4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY JEEP · FULL-SIZE JEEP (SJ) · CHASSIS NUMBERS

Marque · Full-size Jeep (SJ) · chassis numbers

Jeep Full-size Jeep (SJ) chassis numbers

The Wagoneer, Cherokee SJ and J-trucks were numbered by Kaiser Jeep’s prefixed serials to 1971, by the 13-character AMC number of 1972–80 and by the 17-character VIN from 1981; the model numbers 14 to 18 (wagons) and 25, 26, 45 and 46 (trucks) identify them in the AMC system. [1][2][3]

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Where to find it

Plate on the driver’s door pillar or dash (1963–71), the dash plate visible through the windscreen from 1972, and the frame stamp on the right-hand frame rail.

How to read it

1963–1971 (Kaiser Jeep)Prefix + serial
A four-digit chassis and series code with a serial, in the pattern of the CJs (the 1963 Wagoneer used the 14xx codes).
1972–198013-character Jeep number
  • 1 J = Jeep Corporation
  • 2 model year (2 = 1972 … 9 = 1979, 0 = 1980)
  • 3 plant, transmission and drive (A = Toledo automatic, F = Toledo three-speed, M = Toledo four-speed, N = Toledo four-speed right-hand drive)
  • 4–5 model (83 = CJ-5, 84 = CJ-6, 93 = CJ-7 from 1976, 14 = Wagoneer, 15 = Custom Wagoneer, 16 = Cherokee, 17 = Cherokee S/Chief, 18 = Cherokee four-door, 25 = J-10 119-inch truck, 26 = J-10 131-inch, 45/46 = J-20)
  • 6 body and gross weight (1972–74: 5 = open body; 1975–80: A = 3,750 lb CJ, E = 4,150 lb CJ, N = 6,200–6,500 lb trucks and wagons, and other letters by model)
  • 7 engine (A = 258 six, E = 232 six, H = 304 V8, N = 360 two-barrel, P = 360 four-barrel, Z = 401 V8)
  • 8–13 serial (9–13 in 1972–74, when position 7 was the gross weight and 8 the engine)
1981–199117-character VIN
  • WMI 1JC (AMC, 1981–87) then 1J4 (Chrysler, 1988–91); positions 4–8 code transmission, gross weight, model (the Grand Wagoneer as 15/16 series wagons, the J-10 and J-20 trucks) and engine
  • 9 check digit
  • 10 model year letter
  • 11 plant (T = Toledo)
  • 12–17 serial

Prefixes

Prefix or codeMeans
J…14…Wagoneer (1972–80)
J…15…Custom Wagoneer
J…16…Cherokee
J…17…Cherokee S / Chief
J…18…Cherokee four-door
J…25…J-10 119-inch truck
J…26…J-10 131-inch
J…45… / 46…J-20 truck
1JC…AMC-era VIN, 1981–87
1J4…Chrysler-era VIN, 1988–91

Examples

J7A17NN…
The form of a 1977 Cherokee Chief number: J Jeep, 7 = 1977, A Toledo automatic, 17 Cherokee S/Chief, N the gross-weight class, N the 360 two-barrel V8, then the serial (composed from the code tables; no particular vehicle).

Sources

  1. 11972–80 Jeep VIN decodingTom 'Oljeep' Collins · accessed 2026-09-22
  2. 2Jeep VIN decoder 1972–1980Offroaders.com · accessed 2026-09-22
  3. 3Vehicle identification numberWikipedia · accessed 2026-09-22

The numbers are as the sources cited above record them — the parts trade's frame-number charts, the clubs' transcriptions of the makers' bulletins and the enthusiast decoders; a blank cell means no number is recorded. Registry research, not a factory record — check the vehicle's plate and the maker's build record before relying on a range. Corrections through the suggestion form.