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How to Identify GM Small Blocks

In 1955, the Chevrolet division of General Motors developed the companys first small block V-8 engine. The initial 1955 265-cubic-inch V-8 motor produced 180 horsepower and quickly became popular among consumers. Further developments to the engine included increased displacement, fuel injection, enhanced cylinder head designs and intake configurations. Due to the wide variety of applications of this engine, identifying your particular small block Chevy is important when ordering replacement parts or gaining specifications information

Instructions

1

Open the vehicles hood and examine the engine compartment from the passenger side.

2

Find the engine code stamped on the upper portion of the engine block, below the cylinder head, near the mounting bracket for the alternator. The engine code consists of eight numbers and letters that will provide pertinent information about the engine.

3

Write the engine code down on a piece of paper.

4

Examine the first letter in the code. The first letter determines the manufacturing plants location. The second, third, fourth and fifth number positions in the code signify the day and month of manufacture.

5

Examine the remaining two or three-letter block of code. The block of letters at the end of the code represent the engines displacement, horsepower rating, specific vehicle application and fuel induction type.

6

Decode the first letter of the code using an online Chevy Engine Code Information Web page. Scroll down and click on the appropriate code suffix link, under the "Small Block Engine Suffix Code Menu" heading.

7

Locate the matching suffix code on the Web page to gain specific information concerning the engine. You also have the option of contacting the service department at a local Chevrolet dealer. Ask the service department representative to provide information regarding the engine code.