How would I go about finding my RPO codes, my car is missing the build sheet and the RPO sticker in the console. Could I go to a dealer ship to find out or what

 

The Dealership MIGHT have the info - DOUBTFUL, but possible

You may have to invest in a packet from PHS, or get your Dealer invoice from GM...

John

 

You can do neither of the aformentioned things.. My 83 came without the RPO code list.. You can get a restore packet for that year of camaro and it will tell you the options available for your car, But you will not ever be able to find out exactly what YOUR car had on it. They do not keep the records for cars over 10+ years old. They are all filed away and forgotten (especially since when the late 80's cars were built everything was pen and paper, no computer inventory stuff really)

I was told this By GM head office.... You could maybe go to the original dealer where the car was originally purchased and try.. but most places are only required to keep records for 7 years, after that they start cleaning things out. They can not even tell you anything about the car from the VIN number (since they just punch it into thier computer and nothing comes up).

The best you can do if you are tring to restore it is to get a restoration pack, and use the possible option codes on it for that car, and build it up with all the available options for that model, or build it down to the the base car (or somewhere in between)

I know. Not much help. But GM was even less help when i was trying to do the same thing 6 months ago.

 

What? Pen and paper? lol
Sounds like someone just didnt want to talk to you. Even my 84's build sheet was a computer printout.

Call PHS, GM, and talk to a dealer. You might be surprised what you can find out.

 

An on the fly build sheet is eay to print.. but whether or not it saved the data is a completely different story. just think about it.. they had several thousand cars run through the lines.. and there really were not what you would call HDD back then to save the info.. And I doubt they would waste several thousand 520KB 5 1/4" floppies to save the information for it. The best thing you could get for a HDD back then was something the size of a washing machine with platters that were about 24 inches across stated on top of each other 6 deep.... and those did not even hold alot of information. lol. But no.. They do not keep records handy for our cars. You can call allllll you want lol. I mean if it was in a databse somewhere you think they would just make it available through the net since there are alot of restoration shops that would love that information for cars. (and it is really easy to integrate an exsisting database into a dynamic website)

 

To be honest they have been using Computers in GM since the late 70's, My Grandmothr (yes you read that right) used to run a computer at Fisher Body.

As for Pontiacs records, much of it is still in raw data, I was told that it WAS paper only, but recently it was transferred to a disc but it has not yet been dis-assembled.

In 1984 the RPO sheets were printed by COMPUTER, and although it may seem hard to believe, the information is out there some where, but finding someone with access to it and getting it is complecated. Keep in mind thats partially why they went to RPO codes in the first place, its to keep the list short as possible. Imagine a SPID sheet that has all the options speleld out, it would be interesting, but a waste of paper. Back in the day a 4 MB hard drive should have been able to keep all the firebird and Camaro information with their options for an entire year. Yes an 4MB HD was probably $1000 in the day, but to GM thats a drop in the bucket.

John

 

I got a copy of the dealer invoice for my 86 in 1995 so dont tell me it wasnt available at a later date, I have proof otherwise. GM did and does keep things. Getting them is another story, but if you just assume its impossible then thats exactly what it will be.

Post from a couple years ago... almost, anyway
https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...dealer+invoice

 

Yeah I am looking to restore my 86 Trans Ams to show room condition since I am getting a 87 Trans Am to modify. I this is probly a dumb question what is PHS? do they have a web site

 

PHS = Pontiac Historical Services

http://www.phs-online.com/

 

I do remember saying that they only kept them available for 10 years... if you have an 86 and got it in 95.. you got is 9 years after production so then it of course would have been available.. trying to get is almost 20 yaers later is a bit different story.

 

I got 3 dealer invoices for my 87s last year.

I think there is a big hole in your bucket.

John