HP stamped on block where the numbers 308 should be

[slautr355]

Hi guys and girls im hoping someone on here can shed some light on the engine i recently bought ? Its got the letters HP stamped on block where the numbers 308 should be . The engine number starts with VT**** and i`ve checked on the net and i think its out of a VK ? Any help would be great . Thanks Slautr355

[ari666]

whhaaa?

any chance of pics? has the 308 been ground off it and HP stamped on, or is it embossed the same way that 308 or 5.0 is?

VT engine prefix is VK black 308 usually.

[slautr355]

Yeah champ i`ll go and snap a couple of pics and post them shortly

[karlos]

Thicker webbed block from the HT era.

[vk.jonno]

HP was stamped o the 308 blocks from the HT / HG era.


it is a stronger block casting .... steel crank...
extra webbing around the bellhousing aera ...

you might find a build date is stamped somewhere between the inlet manifold and the water pump (probably in code).


good luck bro

[slautr355]

Can i get your email addy and send them to you coz im having trouble uploading ?

[VK SL 3800]

Yeh but the engine no with a VT prefix is a VK number i thought, my VK 308 is VT something. Could be something special

[SL/ENUT]

VT is the usual Commodore VB-VK engine prefix. However HP where the 308 should, is a HT/HG era.

[VK SL 3800]

Yeh just like HP on a red motor is HD/HR i think wasnt it?

[slautr355]

10122010851.jpg picture by xr81966 - Photobucket

[slautr355]

10122010851.jpg picture by xr81966 - Photobucket

[SL/ENUT]

yeh just like hp on a red motor is hd/hr i think wasnt it?

eh, 179hp.

[slautr355]

I hope the pics worked because the second pic shows the HP letters are stamped on as per factory not after grinding . Does anyone know what this engine is out of please ?

[VK SL 3800]

[ari666]

yeah that VT number has been restamped, companies like GM 5 star deck the shit out of their blocks and go full .060 up when they rebuild them. once the decks are milled they need the engine number redone, but usually they use their own numbers. my mates was UA somethingsomething

so yeah i would be inclined to believe that its what karlos and jonno have said. but with a new number on it. also as mentioned, there should be a date code on the top front of the block which will tell you when it was cast.

[jetboy]

Im with ari666 the date code is needed to identify . Its between the water pump and the intake manifold , First number denotes the day , the letter the month , and the last number the year Eg 5c7 would be 5th march 1987 with the vt prefix , if it had a Q prefix on the engine number it would be 1977 . Just a thort , couldnt it have come out of a Brocky .

[jetboy]

Some info : VK series 1984-1986 V8
5.0l engine, 5.044lt, 1984-1986, 117 kilowatts(manual trans) 121 kilowatts (auto trans), VT 4.9l engine, 4.987lt, (berlina models) 1985-1986, (option LV2) 122 kilowatts(manual trans) 117 kilowatts (auto trans). VA. Police pack.(option V7X, 170kw).VG. HDT. (option V5H, 177kw).VB. (option A9L, 196kw).VC

[SL/ENUT]

Nah, not a brocky. The engine number however looks to be a restamp.

[jetboy]

Yep true not a brocky it would need a VG , VB , or VC preffix

[jetboy]

Oh an btw tht number is definately a restamp , ive a few V8's layin round here an not only are the numbers the wrong size and txt , they all over the place . all of the numbers on my blocks are even an straight as i die .
So we need that date stamp

[slautr355]

[slautr355]

D229 is the date code . Not sure if the pic i just posted worked

[SL/ENUT]

Pic didn't work.

[jetboy]

D229 is the date code . Not sure if the pic i just posted worked

Well there u go , that answers everything . Its been restamped . Finding wht that origionally came out of is gunna be damn near impossible . My guess is an old HG/K/T 22/4/1969 , i searched most the day on this one , an thats my guess .

[slautr355]

Thank you all very much for the info