What is a GM build sheet?

A build sheet is General Motors' own factory assembly record for a specific VIN. It lists the RPO (Regular Production Option) codes the vehicle was built with — every package, individual option, paint and trim selection, axle ratio, and equipment group — exactly as it left the plant.

Where a window sticker is written for the buyer with plain descriptions and pricing, the build sheet is the underlying code-level truth. It's the most reliable way to confirm how a used Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, or GMC was originally configured, long after the original paperwork is gone.

Window sticker vs. build sheet

Newer GM vehicles (roughly 2020 and later) usually have the original window sticker PDF on file — the Monroney label with standard and optional equipment, fuel economy, warranty, and the full MSRP breakdown.

When a window sticker isn't on file, this tool automatically falls back to the build sheet: the list of RPO codes with their descriptions. Either way you come away with the factory record of how the vehicle was equipped.

RPO codes explained

Every factory option on a GM vehicle has a three-character RPO code — for example a specific paint, a tow package, a sunroof, or an audio system. These codes are also printed on the label inside the glovebox or spare-tire well.

The build sheet pairs each code with a readable description, so you can translate a glovebox full of codes into the actual packages and features the vehicle carries. That makes it easy to verify a seller's claims or settle exactly which options are factory.

Does adding this option require programming or just hardware?

Transmission & Drivetrain · 2020 Cadillac Escalade · 987 views · 2 replies

21 — Rear axle ratio: 6.83:1. This value describes the final-drive gearing between the driveshaft and the driven wheels. Browse RPO codes →

Adam C. Jul 17, 2024 · New York

I am researching whether the 21 configuration can be added to a 2020 Cadillac Escalade. The code is described as “Rear axle ratio: 6.83:1. This value describes the final-drive gearing between the driveshaft and the driven wheels” I am not looking for a shortcut; I want to know what must be verified before buying parts.

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2 replies

Megan Y. Jul 21, 2024

I would start by checking the original build sheet and then compare the physical equipment on the vehicle. A sales or option code confirms the factory record, but it does not prove that every original component is still installed.

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Jason M. Jul 22, 2024

Check the production month as well as the model year. Mid-year changes are one reason two vehicles with the same badge can have different hardware or descriptions.

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