Hi folk's. I've tried looking this vin up off my title but cant decipher it after 3 hours now so I'm asking here. The vn is M40CA7T015397 on a 1978 Winnebago Chieftain. Does anyone know what these numbers mean?
The motor casting looks like 400 so I assume its a 400 engine but I'm hearing that the Chieftain didnt have or offer that motor. The vin number shown here is on my title.
Did you double check the VIN right off of the motor home to make sure the title is correct?
As Joan said, check your RV for the VIN number. The number on your title could be the coach VIN number as some states will use either one.
a 13 digit CHASSIS VIN would be for a pre 1981.
1981 to 1987 have a 17 digit CHASSIS VIN
So, it doesn't sound like your title has the chassis VIN on it and the one you provided does not translate at all using the Chevy/GM chassis VIN decoder found on the right side bar block of the Chevy Chassis Board.
What was I thinking? Sorry folks. The 1978 rv Winnebao Chieftain is a Dodge 1977 chassis & the motor casting says 6530-400 hence a 400 engine. I think its a W23, hence 23 ft long. I found the vin plate but it was painted over & barely recognizable. I've got another guy reproducing a matching vin plate.
A 400 was not an engine available. Chieftains had either a Chevy 350 on the 25' model or a 440 on the 26' Dodge model, which you have.
Here's the brochure link: http://winnebagoind.com/resources/brochure/1978/78-ChieftainSportsmansDen-bro.pdf
Also, here's a topic on engine stamp decoding:
http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/forum/index.php/topic,6754.msg28351.html#msg28351
Hhhm, The Winnebago coach vin is stamped #89615 dated 10/77 & the title vin says 1978 # M40CA7T015397 & matches the factory vin plate as well with an M40 model stamped on it. I also know that its a model WDP23RG #10P0J189615. From bumper to bumper it measures exactly 22' 8". The dash & outer emblem says Chieftain. I get that someone changed the engine to a Dodge 400 so just maybe it had a 440 per the vin code, I just don't know. Only a 400 or 440 could bolt up to the same tranny because they are both big blocks. I dont know if either 350 or 360 would adapt. The rv has dual exhaust. Its definitely a Dodge M400 chassis in every way.
Any help is appreciated. I wrote / e-mailed Winnebago with 0 answers.
M40CA7T015397 is a Dodge VIN number http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/Pages_HTML/DodgeVINdecoder.html#1974 (http://www.classicwinnebagos.com/Pages_HTML/DodgeVINdecoder.html#1974)
M4 = M400
0 = Motorhome Chassis
C = 10K - 14Klbs GVW
A = 440-3
7 = 1977 chassis (Winnebago typically placed this years rig (78) on last years chassis (77))
T = Built at Warren Truck #2
015397 = chassis serial number
So, someone swapped out the original 440-3 engine with a 400.
400 engine info can only derived from the data etched into the engine block
Everything else chassis related is a 1977 M400 chassis.
Case closed