Body Plate Decoding, 1977-Present

Body Plate Decoding, 1977-Present

The body plate is on the left front fender side shield, wheel housing or left side
of upper radiator support. It includes schedule, date, body type, engine code, transmission code, tire code, trim code and paint codes. The service manual is conspicuously unclear
about the placement of some characters, or whether or not Row 1 is at the top or
at the bottom of the Body Code plate. It directly contradicts itself more
than once. If anyone has corrections to this data based on another
reliable source, please contact the webmaster.

1977-1980 Mopar Body Code Plates (6 x 23):


Prior to 1977, the engine code, transmission code, and VIN number were located on the bottom row.

1980-1999 Mopar Body Code Plates (7 x 23):


According to the 1987 Service Manual, lines 4 through 7 (bottom to top)
was sometimes long enough to require a second body code plate
to overlap the first. When there is an SEC code to be punched on the body code plate and there is not enough room left on a line to punch the full 6 digits of the SEC code, the balance of that line will be left blank and the SEC code will be punched on the next line. The last nine positions of line 7 will contain a two digit species, when applicable, and a six digit gateline sequence number. The last code shown on either plate will be followed by "END." When two plates are required, the last code space on the first plate will show "CTD" (for continued). When second plate is required, the first four spaces of each line will not be used due to overlap of plates.

2000s Body Plates

There are seven lines of information on the body code plate. Lines 4, 5, 6, 7 are not used to define service information. Information reads from left to right, starting with line 3 in the center of the plate to line 1 at the bottom. In the 2000s, the body code plates had different patterns for cars, trucks, and vans. The order for cars was: vehicle order number, vinyl roof, carline shell, paint procedure, primary paint, secondary paint, interior trim code, engine code, transmission code, market code, and VIN number. For vans the order was: vehicle order number, vehicle shell line, carline, price class, body type, paint procedure, primary color, secondary color, interior trim code, engine code, transmission code, market code, and VIN number. For trucks the general order was: vehicle order number, carline shell, price class, body type, paint procedure, primary paint, secondary paint, interior trim code, engine code, transmission code, market code, VIN, body-in-white assembly sequence, and cargo box code. The exact order may differ from vehicle to vehicle (see below for specific vehicles and examples). The market code, price class, paint procedure and carline had the same codes for all three types of vehicle.

2005 Ram Pickups Body Code Plate


Car Line Shell: DR1 = 1500 4 X 2, DR6 = 1500 4 X 4, DR2 = 2500 4 X 2, DR7 = 2500 4 X 4, DR3 = 3500 4 X 2, DR8 = 3500 4 X 4

2005 Stratus/Avenger/Sebring and LX cars Body Code Plate

On the 2005 Stratus/Avenger/Sebring, the body code plate is located in the engine compartment on the driver side strut tower. On 2005 LX cars, the body code plate is located in the engine compartment on the front right side shock tower mounting front panel.

2004 Dakota Body Code Plate


Cargo Box Code: XBS = Sweptline

Car Line Shell: AN1 = Dakota 4 X 2, AN5 = Dakota 4 X 4

2000-2005 Minivan Body Code Plate

The body code plate in 2005 minivans is located in the engine compartment on the radiator closure panel crossmember.


Vehicle Shell Line: RS

Carline: FWD: H = Plymouth, K = Dodge, Y = Chrysler; AWD: C = Chrysler, D = Dodge, P = Plymouth

Price Class: H = highline, L = lowline, P = premium, S = luxury, X= premium

Body Type

These are the body types for the specific vehicles listed above:

• 41 = Ram Truck Quad Cab, Short Box
• 42 = Ram Truck Quad Cab, Long Box
• 61 = Ram Truck Standard Cab, Long Box
• 62 = Ram Truck Standard Cab, Long Box
• 64 = Ram Truck Cab Chassis
• 48 = Four Door Sedan Tall
• 49 = Hatchback Tall
• 31 = Dakota Club Cab (130.9 in. wheelbase)
• 61 = Dakota (111.9 in. wheelbase)
• 62 = Dakota (123.9 in. wheelbase)
• 52 = Short wheelbase
• 53 = Long wheelbase

Engine Codes

Transmission Codes

For Chrysler built automatics, "E" at the end signifies electronic control; "R" in front indicates rear wheel drive usage; "T" in front indicates transverse mounting; "H" at end indicates hydraulic control; "L" in middle indicates longitudinal engine mounting. VLP indicates variable line pressure.