Author Topic: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2  (Read 2723 times)

Offline jpearson311

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Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« on: May 30, 2023, 03:56:39 PM »
Hi all.  I'm looking at an '88 crew cab (square body) and in the pictures, it is clearly a 4x4, but the VIN is is coming back as a 4x2.  Could this be because the VIN digit that specifies the drive is a "R" rather than a C or K?  Thanks!

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2023, 05:48:27 PM »
Could have been converted, just saw one on Bat that was listed as a C10 but clearly was 4x4.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline jpearson311

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2023, 06:37:35 PM »
Ok, but that's C vs K. I believe they're different for crew cabs. Especially for an '88.

Online bd

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2023, 07:38:23 PM »
With regard to 1988 light-duty GM trucks, R/V refers to the older square body design, whereas C/K refers to the subsequent (newer) body style.

R = RWD / 2WD
V = 4WD
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline jpearson311

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2023, 07:42:05 PM »
4WD became V in 87. Prior to that it was K. So you're saying that in 87 the C became R?

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2023, 08:13:11 PM »
With regard to 1988 light-duty GM trucks, R/V refers to the older square body design, whereas C/K refers to the subsequent (newer) body style.

R = RWD / 2WD
V = 4WD

Gotcha bd! Doesn't happen often but it made me grin!  8)
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Online bd

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2023, 10:57:05 PM »
4WD became V in 87. Prior to that it was K. So you're saying that in 87 the C became R?

Yes, but C/K became R/V only as the designations applied to the older square body design.  This is how the lizard grew into an alligator...

Traditionally, GM used the C and K designations for their 2WD and 4WD trucks, respectively.  In 1987, GM introduced a newer, more aerodynamic body style and wanted to continue marketing the C/K tradition.  BUT, it wasn't a smooth transition.  Instead, GM continued to produce the older square body design through 1991, overlapping the initial production of the newer C/K body style in 1988.  That presented an interesting (and with even a little forethought, avoidable) marketing problem.  SO, in GM's infinite wisdom, it rebranded the 1987 square body C/K designation to R/V in a bungled attempt to prevent public confusion with the newly released C/K truck line.  As a result, 36 years hence, people are still confused.   ::)
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline jpearson311

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2023, 11:07:36 PM »
So the truck that I'm looking at is an '88, but it's a crew cab square body. The only squares that I know of after 87 are the K5s.

Online bd

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2023, 07:55:49 AM »
So the truck that I'm looking at is an '88, but it's a crew cab square body. The only squares that I know of after 87 are the K5s.

...and Suburbans and Crews, I believe.
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline MIKE S

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2023, 08:57:55 AM »
Also 2dr cab and chassis as we had many on our farm.

Online bd

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2023, 09:25:56 AM »
Yeah, I forgot about the CACs.  It certainly was a clunky rollout and transition.  It's as though GM had hesitation in committing.
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline MIKE S

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2023, 11:23:56 AM »
I remember when I used to service these back when they weren't very old. The R/V vs C/K designation was very confusing for the parts stores when getting parts. Say you needed a water pump for your 1988 Chevy 1 ton cab and chassis. If it was a square body it was an R series. If the parts guy at the local parts store looked up the part and gave you a pump for a C series you would have gotten a reverse rotation pump that physically looked identical but it would have not worked and overheated. I had to "school" most of my part suppliers as they had no idea what an R/V series was.

Online bd

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2023, 01:13:26 PM »
LOL.  Unfortunately, that still occurs.
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline Shifty

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Re: Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2023, 01:20:08 PM »
I remember when I used to service these back when they weren't very old. The R/V vs C/K designation was very confusing for the parts stores when getting parts. Say you needed a water pump for your 1988 Chevy 1 ton cab and chassis. If it was a square body it was an R series. If the parts guy at the local parts store looked up the part and gave you a pump for a C series you would have gotten a reverse rotation pump that physically looked identical but it would have not worked and overheated. I had to "school" most of my part suppliers as they had no idea what an R/V series was.
Easy as pie if you're a Square-Body counterman... :D
87 V20 Standard Cab Longbed (current)

87 R30 3+3 Longbed (days of yore)

98 C2500 ext cab longbed