Crew Cab VIN Coming Back As 4x2

[jpearson311]

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!

[JohnnyPopper]

Could have been converted, just saw one on Bat that was listed as a C10 but clearly was 4x4.

[jpearson311]

Ok, but that's C vs K. I believe they're different for crew cabs. Especially for an '88.

[bd]

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

[jpearson311]

4WD became V in 87. Prior to that it was K. So you're saying that in 87 the C became R?

[JohnnyPopper]

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! 

[bd]

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.   

[jpearson311]

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.

[bd]

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.

[MIKE S]

Also 2dr cab and chassis as we had many on our farm.

[bd]

Yeah, I forgot about the CACs.  It certainly was a clunky rollout and transition.  It's as though GM had hesitation in committing.

[MIKE S]

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.

[bd]

LOL.  Unfortunately, that still occurs.

[Shifty]

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...