I’m trying to figure out how to decode the last line of the cowl tag on Van Nuys build cars for early thirdgens, the DBWNS.

First off, does anyone know what they mean?

If people post what they have maybe we can get enough data to draw some conclusions.

Here is what I know: the D B W N S is always in the same order but all the letters are not always there. Some car have “D S” some have “D W N S” and so on. My service manual says this space is for options (plant use).

Here is what I assume: these relate to body options. I doubt they have to do with T-tops or seats because those options are listed on the cowl tag already but I included them anyway.

I would really like to see some data from cars with iron dukes or manual trannys.

I included my data below.

The first line is the code from the cowl, again, Van Nuys cars only.
The rest of the lines are pretty straight forward. If you think of anything I missed add it. Since this is a body plate I didn’t include options like radio or tire or performance options and if I didn’t know if a car had an option, I left it blank.

If you decide to post data try to keep the same format, but anything helps.


Car 1

0.code = DS
1.Model = T/A
2.Year = 82
3.T-tops = yes
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = no
8.locking fuel door = no
9.Hood(standard/turbo) = turbo
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna = no
12.A/C = yes
13.rear defroster = no
14.seats type = deluxe
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = no
17.rear shade = no


Car 2

0.code = DWNS
1.Model = S/E
2.Year = 82
3.T-tops = yes
4.V8 = no
5.V6 = yes
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = yes
8.locking fuel door = yes
9.Hood (standard/turbo) = Standard
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna =
12.A/C = yes
13.rear defroster = no
14.seats type = deluxe
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = yes
17.rear shade = no

Car 3

0.code = DN
1.Model = S/E
2.Year = 83
3.T-tops = yes
4.V8 = no
5.V6 = yes
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = no
8.locking fuel door = yes
9.Hood (standard/turbo) = standard
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna = yes
12.A/C = yes
13.rear defroster = yes
14.seats type = deluxe
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = yes
17.rear shade = no


Car 4

0.code = DBWNS
1.Model = T/A Recaro
2.Year = 82
3.T-tops = yes
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = yes
8.locking fuel door =
9.Hood (standard/turbo) = turbo
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna = yes
12.A/C = yes
13.rear defroster = yes
14.seats type = Recaro
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = yes
17.rear shade = yes

Car 5

0.code = DS
1.Model = Z28 pace car
2.Year = 82
3.T-tops = yes
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = no
8.locking fuel door =
9.Hood (standard/turbo) = turbo
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna =
12.A/C = yes
13.rear defroster = no
14.seats type = deluxe
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch =
17.rear shade = no

 

0.code = DS
1.Model = Z28
2.Year = 84
3.T-tops = no
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = no
8.locking fuel door = no
9.Hood(standard/turbo) = Z28
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna = yes
12.A/C = no
13.rear defroster = yes
14.seats type = deluxe
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = yes
17.rear shade = yes

 

0.code = DBS
1.Model = Z28
2.Year = 82
3.T-tops = no
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = no
8.locking fuel door = no
9.Hood(standard/turbo) = Z28
10.Transmission = MM4
11.Power antenna = no
12.A/C = no
13.rear defroster = yes
14.seats type = AR9 cloth
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = no
17.rear shade = no

 

Here is what I’m thinking so far.

D - All the cars I’ve seen have had a D

B - is for the rear defroster

W - is for the rear wiper

N - locking fuel door or power antenna

S - All the 82 cars I have seen have had an S

Need more data, anyone with 4-cylender cars care to post?

 

I think D may be for a rear spoiler

 

S may be for the tails light lenses. S if you have the smoke or darker ones. No S for the base or standard ones.

Trans Am, S/E and Z28 came with smoked lenses standard.

 

Can't be for power antenna, anyway.

 

z28 has black bar across taillights, not smoked lenses

never seen smoked lense camaro cept for like 91 92

i could put my 82 trans am on here too if i might help, its LG4 auto

 

Not every year. 82-84 had the separation between top and bottom, but no black bar.

 

I’m not as knowledgeable regarding the Camaro but there where two different lens available, right? The ones without the black stripe and the one with the stripe.

I believe the lenses without the stripe where on the base Camaro and the lenses with the stripe where on the Berlinetta and Z28, at least this is what I can tell from surfing ebay this morning. Can anyone confirm it?

Fast68 – The more data the better, If you could add it that would be great.

 

wildjeff:

If you want to figure out the meaning behind the letters "D B W N S", you will have to turn your survey to listing various parts of the interior. With the interior color code, i.e. 18- Charcoal, the letters indicate the "Interior Trim Combination Type and Design Level".

You will want to know the following:

Interior color code
Seats and material type?
Rear hatch cover?
Carpeted rear side panels?
Carpeted kick panels?
Locking rear cargo compartment?
Door panels - vinyl & carpet? vinyl, cloth, & carpet?
Power windows? If yes, do door panels have the window crank hole with medallion?
T-Tops?
Rear window wiper?

List the last 2, as they have different trim panels.

You can skip 8-12 & 15 on your list as they not relevent.

 

In 82-84, the Z28 receieved the tailights with the black seperation bar. The Berlinetta received a raised gold moulding where the black bar is. The SC or base cars got plain lenses.

 

ill add the 82 t/a here if it will help somehow

 

1982 van nuys trans am

DS
0.code = DS
1.Model = t/a
2.Year = 82
3.T-tops = no
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.Inline 4 = no
7.Rear Wiper = no
8.locking fuel door = no
9.Hood (standard/turbo) = standard
10.Transmission = auto
11.Power antenna = yes
12.A/C = yes
13.rear defroster = no
14.seats type = deluxe
15.rear spoiler = yes
16.power hatch = yes
17.rear shade = yes

C 028 2fs87 L 511961
64d 19l 19u
ar9
d s 054370

 

same difference

bar= paint

 

Scottmoyer is right the Berlinetta had a gold bar with Berlinetta script on the outside edge of the right tailight,Z had a black divider stripe and the base lamps were solid(all variations on the same hsg.
Mine is as follows for my '83 Van Nuys Z/28;
Interior Trim # 64C med doeskin - cloth upper/carpeted lower door panels w/carpeted kick panels,non carpeted rear side panels,no locking storage well.
Another thing was the pwr seat an option in '83.My driver seat is not original and there's an orange/white electrical connector under the seat.Would this be for the pwr seat or for the seat belt monitor? - I'm sorry I don't have a wiring diagram yet.

Code = D S
1.Model = Z28
2.year = 1982
3.T-tops = yes
4.V8 = yes
5.V6 = no
6.I4 = no
7.Rear wiper = no
8.Locking fuel door = no
9.Hood(standard/turbo) = Z28 functional fiberglass
10.Transmission = Auto(MM4 is for the 700R4 correct?)
11.Power Antenna = no
12.A/C = yes
13.Rear Defrost = yes
14.seat type = deluxe
15.rear Spoiler = yes
16.Power Hatch = yes
17.Rear Shade = no(interior security shade or exterior louvers)

Does this help or is there something else I should look for.

 

A poll would have been a good idea, not sure how it would work in this case but I’ll have to remember there is that option for next time.

coolram2 - the white/orange connector is for the power seats. The seat belt monitor is build into the seat belt buckle, on my car it’s a black wire coming out of the buckle. Is your rear hatch original? You have a rear defroster but no B on your cowl tag is that right?

Every car I have seen has had an S. Maybe S is for the thirdgens are cool option

I still think D is for the rear spoiler and W is for the wiper and I though B was for the rear defroster until the last post. And as for N, not a clue. Maybe side molding. I’m hoping they don’t have different meanings for Firebirds and Camaros.

 

Thankyou wildjeff that adds one more RPO to what seems to be a long list for my 83.I was hoping the orange/white connector was for pwr seat.I hadn't thought about the belt warning light connector being part of the female buckle assembly.
The hatch is original as far as I can tell and no B on the trim tag but yes to the defroster.
She does have the body side moldings also.Just thought I'd add that to confuse things more.But then GM would throw things like floor mats and body side moldings in the same option group at times.
My cowl tag has a character in the first line right before FP87 that looks like an upside capital T.Is this common?

 

That upside capital T is the number 1 for 1FP87, which is the model code for the Z/28.

 

You must have missed my above post. The letters are interior trim related ONLY.


1FP87 on the cowl plate only means that it is a Camaro Model, not which specific model. Just as you will find 2FS87 on the cowl plate of every Firebird model, whether it is a Firebird, Trans Am, or SE

 

Good catch on 1FP87. Letters are interior trim related; well all cars got bucket seats so maybe S is for bucket seats. I have seen a Recaro cowl tag with S so maybe Recaro seats are considered bucket seats too.

 

i still need to add my 82 t/a but its uhmm literally impossible to get to it without a hammer and crowbar and some destruction with how its being stored right now heh,

 

What years had a cowl tag?? Anybody have a pic of one??

 

here


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...g?d=1052424424


https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...g?d=1133406244