Help Decoding Frame Code

[Biggnate81]

Hey everyone, I have been all over the forum trying to find the answer to my problems with no luck yet. So some background, I recently acquired my grandpa's old "c30" after he passed away a few years ago. He owned a junkyard and a used car lot and the truck had a slant bed on it that he used to haul cars. So it turns out this truck is a true junkyard build that was a mismatch of parts that were laying around. It's a 1976 c10 single cab and had an early 80s front end on it and the frame I'm having trouble identifying, I assume it's a c30 frame since its dual rear wheels. But the frame was originally for a crew cab( I know this because the original cab mounts are still there) truck and was modified to fit a single cab and an extra long bed. I did find what I thought was a partial vin # right above the gas tank on the passenger side it appears to be T8B534150 but none of these numbers match up with any of the vin charts. If this truck hadn't of been my grandpa's there is no way I'd put in the time to fix it but I'm trying to restore it to its "former" glory as kind of tribute since it was his favorite truck. So if anyone could help me determine the year of the frame so I can order proper suspension parts I would greatly appreciate it.. thanks in advance everyone.

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[legopnuematic]

The frame is a 70's (rounded frame horns) 1 ton frame (inboard rear shocks)

The cab is an 80's cab as it has the dimples in the cowl panel for the wiper squirter hoses, along with the hood hinge gaskets that 80's trucks have.

 

[Craig 85]

T - GMC
8 - Year
B - Baltimore Plant
534150 - Secential VIN

@Keith Seymore Am I correct?

https://media.lmctruck.com/Catalog_Chassis-Eng_IDs/Chassis_ID/CC_VIN-Chassis_ID.pdf

 

[Biggnate81]

The frame is a 70's (rounded frame horns) 1 ton frame (inboard rear shocks)

The cab is an 80's cab as it has the dimples in the cowl panel for the wiper squirter hoses, along with the hood hinge gaskets that 80's trucks have.

Thanks for the quick reply @legopnuematic I'll have to look into the cab, the reason I said it was a 1976 c10 is because that's what the title says. I'll have to get the windshield out, because its completely frosted over on the bottom 3 inches, and make sure the vin matches the title, thanks.

 

[Biggnate81]

T - GMC
8 - Year
B - Baltimore Plant
534150 - Secential VIN

@Keith Seymore Am I correct?




https://media.lmctruck.com/Catalog_Chassis-Eng_IDs/Chassis_ID/CC_VIN-Chassis_ID.pdf

I had assumed that this is how they done it and just omitted the digits for chassis, engine, and cab but I wasnt sure.

 

[legopnuematic]

A 76 would have its V.I.N on the B-pillar in the door jamb and only be 13 digits, an 81+ would be on the windshield and be 17

 

[Biggnate81]

Thanks @legopnuematic I wasnt aware that there wasnt a vin on the dash in the 70s, I'll check the B-pillar and hopefully find a vin there. If not I suppose I'll have some issues lol.

 

[Biggnate81]

A 76 would have its V.I.N on the B-pillar in the door jamb and only be 13 digits, an 81+ would be on the windshield and be 17

@legopnuematic I had to go down to the garage just to verify but the vin was on the B-pillar and matched the title, crisis averted lol.

 

[legopnuematic]

79 was the first year for the V.I.N to be on the dash. from the pictures it looks like an 80's dash pad so I say you should be successful in finding the vin there

 

[legopnuematic]

What do the rivets securing the tag on look like? this is what factory V.I.N rivets should look like.
If they are regular round rivets then it has been tampered with.

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[Biggnate81]

What do the rivets securing the tag on look like? this is what factory V.I.N rivets should look like.
If they are regular round rivets then it has been tampered with.

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I'll have to check again in the morning, unfortunately I didnt look at the rivets, thanks for all the help.

 

[Keith Seymore]

T - GMC
8 - Year
B - Baltimore Plant
534150 - Secential VIN

@Keith Seymore Am I correct?

https://media.lmctruck.com/Catalog_Chassis-Eng_IDs/Chassis_ID/CC_VIN-Chassis_ID.pdf

Yep - by process of elimination that model year would be 1978.

The only thing I would add (and it's entirely not necessary) but I would guess at Baltimore that year the GMC VINs started at 500001 and the Chevy VINs started at 100001.

K

 

[AuroraGirl]

I have a 78 with most original parts if you need to know where certain things might be or something. Its a 1/2 ton tho. So not same suspension, but like locations of tags idk

 

[Biggnate81]

I have a 78 with most original parts if you need to know where certain things might be or something. Its a 1/2 ton tho. So not same suspension, but like locations of tags idk

Thanks @AuroraGirl my dilemma now is trying to figure out the exact year of the cab since @legopnuematic says it's an 80s model. Since it's titled a 76 I wanted to put that model front end on it but if the cab is actually an 80s cab it may be better to stick with the 80s parts. Is there any other way to identify a cab without using the vin?

 

[Biggnate81]

Well unfortunately @legopnuematic is correct, I pulled the dash and found a vin plate there that confirms the cab is an 83, apparently someone moved the vin plate from the 76 model to this cab. So now I'm unsure of how to proceed and still be legal, if anyone has any info on this it would be appreciated.