73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Crew Cabs => Topic started by: jpearson311 on May 30, 2023, 03:56:39 PM
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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!
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Could have been converted, just saw one on Bat that was listed as a C10 but clearly was 4x4.
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Ok, but that's C vs K. I believe they're different for crew cabs. Especially for an '88.
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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
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4WD became V in 87. Prior to that it was K. So you're saying that in 87 the C became R?
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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)
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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. ::)
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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.
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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.
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Also 2dr cab and chassis as we had many on our farm.
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Yeah, I forgot about the CACs. It certainly was a clunky rollout and transition. It's as though GM had hesitation in committing.
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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.
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LOL. Unfortunately, that still occurs.
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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