VIN & Body ID Numbers Locations and how to read them

[DMT]

I think there may be some confusion on the title for my bird. The title, which is an Ontario title says that the bird is a 1982. 1982 35 FC. However, when I go to the vintage page my bird looks exactly like a 1984 35 FC.

Is there a way to verify the year it was in the VIN number?

Dale Taylor
Hilliard, OH

[Dieselbird01]

Hi Dale,

The 10th character of the VIN is the year code:

A = 1980
B = 1981
C = 1982
D = 1983
E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
8 = 2008
9 = 2009
It repeats after 30 years so:
A = 2010, etc.

NOTE: 17-digit VIN wasn't mandatory until 1981

[iamflagman]

One of my first questions back when I first got my 'Bird was, where do I find all of the important numbers for my 'Bird, such as the Vehicle Identification number (VIN), the body number and the date it was built and model year? I was kind of surprised when someone revealed where all of this was located, I wouldn't have thought of looking for this information in the place it ended up being and then after I found them one was very difficult to read so I ended up taking a photo of it and then I could enlarge the photo to see what it actually read.

Here's a description of the location of these identification plates and how to gain access to them on my 1982 FC35RB 'Bird, check out;


http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/102888788

Please add as a reply to this thread the YEAR and MODEL of your 'Bird and where exactly you found all of these numbers.

[iamflagman]

Along with the information that John has supplied, you may want to also verify that the numbers on your title match the VIN number on the ID plate. Here is a thread that I just started to list Where is the VIN and Body Identification plates located on your 'Bird?

[fxdwg]

On my 96 there are 2 plates at the rear of the engine (the same 2 pictured at the top left of John's pictures above), on the rear cross bar. Very easy to see. The vin data plate (the plate pictured at the top right of John's pictures above) is above the driver's seat, between the cabinets and the windshield. You can see it by sitting on the dash and look up into the area immediately behind the windshield.

[Lee Davis]

On my 95 BMC the VIN # and other info is on a plate facing down but backward behind the cabinet over the driver. Like John, I had to take a picture and enlarge it to read it, my body won't bend backward enough to read that anymore. My Body # was on a plate back in the engine compartment, very obvious.

[jasonwarner]

I've got an info plate facing the windshield up above and slightly right of the driver. I've also got a VIN plate to the left of the driver on the dash. The funny thing is that I just got a VIN verification at the tag agency the other day. It was then we noticed that they put an extra "0" in the middle of my VIN on the one facing the windshield above the driver! Luckily, they accepted the other VIN plate. I'm assuming somebody went to lunch after stamping the first "0," then came back and started with "0" again!

[Donn]

When I registered my coach, I incorrectly used the four digit "chassis no." stamped into the plate located above the engine riveted to the doghouse enclosure. Later on, I found a thin foil 5-1/2" x 2-1/4" label stuck to the inside cover of my 'blue book'. This foil contained date of mfr., GVWR, GAWR: Front, GAWR: Rear, a five digit V.I.N. and CLASSIFICATION.

How do I verify that the five digit number stamped on the foil is actually the correct vin number? Where else in or on the body or frame might I find a stamping?

Thank you.

[Bill Pape]

Look around the doghouse, especially the top under the dash,
Or around the driver side windshield pillar, or over the top of the windshield near the ceiling. These are a few possibilities.

[Donn]

This was my first time initiating a post on this forum and I've obviously placed it in the 'rules' topic by mistake. I'll learn.

The bus is an hour away from me, but I'll be there soon and follow your suggestions. Thank you very much.