How to decode a 1983 Dodge D-Series VIN
Characters 1-3 of a 1983 Dodge D-Series VIN
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer globally, helping to identify the maker, type, and country of origin of a vehicle. In the case of the 1983 Dodge D-Series, the WMI is “1B7”, indicating that FCA US LLC, formerly known as Chrysler Group LLC, is the manufacturer. This specific sequence points to a truck produced in the United States, with Auburn Hills, Michigan, serving as the city of manufacture. WMIs are a critical component of a vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), assisting in the precise identification and tracking of vehicles. For owners of a 1983 Dodge D-Series, the WMI not only confirms its American heritage but also its classification as a durable and robust truck.
List of WMI Codes for a 1983 Dodge D-Series
WMI: 1B7
- Model Years Covered: 1981-1993
- Example VIN: 1B7FD14H4DS463306
- Manufacturer Name: FCA US LLC
- Vehicle Type: Truck
- City: Auburn Hills
- State or Province: Michigan
- Country: United States
Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 1983 Dodge D-Series 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 1983 Dodge D-Series:
| Known VDS for a 1983 Dodge D-Series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FD14H | FD14M | HD24U | FD14T | FD14U | GD14T |
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 1983 Dodge D-Series 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 1983 Dodge D-Series VIN — Year Code
| Year Code | Year |
|---|---|
| D | 1983 |
11th Character in the 1983 Dodge D-Series VIN — Plant Code(s)
Known 1983 Dodge D-Series Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)
| Plant Code | Plant City | Plant State | Plant Country | Plant Company Name | Example VIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Warren | Michigan | United States | Warren Truck Assembly | 1B7FD14H4DS463306 |
VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 1983 Dodge D-Series
The final 6 characters in a 1983 Dodge D-Series’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.
Check your Dodge D-Series’s VIN below:
How to find a 1983 Dodge D-Series’s VIN?
Locating the VIN number on your 1983 Dodge D-Series is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:
- Look at the dashboard on the driver’s side of your 1983 Dodge D-Series. The VIN is typically found on a metal plate that can be seen by looking through the windshield.
- Examine the door frame on the driver’s side of your Dodge D-Series. The VIN might be located on a sticker or metal plate where the door latches when it is closed.
- Inspect the firewall of the vehicle, under the hood. The VIN might be stamped onto the metal surface of the firewall in the engine compartment.
- Check beneath the front of the frame, often on the driver’s side, for a stamped VIN on the chassis of your 1983 Dodge D-Series.
- Look at the vehicle title, registration, or insurance documents, which will list the VIN of your Dodge D-Series, though this isn’t on the vehicle itself, it’s a way to find the vehicle’s VIN.
What info can a 1983 Dodge D-Series VIN reveal?
- Model Year: The VIN can reveal the vehicles model year being the year 1983, providing insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
- Body Class and Vehicle Type: A VIN may indicate the body class as Pickup and the vehicle type as Truck, offering insights into the general shape and purpose of the vehicle.
- Engine Specifications: Information on the engine, such as a 5.2 L displacement with 8 cylinders and a 4 BBL model, can be gleaned from a VIN, providing insights into the vehicle’s power and performance capabilities.
- Fuel Type: The primary fuel type, such as Gasoline, indicates the vehicle’s energy source, which is essential for understanding fuel efficiency and environmental impact.
- Drive Type: The drive type, such as 4x2, can be encoded in the VIN, providing details on the vehicle’s drivetrain layout which affects handling and traction.
- Manufacturing Details: The VIN can reveal manufacturing specifics, such as the plant city (Warren), state (Michigan), and country (United States), alongside the plant company name (Warren Truck Assembly).
- Weight Class: Details like Gross Vehicle Weight Rating from Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg) can be obtained from the VIN, providing insights into the load carrying capacity of the vehicle, influencing its utility and regulatory class.
Don’t have your 1983 Dodge D-Series’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!
Sample VIN Decode Report for a 1983 Dodge D-Series
| Vehicle Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Body Class | Pickup |
| Displacement (CC) | 5200.0 |
| Displacement (CI) | 317.32346929260 |
| Displacement (L) | 5.2 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Engine Model | 2BBL |
| Engine Number of Cylinders | 8 |
| Fuel Type - Primary | Gasoline |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From | Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg) |
| Model | D-Series |
| Model Year | 1983 |
| Plant City | Warren |
| Plant Company Name | Warren Truck assembly |
| Plant Country | United States |
| Plant State | Michigan |
| Series | Conventional Cab |
| Trim | 150 JOB RATED |
| Vehicle Descriptor | 1B7GD14T*DS |
| Vehicle Type | Truck |
| Sample_VIN | 1B7GD14T1DS444396 |
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