engine id prefix codes

[tls3028]

I am certain that this has been broached before but I am in the process of buying a 73. Just sold the 70. I can find web site after web site that goes into the engine id suffixes, but not the prefix plant codes. I saw a post somewhere on a chevelle site that said that the V that starts my engine id stands for flint. I hope so. I cannot find a site that lists the code letters for the flint and tona???? plants. Anyone have this link at hand? Thanks for your help.

 

[GerryLP]

I am certain that this has been broached before but I am in the process of buying a 73. Just sold the 70. I can find web site after web site that goes into the engine id suffixes, but not the prefix plant codes. I saw a post somewhere on a chevelle site that said that the V that starts my engine id stands for flint. I hope so. I cannot find a site that lists the code letters for the flint and tona???? plants. Anyone have this link at hand? Thanks for your help.

V and F stand for "Flint, Michigan". The two first digits after that are your month and the next two are your day of the month. The last 3 (sometimes two) letters are your short block designation (which is tied to the RPO codes).

 

[JohnZ]

F = Old Flint Motor Plant (6-cylinder only)

F = Flint V-8 plant (from '55-'66)

V = Flint V-8 plant (from '67-up)

T = Tonawanda Engine plant

K = McKinnon Industries (Canada)

The last 2 or 3 characters aren't the "short-block" code; they're the code for the finished engine configuration and vehicle application. A short-block is just the block, crank, rods and pistons, with rings and bearings.

 

[GerryLP]

...
The last 2 or 3 characters aren't the "short-block" code; they're the code for the finished engine configuration and vehicle application. A short-block is just the block, crank, rods and pistons, with rings and bearings.

I apologize folks. I shouldn't have call them the "short block designation". I muddled my post.:ugh

No, of course, the suffix is referred as the "engine code" which is at the end of the engine production code.

What I meant to say, when my fingers thought they heard what my mind was "thinking aloud" .:eyerole..was that the engine code sometimes repeats in certain years for a particular series of cars. However, the output or performance on two separate production engines with the same "engine code" would be different (i.e. bottom end configuration of components, or maybe even induction/exhaust system configuration). For example the venerable L82. some L82 engine codes repeat in at least one other year, and the output of the engine associated for those two production years can be rather different. This implies perhaps a lower compression ratio, and different tuning, or even a different configuration for certain components.


Thanks for alerting me about this.

 

[tls3028]

F = Old Flint Motor Plant (6-cylinder only)

F = Flint V-8 plant (from '55-'66)

V = Flint V-8 plant (from '67-up)

T = Tonawanda Engine plant

K = McKinnon Industries (Canada)

The last 2 or 3 characters aren't the "short-block" code; they're the code for the finished engine configuration and vehicle application. A short-block is just the block, crank, rods and pistons, with rings and bearings.

I thank you for your help. I am breathing a sigh of relief!
tls

 

[tls3028]

F = Old Flint Motor Plant (6-cylinder only)

F = Flint V-8 plant (from '55-'66)

V = Flint V-8 plant (from '67-up)

T = Tonawanda Engine plant

K = McKinnon Industries (Canada)

The last 2 or 3 characters aren't the "short-block" code; they're the code for the finished engine configuration and vehicle application. A short-block is just the block, crank, rods and pistons, with rings and bearings.

I thank you for your help. I am breathing a sigh of relief!
tls

 

[ducster900]

Anyone who can tell me what to read from this?

This is from my non original engine, a small block, according to the cast ID number it´s a 350 from about 1977-79.

 

[GerryLP]

Anyone who can tell me what to read from this?
...[image]...This is from my non original engine, a small block, according to the cast ID number it´s a 350 from about 1977-79.

The pad certainly looks a little over 1-1/2", and that was typical with the mid 70's large journal engine blocks...but the number "800" has me a bit puzzled...:confused. I thought I read somewhere that when engine blocks had a number for a suffix, that they were warranty replacement engines, but I can't recall where I read it. ...JohnZ????

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Anyone who can tell me what to read from this?



This is from my non original engine, a small block, according to the cast ID number it´s a 350 from about 1977-79.

The 800 usually means that it's a Targetmaster over the counter crate engine. Note the blue paint underneath the orange and the 'skinny' stamp pad. Both confirm this as late 70s- early 80s.