RPO Codes...The only installed options?

[shambles]

Hello,

Were the RPO codes on the SPID the only options a truck would have had from the factory? The Reason I ask, is My truck has power Steering, but that's not one of the original RPO Code options. I would assume at some point someone had added it later? Not sure the previous owner ever got it working. The pulleys don't line up. The high pressure hose is really long too.

My truck doesn't have many options actually.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by shambles

Were the RPO codes on the SPID the only options a truck would have had from the factory?

Yes.








Mostly.

Some caveats would be:

a) Sometimes the "merchandised" option will show on the SPID, not the "nonmerchandised" option. Example: if you told the dealer you wanted "power brakes" then J50 would appear on the SPID. The engineering charts would then choose the correct sub-category of brake detail based on model and GVW (ie, JB5, JB6, etc), which is really what a person would be interested in knowing. Similarly, whoever ordered your truck said "I want the three on the tree". That appears on the SPID as MM3, but the actual trans RPO would be M62 or M64 depending on which first gear ratio was required.

b) If you chose the base ratio for the rear axle (or did not choose a rear axle ratio) then the RPO GQ1 "Base Axle Ratio" would appear on the SPID (or not), regardless of what the numerical ratio is (because it changes based on other considerations). If you choose an optional ratio then the actual specific RPO appears on the SPID (ie, GU6=3.42, GT4=3.73, etc).

c) Trim packages might appear on the SPID, but not the individual RPOs that make up the trim package. For example, you might want the uplevel grille RPO V22 and the chrome side trim B85 and RPO B96 wheel opening moldings, but together they might be combined and appear on the SPID as a YG3 Deluxe Appearance package.

d) Seasonal and short term special offerings, typically RPO Yxx, (like a spring color, value discount package, or "Coal Miner's Daughter" package), those RPOs get reused and it's really hard 40 or 50 years later to determine what they were talking about or what was included within those.

So - to your specific question - yes. If your truck had power steering originally it would appear on the SPID as RPO N41. Since your truck is just about the cheapest, base level-est truck that could be bought (the only priceable option I see would be the rear axle ratio, which was $38 in 1987; maybe a buck or two for those sexy G78 bias ply blackwall highway tires) it would be a prime candidate for manual steering from the factory.

Sounds like somebody added power steering later.

K

[shambles]

That's what I think too. Weird someone would go to the trouble of adding power steering, then not using it. Like I mentioned the PS Pulley doesn't line up. I guess that's the fun part of buying an old truck is deciphering what a Previous owner did.

[78 Big10 454]

It can be fun, but is usually a nightmare.