Hi, my name is Sean Smith and I just purchased my first turbo Buick, a 1980 Buick Century Limited turbo sedan. I also have a 1957 Special 4-door hardtop. One of my hobbies is Buick decoding (if you've ever posted on the BCA forum you may have seen some of my posts), so I'll start with the decode since people will probably be interested in that.
VIN = 4L693AH158xxx
4 = Buick
L = Century Limited
69 = 4-door notchback sedan
3 = 231 V6 4-bbl turbo (LC8)
A = 1980 model year
H = built at Flint, MI
158xxx = sequential number, range for Flint built A-body Buicks was 100,001 to 263,471
Transmission:
KJ 104 D 80
4AH158xxx (numbers matching transmission)
KJ = TH350
104 = production day built
(assuming model year production started 8/1/79, this would be about Monday 11/12/1979)
D = day shift
80 = 1980 model year
Rear axle:
6RB O 338
6RB = 2.41 open
O = built by Oldsmobile
338 = day built (Tuesday 12/4/1979)
Engine:
04E4BD = engine family number from emissions label = forty-nine state
Engine number & production code = I haven't been able to locate these, might not be able to see
them with engine in the car or without removing some components first?
Body tag:
BODY BY FISHER
80 12A 4AH69 H 128230
79D 76L 76T L
AM6 CB5
80 = 1980 model year
12A = body built December (12) 1979, first week (A)
4AH69 = Fisher body style number
4 = Buick
A = A-body platform
H = Century
69 = 4-door sedan
It's interesting that the Fisher body style number doesn't match the Buick VIN. Not unheard of, happened in 1967 and 1972 as well. Possibly explains why production is reported as a total of 129,740 for 4AH69 with 4AL69 included in that number. I contacted the Sloan Museum to see if they have any production info for 1980 which breaks down the 4AH69/4AL69 split or how many were built with the LC8 option (they said it would take a couple of weeks to get to my request, so I'll report back later). 4AL69 was 4AH69 with option W07, so maybe that has something to do with it too. (Update: see post #6 below for production data supplied by Sloan museum.)
H = built at Flint, MI
128230 = body number
Trim 79D = Dark Claret Cloth
Paint code 76L = Dark Red (Claret) Metallic lower
76T = Dark Claret vinyl top
L = lacquer paint
Option codes from body tag:
AM6 = SEAT ASM, FRT SPLIT W/CTR ARM REST (55/45)
CB5 = ROOF, VINYL PADDED, FULL TOP
Other options it has:
C60 = manual air conditioner - don't know if it is working because belt is not hooked up
C49 = electric rear window defogger - switch on dash isn't working
UN3 = AM/FM stereo w/cassette tape - not working (probably need to replace front speakers too)
U81 = dual rear speakers - need replaced
AU3 = electric door locks - some work, some don't
A90 = electric trunk release - works, but support rods needs replaced
WG1 = 6-way power driver seat - forward/back movement works only intermittently
N41 = power steering
A31 = power windows (w/ power rear vents) - some work, some don't
K30 = cruise control - not working
U35 = electric clock - working
CD4 = two speed windshield wiper w/delay - works, but runs slow
C90 = door courtesy & warning lamp - working
C95 = dome reading light - not working, entire unit needs replaced
T63 = headlamps on indicator - working
U23 = trim odometer
U46 = front light monitors (fiber optic) - not working, just need cleaned?
DF3 + D33 = remote controlled mirrors R and L - passenger side not working correctly
D64 = lighted passenger sun visor vanity mirror - not working
B96 = wheel opening moldings
WF6 = wide rocker panel & belt reveal molding
AK1 = front and rear seat belts and front shoulder belts - all need replaced
D24 = litter pocket
N33 = tilt steering column
V31 = front bumper guards
VIN = 4L693AH158xxx
4 = Buick
L = Century Limited
69 = 4-door notchback sedan
3 = 231 V6 4-bbl turbo (LC8)
A = 1980 model year
H = built at Flint, MI
158xxx = sequential number, range for Flint built A-body Buicks was 100,001 to 263,471
Transmission:
KJ 104 D 80
4AH158xxx (numbers matching transmission)
KJ = TH350
104 = production day built
(assuming model year production started 8/1/79, this would be about Monday 11/12/1979)
D = day shift
80 = 1980 model year
Rear axle:
6RB O 338
6RB = 2.41 open
O = built by Oldsmobile
338 = day built (Tuesday 12/4/1979)
Engine:
04E4BD = engine family number from emissions label = forty-nine state
Engine number & production code = I haven't been able to locate these, might not be able to see
them with engine in the car or without removing some components first?
Body tag:
BODY BY FISHER
80 12A 4AH69 H 128230
79D 76L 76T L
AM6 CB5
80 = 1980 model year
12A = body built December (12) 1979, first week (A)
4AH69 = Fisher body style number
4 = Buick
A = A-body platform
H = Century
69 = 4-door sedan
It's interesting that the Fisher body style number doesn't match the Buick VIN. Not unheard of, happened in 1967 and 1972 as well. Possibly explains why production is reported as a total of 129,740 for 4AH69 with 4AL69 included in that number. I contacted the Sloan Museum to see if they have any production info for 1980 which breaks down the 4AH69/4AL69 split or how many were built with the LC8 option (they said it would take a couple of weeks to get to my request, so I'll report back later). 4AL69 was 4AH69 with option W07, so maybe that has something to do with it too. (Update: see post #6 below for production data supplied by Sloan museum.)
H = built at Flint, MI
128230 = body number
Trim 79D = Dark Claret Cloth
Paint code 76L = Dark Red (Claret) Metallic lower
76T = Dark Claret vinyl top
L = lacquer paint
Option codes from body tag:
AM6 = SEAT ASM, FRT SPLIT W/CTR ARM REST (55/45)
CB5 = ROOF, VINYL PADDED, FULL TOP
Other options it has:
C60 = manual air conditioner - don't know if it is working because belt is not hooked up
C49 = electric rear window defogger - switch on dash isn't working
UN3 = AM/FM stereo w/cassette tape - not working (probably need to replace front speakers too)
U81 = dual rear speakers - need replaced
AU3 = electric door locks - some work, some don't
A90 = electric trunk release - works, but support rods needs replaced
WG1 = 6-way power driver seat - forward/back movement works only intermittently
N41 = power steering
A31 = power windows (w/ power rear vents) - some work, some don't
K30 = cruise control - not working
U35 = electric clock - working
CD4 = two speed windshield wiper w/delay - works, but runs slow
C90 = door courtesy & warning lamp - working
C95 = dome reading light - not working, entire unit needs replaced
T63 = headlamps on indicator - working
U23 = trim odometer
U46 = front light monitors (fiber optic) - not working, just need cleaned?
DF3 + D33 = remote controlled mirrors R and L - passenger side not working correctly
D64 = lighted passenger sun visor vanity mirror - not working
B96 = wheel opening moldings
WF6 = wide rocker panel & belt reveal molding
AK1 = front and rear seat belts and front shoulder belts - all need replaced
D24 = litter pocket
N33 = tilt steering column
V31 = front bumper guards
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