What size V8 is this?

[Paiste402]

i just got this old VB Wagon, the SL model with a V8.

i suspecting that its the 4.2 but im not sure and when it comes to getting new oil filters and spark plugs i wanna get the right ones.

Could any of you blokes be able to help me out?

cheers.

[DANNY8]

I've only just gone through the same thing, finding out what mine was.

The only ways to check what it is, is to get the engine number and post it up (someone should be able to look it up), or look behind the exhaust on the passenger side and in between the 2nd and 3rd welch plug it will have 253 or 308 cast into the block.....or pull the heads of and measure the bore.

Here's some pics the guys on the AussieV8 forums posted up for me.

This shows where it will have the number cast into the block.


And this one shows the engine number. Look just below the first piston.


I'm pretty sure the prefix on my engine number is QR, which turns out is a 253, and QT is a 308.....but not sure if the prefix changes for different cars the motor is in.

[Paiste402]

well i just grabbed my Registration papers and the engine number recorded on it is: VR77178

is that the number thats needed?

[Dose Pipe]

get a torch and look for the casting marks which say what size it is... not that it really matters anyway

[Paiste402]

get a torch and look for the casting marks which say what size it is... not that it really matters anyway

i really cant get down there, also its dirty there so the casting mark is quite unread-albe. I would really like to know what engine is powering my wagon, its always nice to know.

did the 253's come with power steering? cause mine does have a power steering pump.

[Tom_1569]

Its a 253/4.2 litre. The VR prefix is for 253's and VT is for 308's. Hope that clears it all up mate.

[Tom_1569]

.....I'm pretty sure the prefix on my engine number is QR, which turns out is a 253, and QT is a 308..... ....

Correct, except their HQ-WB prefixes, Commdores use VR and VT.

Cheers Tom

[Paiste402]

Its a 253/4.2 litre. The VR prefix is for 253's and VT is for 308's. Hope that clears it all up mate.

ah excellent! thanks mate, i just wanted to know for sure.

would have liked a 308 tho....

[DANNY8]

would have liked a 308 tho....

I feel ur pain.

[SL/ENUT]

Correct, except their HQ-WB prefixes, Commdores use VR and VT.

Cheers Tom

No, HQ-HZ. The WBs use the WR and WT for there engine prefixes.

[Tom_1569]

No, HQ-HZ. The WBs use the WR and WT for there engine prefixes.

Correct, sorry long afternoon.

[Paiste402]

Correct, sorry long afternoon.

so my engine is not deffinatly a 4.2? man i really need to get to the back of mine and see the numbers near the manifold

[Tom_1569]

No your engine is a 4.2, no more questions about it.
I was corrected on the HQ-WB engine codes, as they are actually only HQ-HZ. But The commodore ones are all correct, and your engine being a VR prefix is a 4.2/253, unless it has been changed and your RTA not notified, you will have to make that judgement for yourself though.

[Paiste402]

na i always thought it was a 4.2. i have drove a 308 and this 253 doesnt go as silly as that 308.

thanks everyone. sorted me out!

[Trav001]

I just checked my 2 253 blocks and the engine number on one starts with ZR and the other is HR, whats this mean, and what car are these likley to be out of?

[Tom_1569]

I just checked my 2 253 blocks and the engine number on one starts with ZR and the other is HR, whats this mean, and what car are these likley to be out of?

The HR block is out of a LH or LX torana, you will need the date stamp to work out which one.

The ZR block is out a HZ series.

Cheers Tom

[Trav001]

cheers the HR block has damage so its unusable however the heads off it are good. wheres the date stamp locted on the engine?

sounds like this should be a stickey topic, on how to identifiy your engine. cause i bet thered be lots out there that dont know how.

[Tom_1569]

cheers the HR block has damage so its unusable however the heads off it are good. wheres the date stamp locted on the engine?

sounds like this should be a stickey topic, on how to identifiy your engine. cause i bet thered be lots out there that dont know how.

Sorry mate i cant remember atm lol. From memory its above the oil pump or filter.

but the numbers should be one of these depending on the date.

Early date - "K319" which is 31st of october, year 9 (work out the block to work out the year, in this case the motor was from a HT so its 1969)

Newer date (most likely wat you should have) - 7e5 which is 7th of may, year 5 (in this case its 1975, because its from a hz)

If you work out what im on about, its really a piece of cake, i just cant explain it for ****. Ill do something up after that can go in the wiki or something. If you find your date stamp post it up and ill tell you what it is.

Cheers Tom

[SL/ENUT]

Its above the water pump, the cast date numbers.