RPO Codes

The answer: No. That is GM production data. You won't find it floating on the Internet anywhere.

The other answer is yes. The VIN if entered into an electronic system will display all applicable RPO codes, including paint and trim. The computer actually "guides" you (by highlighting the RPO codes) to select the right parts if there is a choice of parts that are differentiated by RPO code (say rear end parts where the ratio matters, or a piece of trim where color matters).

Any GM dealer's parts system can pull up all the RPO codes by VIN and display a printout. Those are all the options the vehicle was delivered with from the factory. I know because I've run numbers with the software I have.

If the vehicle is a 1992 or better (from what I remember), any GM dealer's parts department can print out your list with two keystokes/mouse clicks on an EDS or Bell and Howell parts system. If it's a new enough vehicle, just ask the dealer's parts person to do a RPO printout for you if you supply the VIN. Problem solved.

If it's older than that (unless it's a truck), then you'll have to get some old books or get a VERY patient parts person that's willing to input each code manually into the parts computer to determine what the codes signify.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

"Bigjfig" eloquently edified

I'd wear out my welcome REAL QUICK, in a GM parts department! And beyond that, I would want to know what equipment (probably 'ALL' RPOs) a specific VIN was originally supposed to come with.

It's easy to swap out components that have the RPO stickers attached and there's plenty of fraudulent cars being (or trying to be) sold. My interest is in avoiding being victimized by one of these counterfeiters!

I know how to physically identify a 1LE, G92, 1HV, B4Z or B4C equipped car (and in some cases it ain't no simple task) but I was looking for an easy-out. Sure would be nice to type in a VIN and have it authenticate the (alleged) RPO list. Call me lazy!

DRAT! I was afraid this would be the outcome!

Currently, my quest is in the range of 1985-90 Camaros. Could you elaborate on what to look for, the "old" literature, that is?

Hopefully, for the '93s (1st LT1 Camaro) and '98s (1st LS1 Camaro), it'll be a lot easier!

Thanks for your help Joe, SmiteMan (David)

Man, you shoulda bought a Pontiac. You give PHS the VIN, they tell you if it's really a 455SD or if it really was an Esprit...

Ray

For any Pontiac:

Frank

The VIN is entered into the parts computer and the codes are spit out. DONE!

When the dealership buys the parts software, part of it is the VIN data bank which has every VIN # on file within a given range and all the RPOs that came with each one.

On old stuff, you check the console lid and the VIN #s throughout all the major parts to see if they match. On 1988 (or so) and up cars, the fenders, hood, etc, have the VIN # labels which will ruin themselves if removed.

Long and short of it: The car should check out from every angle numbers-wise. There are those of us out there that could tag a car so you'd never know if we were devious enough :).

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

counterfeiters!

numbers-wise.

Joe You should scare the sucker-fish, I mean posters like that. Bad Joe, No Biscut. Charles

???? Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Sucker-Fish = Customer who is gullible.

Bisket=Reward.

I should have phraised it differently. My business partner would have understood that post, and laughed.

Basically, don't let people know what some of us could do if we desired. That's how people get investigated for stuff they didn't do. Charles

Yea, I'm not advocating you do it, but I'm advocating that you KNOW how to spot it because others HAVE done it.

:) Key difference. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Knowing how it's done and what to look for is a good thing. Yet at times it's better to play dumb. That's how a friend of mine got busted. He told someone he knew how it was done (vin swaps). That person told the police he was swaping vins. He wasn't. Yet he had 2 cars that were insurance jobs (supposedly stolen) that he was parting out. Got him 18 months for that. They also took his car trailer that was home built because he didn't have any paperwork for the parts and metal. Charles

"Charles Bendig" Couldn't have said it better!

You've made my point perfectly! The market is full of bottom-dwelling scum that (attempt to) sell these counterfeit cars!

The purpose of my post was to try and learn how to PREVENT being ripped off by these parasites.

I've called numerous GM dealer parts departments but what I've learned isn't reassuring. They don't agree but most indicate the earliest GM databases that associate VIN numbers with RPO codes is 1994 (and most appear to be happy in printing you out a copy!) They really appreciate similarly minded enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this leaves 1985-90 f-body Camaros out in the cold, as prefect bait to be used by these shyster, seller types. Sad to say, none of them (the GM parts guys) were aware of older GM, hardcopy literature (or any third-party books) that cover this type of information.

I'm very disappointed by the responses thus far. Why the more prolific posters are professing this knowledge (how to counterfeit this year range) but gloating while they conceal and covet these dastardly traits, is beyond me. Seems like a.a.c.f should be so much more......... positively enlightening, and pro, anti-criminal activity?

Meanwhile, my quest continues, SmiteMan

BTW, this IMPORTANT subject matter is conspicuously absent from ALL f-body (3rd gen.) websites. CMIIW

No offense, but he ain't too bright. What's he doing with hot VIn #s? If the deal is too good to be true, it is.

No paperwork? No proof. No deal. End of story.

Shit, I check EVERY car I buy to make sure it's not on a hot list!

Had my police neighbor run the vin on the 1979 all the way back and it came back clean. That's a good start :). Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

I know how he aquired the cars. They were sitting in a barn that had partially collapsed. He bid the job to do a tear down on the barn, and got the job. The property owner said the privious person that lived there had left these cars, and asked if he wanted them. He jumped at the chance, who wouldn't when were talking a 76 T/A & a 70 T/A.

In this area abondon vehicals on Privet Property are commen. Heck I have got a few vehical that way. Salvage yards won't touch them. Tow Companies with Impound Yards charge a small fortune to dispose of them. Getting the paperwork thru the state for a slavage title, salvage cirtificate or an afidavid of title is not that easy. Unless you know someone, and they get their kick back.

So my buddy did like alot of people would. He started parting them out. Once the engine is removed, you do not need a title or paperwork to dispose of the vehical.

On the trailer, in Ohio, you don't need any paper work to register or tag a home built trailer. My buddy bartered for everything on it, from the axles to the 1/4 diamond plate decking. He did all the fabercation, wiring, welding, and painting. He never figured he would need a reciept.

Heck for that matter 90% of the parts I buy used I don't get a reciept for them. That includes what I get at swap meets. I give them my Tax ID number, and pay the taxes if I sell or install a part. That's legal here. If I kept paper on everything, I would need 20 filing cabinettes alone just for that. Charles

First of all, that's akin to calling me a thief. Which around here is a good way to get left hanging from a tree. If you want to know where all my knowledge of it comes from it's from working the lagal side of things. Dealing with the Police Driving a Wrecker, impounding stolen cars. Helping them check all stamped & cast Vehical Identifacation Numbers, tracking down parts by casting number to know what years they were produced.

It also stems from rebuilding salvage titled vehicals where you have to prove where every part replaced comes from, and knowing that if your car fails the state inspection for stolen parts, not only will you lose the car. You will be investigated for fraud. Something taken seriously.

I used to have a friend in the Ohio State Highway Patroll who was incharge of a field office tracking stolen cars, and their parts. I can't go around telling you what they do to bust people, then the bad guys would know. If I told you what to look for, then the bad guys know what people are looking for.

If people want to really pull off a good fake. Especially on a F-body, there may only vbe a hand full of people who could spot it in the entire country. I seriously doubt you will ever be that good.

One thing I tried to do subtley was to warn another regular poster not to devolge too much info on how to spot a fake, and not to give any of the idiots out there ideas on making more.

If you think were criminals here, go away and never let me run in to you in person. If you want to cry like a bitch, go find a transtestical's sholder to cry on. Your too dumb to read the books to get the knowledge, your too dumb to be wasting everyones time.

Charles

No paperwork, no deal. Cars that are "hot" tend to stay on that list for a while (hint: forever. LOL).

When I got the Chevy Blazer from my neighbor, I waited till he got the title from the state before I even loosened a screw on it. I had the truck towed because it was in danger of getting disposed of where it was parked. Beyond that, I haven't done anything to it but collect parts for it and now that I have the title, I know I have a legal vehicle.

Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

literature,

I have an 85 S-10 Blazer (2.8 V6/5-speed/2wd), that the owners gave to me. The police ran the vin on it, becuase they came to check me out when I was loading it. They ran the plate, the vin, the tag on the trailer, the tag on the the suburban, the vin on the suburban, my SSN, and Spots SSN. Even called the owner to make sure I had permission to get it.

The owners are crack heads who will not even get out of bed before the DMV closes. They were going to let the police tow it off because it has a cracked block & the body is trashed. So I know it's 100% legit. & I know I will never get a title for it. So Im going to remove what I want, pull the engine, put it in the back of the truck and take it to the crusher. Elsewise I could spend about $200 attempting to get a title. I tried to pay the owners to get one, but that was too much like work for them. Charles

"Charles Bendig" blithering spittal..... boasted..... lagal, Vehical Identifacation, vehicals, Patroll, incharge, vbe, subtley, devolge, were criminals, transtestical's sholder, everyones.....

Yep..... la de da..... tapping fingers..... already knew this.

Never was my intention. The subject of this thread is 'RPO Codes'. To get a grasp on reality, it might help you to go back and (re)read my original posts.

Sorry mister... you're conspicuously dim and too slow for me take seriously or worry about! You might spend some time learning how to spell, punctuate, space and -trim- (dadgummit!) USENET postings.

Phhhhht, SmiteMan

Looks to me like your a dumb c*ck sucker who is looking get get thumped. Plain and simple.

Im a Pro in the automotive trades. Unlike you. I may not post the best posts, but atleast people understand what Im talking about, unlike your drugie sounding ass. Why don't you give up on F-bodies and go back to sucking the glass dick. People like you are too ignorante to legally be allowed to one a car, let alone a F-body. Charles

Sounds like a mess to me Charles :). I'd get the title for it no problem here in NYS :) Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...