but has no "Sierra Grande" badges by rear side marker. Have yet to see interior pics.

[Ol Blue K20]

I think it is, the spid shows Cheyenne Super

[73737373]

Agree, but I don't know as much about these SPIDs as I should.
My 70 Sierra Grande lists both the Custom Sport option, Z84FS, and the Sierre Grande Option, Z1YAA

[engineer_gregh]

There was no Cheyenne Super option in 1970 for chevy's, nor a Cheyenne option. Top of the line was CST as far as I know. Not sure about the GMC line up.

[73737373]

Agree w/you Greg, but that's not the issue. Issue is if GM listed both the top of the line trim packages (CST and Sierra Grande) in 1970 on a Sierra Grande, then why not do the same in 1972? Trying to apply a little logic. You're an engineer, so you'd understnad that, wouldn't you?

[engineer_gregh]

I don't know if this is any help, but here are the SPID's from my 71 and 72. Notice that in 71 both options are listed but the 72 only list the Super option. Both SPID's are authentic but are from Chevy's. I'm trying to learn more about the GMC trucks. I did see your post on the other thread about the Canadian trucks. Thanks for posting your SPID there.

[68350]

1970 was the first year for the Sierra Grande option on a GMC. It's not the same as the 71-72 option tho. In 71 and 72 the option included the woodgrain dash bezel and glovebox door. As far as the picture of the spid that was originally posted, it is a real Sierra Grande. I've seen a lot of Sierra Grande's with Cheyenne Super listed on spid. The YE9 code is the same for both. If the emblems are missing, they could have fallen off or something. My original boxside emblems both fell off my 72. The barrel clips weren't a great way to attach the emblems, especially if you live on a bumpy road

[73737373]

Greg,

Yes, a great help. Many thanks indeed. I believe there are variances/inconsistencies on SPID "protocols" depending on the operator, factory...could've been a new guy operating the SPID maker, or the regular guy called in sick that day.....and who knows what else. A blinding flash of the obvious, I have a 72 Sierra Grande...I'll look at that when I get home today....and a 72 Cheyenne Super. The "000" in the wheelbase block on my 70 GMC puzzles me....never seen that before, after 32 years of playing w/these trucks.

[73737373]

THX 68350. Owner thinks it has been repainted somewhere along the line which may explain the missing emblems. Haven't laid "eyes on" the truck yet, but everything so far indicates the truck is bona fide Sierra Grande. Pretty sure the person I'm dealing w/is daughter/grand daughter of original owner, so she may not know for sure.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Agree w/you Greg, but that's not the issue. Issue is if GM listed both the top of the line trim packages (CST and Sierra Grande) in 1970 on a Sierra Grande, then why not do the same in 1972? Trying to apply a little logic. You're an engineer, so you'd understnad that, wouldn't you?

Yep - you can't go by that ("that" being either logic or precedence).

The structure and noun names shown can vary by model year, and also plant to plant within the same model year.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Greg,

Yes, a great help. Many thanks indeed. I believe there are variances/inconsistencies on SPID "protocols" depending on the operator, factory...could've been a new guy operating the SPID maker, or the regular guy called in sick that day.....and who knows what else. A blinding flash of the obvious, I have a 72 Sierra Grande...I'll look at that when I get home today....and a 72 Cheyenne Super. The "000" in the wheelbase block on my 70 GMC puzzles me....never seen that before, after 32 years of playing w/these trucks.

Just to be clear: there wasn't a "guy operating the SPID maker". The information was loaded into the plant database at the beginning of the model year (or as there were updates) and then "broadcast" to the print station, along with the build manifest information, window sticker detail, etc. All the installer had to do was peel the label off the printer, maybe put the clear cover over it, and stick it in the glovebox.

For assembly plants running 60 or 70 jobs per hour that's one completed truck every minute. That means the operator has about 45 seconds to peel the SPID, stick it in place and do the rest of his productive operations*. There is no way any human being could manually type a label in that length of time, with any degree of accuracy, and for 400 or 500 times a day.

Having said that: there were plant to plant differences, as the various locations took liberty with the noun names or RPO construction. A funny offshoot off that is - if there were errors then the SPIDs (and possibly window stickers) they were consistently wrong for that plant until corrected. We have an appropriate saying here at work: "At Chevy you don't make a mistake; you make a million of 'em".

K

*at Flint Assembly the guy that installed the SPID label also built up the floor mounted shifters (take the handle, slip the boot over the shaft, add the knob and tighten in the correct orientation) and installed the shifter in the vehicle (install the M20 or MY6 handle into the trans and screw the boot/retaining ring down). The SPID label was a small fraction of his overall job.

[73737373]

Keith,

Am not an expert regarding peoples' typing skills as you may be, but certainly appreciate you clarifying that "There is no way any human being could manually type a label in that length of time, with any degree of accuracy, and for 400 or 500 times a day." You'll get no argument from me on that point, but not sure what triggered you to bring typing into this discussion.

[DarkFlounder]

My '72 K2500 has Sierra badging on the bed and fenders, but the SPID lists the Z84 Sierra Grande Equip package. No woodgrain bezel or glovebox door.

[engineer_gregh]

DarkFlounder your SPID also calls out vinyl trim. I would have thought custom cloth seat cover with the Sierra Grande option.

[68350]

Darkflounder yours is just a Sierra. It shouldn't say Sierra Grande eq. Z84 is Cheyenne and ye9 is Cheyenne super

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Keith,

Am not an expert regarding peoples' typing skills as you may be, but certainly appreciate you clarifying that "There is no way any human being could manually type a label in that length of time, with any degree of accuracy, and for 400 or 500 times a day." You'll get no argument from me on that point, but not sure what triggered you to bring typing into this discussion.

Sorry - I interpreted "guy operating the SPID maker" as you thinking of someone sitting down and typing each SPID individually. I hear that misconception a lot so I sort of pre-emptively went there.

In any case, the point is: the guy installing the SPID label simply peels it from the printer, sticks it to his apron or pants while he goes about his other business, and then sticks it in the glovebox before returning to his desk to reload for the next vehicle. It's all printed up for him ahead of time based on data loaded from the beginning of the model year.

K

[73737373]

No apologies necessary...just wasn't sure where the typing thing came in....nonetheless, I bet you are a wealth of knowledge regarding what went on in those auto plants. Oughtta make a good book!!

[bruceman1968]

Originally Posted by 73737373

Oughtta make a good book!!

I'd buy it!

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 73737373

No apologies necessary...just wasn't sure where the typing thing came in....nonetheless, I bet you are a wealth of knowledge regarding what went on in those auto plants. Oughtta make a good book!!

Thank you; my responses tend to be brief so it takes a conscious effort for me to fill in some details.

K

[73737373]

Went to look at that truck this weekend. It was a Sierra Grande, and was pretty worn out for the asking price ($5800) so I passed. Will make someone a nice project.

[special-K]

If it's a Sierra grande the RPO code is YE9. No matter what the SPID says, if the code says Z84 its a Sierra (same with Chevys Cheyenne Super/Cheyenne). '71 was the first year the Sierra and Sierra Grandes were offered as trim levels by themselves. The Sierra and Sierra Grandes came out ahead of the Chevy Cheyenne and Cheyenne Super. Until '71, the Sierra and Sierra Grande trim was an option on top of the Super Custom, much like a Highlander is trim on top of a Custom Deluxe.