How to decode a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code that identifies the manufacturer of a vehicle, the type of vehicle, and the country of manufacture, among other details. For the 1986 Chevrolet El Camino, the WMI “3GC” specifically denotes vehicles manufactured by General Motors LLC, classified as trucks, and produced in Warren, Michigan, United States. The use of the WMI is critical in deciphering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), offering insights into the origins and characteristics of the vehicle. This particular WMI, when part of a VIN, helps trace back to a classic 1986 Chevrolet El Camino, indicating its assembly by General Motors in the indicated location and timeframe. Understanding the WMI is essential for purposes ranging from registration, insurance, to historical research on vehicles.
List of WMI Codes for a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino
WMI: 3GC
- Model Years Covered: 1985-1987
- Example VIN: 3GCCW80H0GS904322
- Manufacturer Name: General Motors LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Warren
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN
These characters correspond to components like:
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Model or trim
- Body style
- Gross vehicle weight range
Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino:
| Known VDS for a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino | |
|---|---|
| CW80H | CW80Z |
Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.
Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN.
Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.
10th Character in the 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| G | 1986 |
11th Character in the 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1986 Chevrolet El Camino Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Ramos Arizpe | Mexico | Gm Overseas-Truck | 3GCCW80H0GS904322 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino
The final 6 characters in a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Chevrolet El Camino’s VIN below:
How to find a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1986 Chevrolet El Camino is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Examine the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet El Camino, particularly where the dashboard meets the windshield. The VIN can often be seen from outside the vehicle through this area.
- Look inside the door frame on the driver’s side of your Chevrolet El Camino, especially where the door latches when closed. There is usually a sticker or a plate with the VIN here.
- Check under the hood of your Chevrolet El Camino for a metal plate or sticker on the firewall, which separates the engine compartment from the cabin.
- Inspect the chassis/frame of your 1986 Chevrolet El Camino as sometimes the VIN is stamped directly onto the frame, particularly on older vehicles.
- Review your vehicle’s title, registration, or insurance documentation, where the VIN for your Chevrolet El Camino will be recorded.
What info can a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicle’s model year being the year 1986, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Engine Type: It typically specifies engine details, including that it has a V-Shaped configuration, manufactured by Chevrolet with a displacement of 5.0 L, and operates on gasoline.
- Body Class and Drive Type: The VIN can indicate the body class as a Pickup and the drive type as 4x2, providing insight into the vehicle design and functionality.
- Vehicle Type and Weight Class: The VIN may indicate the vehicle type as a truck and detail its gross vehicle weight rating, putting it in the Class 1C category, which ranges from 4,001 to 5,000 lb.
- Manufacturing Details: The decoding might provide manufacturing specifics such as the plant country being Mexico, the plant city as Ramos Arizpe, and the manufacturing company as GM Overseas - Truck, which can provide insights into the vehicle’s production background.
- Engine and Fuel Specifications: Information could encompass the engine model being 4BBL with eight cylinders and the primary fuel type as gasoline, illuminating the vehicle’s power source and efficiency characteristics.
- Model and Series Information: VIN decoding often includes model information, such as El Camino, and may even reveal the series as Special Pickup and Panel Delivery from Passenger car, offering insights into the vehicle’s design lineage and utility features.
Don’t have your 1986 Chevrolet El Camino’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1986 Chevrolet El Camino
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Pickup |
| Brake System Type | Hydraulic |
| Displacement (CC) | 5000.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 305.11872047366 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.0 |
| Doors | 2 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Configuration | V-Shaped |
| Engine Manufacturer | Chevrolet |
| Engine Model | 4BBL |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
| Model | El Camino |
| Model Year | 1986 |
| Plant City | Ramos Arizpe |
| Plant Company Name | GM Overseas-Truck |
| Plant Country | Mexico |
| Series | Special Pickup and Panel Delivery from Passenger car |
| Trim2 | 1/2 ton nominal |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 3GCCW80H*GS |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Sample_VIN | 3GCCW80H0GS904322 |
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