SPID Question

[Tdrcreyn4]

I was looking at the SPID thread and noticed that some of the SPID's contain 6 characters for the option codes and many others just contain 3 character option codes. I did notice that one pic contained both.

Can anybody explain when they switched the SPID's over from one to the other? Also, Was it normal to see a mix of both codes. Lastly, was there an option code that differentiated between a TH350 and TH400?

[Keith Seymore]

It was a long process.

My '87 still had four spaces on the SPID: three for the actual RPO code led by a "dummy" placeholder - a "9" in front of each code in my case.

There was some variation by model year and by plant. In case you did not know the additional characters (when used as intended) are additional detail relative to the RPO and functional name. I've seen it used to provide additional information regarding clutch size and type, for example, when added to an engine RPO. That was pretty much phased out by the time I started in 1979, and I didn't even know what they were for until I joined this forum.

The "merchandised" RPO for a three speed non overdrive auto trans is MX1; that drives the "non-merchandised" RPO of M40 for the TH400 or the non merchandised RPO for the TH350. I've seen M32, M33, M38 and M49 used for the various types of TH350 offerings.

K

[chipflyer]

Not normal to see a mix of long and short codes on the same label but it happened. You will find the 3 digit codes used on labels every year between 67-72. From 67-70 most long codes started with 4 or 04 but they went to a starting digit of 1 in 1971 if it had the long code. I have a few labels that the long code option starts with 1 and has some options on it that were copo and started with 9. I don't believe that the long code with 10 or 20 at the end means anything. I have a label with 1A1110 TINTED GLASS listed and another from the same year (different plant) with 1A1120 TINTED GLASS, I have no idea how the tinted glass code could be different based on the 10 or 20 at the end. I have seen this same thing on other options as well like A/C, radio, and power steering among others.
There is no master list of suffix characters (be them numbers or letters) that decodes what they meant that I am aware of especially for 71-72.

I have said for years that when discussing SPIDS labels you can never say that "they always" or "they never" when describing options on them. There were a lot of inconsistencies but they are fun to look at!

Oh, and M49 was used for both the 350 and 400. M38 could also be found listed as Turbo Hydramatic but I think mainly from the St. Louis plant. They did a lot of goofy things with their labels.

Jeff

[Tdrcreyn4]

Thanks for the replies!