I have a 1970 El Camino and I am wondering how to decode the cowl tag in the engine compartment. I am going to list below the information below which in on the tag. From left to right and from top to bottom. Hopefully one of you smart El Camino people can help me here.
ST 70 13360 B748851BDY
TR 755 10 BPNT
01C B 0020

the vin# is 136800B138097

My truck has all of the Super Sports emblems and the right gages and tach but I am wondering if it is a true SS. I bought the car with a 502 motor but the person that sold me the truck said it was a 454 with a 400 transmission... I am wondering if within the information I have supplied someone can determine if this is a true SS. I am just a newbie in the El Camino world. Thank You JayBird.

Note: I wrote the wrong number on the first line of the cowl tag. It reads 13360 it should have been 13680. Thanks again for the help...

heres the vin broken down


VIN Number 136800B138097
1 Division 1 - Chevrolet Motor Division
2-3 Model Series 36 - custom El Camino, 8 Cylinder
4-5 Body Style 80 - 2-Door Sedan Pickup
6 Year 0 - 1970
7 Assembly Plant B - Baltimore, Maryland
8-13 Sequence Build Number 138097 - Sequential Build Number

I am not sure that's right because I was researching your cowl tag and I don't see a 13360. It would either be 13480 for a v-8 or 13380 for v-6 which wouldn't match up with the vin.

ST 70 13360 B748851BDY
TR 755 10 BPNT
01C B 0020

trim number 755 is black vinyl bench seats. 10 B is the color of the car,claccic white with black vinyl top. 01C built date,jan. 3rd week 0020,accessory option codes. this tells you if its a SS or not.I know not much help.sorry.:dontknow:

0020,accessory option codes. this tells you if its a SS or not.I know not much help.sorry.:dontknow:Sorry but that is incorrect. 0020 is just part of a internal sequence number used at GM Assembly Division plants. Whats on the tag is a truncated version of the number which was called the Data Processing Sequence Number. They put part or all of the DP SEQ NO on the trim tag to so the workers could identify the body when it came time to pull it from the body bank and release to the final assembly line.

These GMAD plants built multiple car models on the same assembly line, e.g. Chevelle, El Camino, Monte Carlo, Buick Skylark, Olds F85, Pontiac Lemans etc so it was a mjor undertaking to sequence all the right parts to the final line so each car got the correct items installed as it moved down the final assembly line.

I'd say if your interior hasn't been messed with, I'd try to find a build sheet. That's one way for sure to tell you if it is a true SS or not.

The build sheet may be on top of the fuel tank. The only way to tell if it's an SS is if it came originally with the 454 as that engine was only available with the SS package.

Agreed. There is nothing on the third gen that will document it as an SS. The exceptions are the 68' because the SS was a separate model number, and the 72' with a 454. In 72' the engine designation was added to the VIN and the 454 was only available that year with the SS package. All others require a build sheet which may or may not have been left in the car somewhere, as it was trash on the assembly line after the car was built. Some sort of dealer invoice may also show it. The option parts are all bolt on and a lot can change in forty years.

how about someone decoding the cowl tag on an 83 for me please ?
d 04a 1gw80 r 154100
77n 15l 15u L
am6
02 5664

d 04a 1gw80 r 154100
D - Model year 1983
04A - Built date; April, 1st week of
1GW80 - 1=Car Division=Chevrolet; GW=Series=Malibu Classic; 80=Style=2dr Pickup Delivery
R = Assembly code for Arlington Texas Assembly
154100 - Body Serial Number (note-Nothing to do with vin)

77n 15l 15u L
77N - Maroon Vinyl Interior Trim
15L - Lower Body color = Silver Sand Poly
15U - Upper Body color = Silver Sand Poly
L - Type of Paint = Lacquer

am6 - Seat Type Option Code = 55-45 front seat

02 5664 = Internal plant scheduling and processing ident's. Mean nothing once car is built.

thank you. very very much.