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VC engine code in vin number

Trevor loves holden.

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Something a little different, engine number prefix guide for first gen Commodores.

VB-VK
L18-1.9 Starfire=VN (VC and VH only)
LD1-2.85/173=VD
L14-3.3/202 HC=VL
L23-3.3/202 LC=VM(VB Commodore only)
LL9=3.3/202 EFI=VK
L36-4.2/253=VR
L31-5.0/308=VT
L31-5.0/308 V5H=VZ(VH and up to early 1985 VK)
LV2-5.0(4.9)/304=VA(Auto only) (VK only)
LV2-5.0(4.9)/304 V5H=VB(Manual only)(VK only)
LV2-4.9/304=VC (Group A only)(VK only)
V7X-5.0(4.9)=VG (Manual only late 1985)(VK only)

VL.
LF1-3.0 litre 6= 6
LW5-3.0 litre turbo 6=8
LV2-5.0(4.9)/304=VJ
LB9-5.0(4.9)/304=VP(VL SS Group A SV Walkinshaw
LV2-4.9(5.0)/304=VW(VL SS Group A Brock)
 

Trevor loves holden.

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VC Commodore ID plate guide

MODEL:
VC8VK69=VC Commodore L Sedan
VC8VK35=VC Commodore L Wagon
VC8VL69=VC Commodore SL Sedan
VC8VL35=VC Commodore SL Wagon
VC8VX69=VC Commodore SL/E Sedan

After the model code there is often 3 numpers(Not all gained this), these are Option Packs for that car. Following is these Option packs.

VC Commodore L

110- L18(1.9 Starfire), MC6 and 13 inch wheels with wheel trims
111-L18, M40(Trimatic) and 13 inch wheels with wheel trims
112-L18, MC6, 13 inch wheels and wheel trims, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
113-L18, M40, 13 inch wheels and wheel trims, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
114-LD1(2.85), M20(Aussie 4 speed)
115-LD1, M40
116-LD1, M20 vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
117-LD1, M40, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
118-L14(3.3), M40
119-L14, M20, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
120-L14, M40, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
121-L36(4.2), M20, vertical lift drivers seat, wiper dwell control,
122-L36, M40, vertical lift drivers seat, wiper dwell control,
123-L36, M40, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker
124-L36, M20, vertical lift drivers seat, rear retractable seat belts, wiper dwell control, passenger door mirror, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, duel exhaust, stereo radio cassette

VC Commodore SL

220-Same as 110 Pack
221-Same as 111 Pack
222-L18, MC6, 13 inch wheels and wheel trims, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders
223-L18, M40, 13 inch wheels and wheel trims, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders
224-Same as 115 Option Pack
225-Same as 118 Option Pack
226-L14, M20, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders
227-L14, M40, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders
228-L14, M20, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders, headlight washer/wipers, rear disc brakes
229-L14, M40, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders, headlight washer/wipers, rear disc brakes
230-L36, M40, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, bumper over riders,
231-L36, M40, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders, headlight washer/wipers,
232-L36, M20, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders, headlight washer/wipers, rear disc brakes tacho gauge
233-LD1, M20,locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders
234 LD1, M20, locking fuel cap, rear seat speaker, stereo radio cassette, bumper over riders, headlight washer/wipers

VC Commodore SL/E
330-L14, M40
331-L14, M40, rear seat speaker, electric windows, central locking
332-L36, M40
333-L36, M40, rear seat speaker, electric windows, central locking
334-L36, M40, rear seat speaker, electric windows, central locking, cruise control, rear head rests, Shadowtone paint(Not all)
335-L14, M40 rear seat speaker, electric windows, central locking, cruise control, rear head rests, Shadowtone paint(Not all)
336-L31(5.0) rear seat speaker, electric windows, central locking, cruise control, rear head rests, Shadowtone paint(Not all), duel exhaust, tacho gauge

Body number, this is Production Sequence Number, consists of sequence number and plant letter, part the vehicles VIN.
Letter at the end:
M=Melbourne plant
S=Sydney plant
B=Brisbane
A=Adelaide

The first 4 numbers denote combination number for GM-H colour code.
During VC Production Paint codes changed. Some have B-Berger or D-Dulux at the end of the paint number

The two numbers and letters denote below, colour and material
11V=Light Grey Vinyl
11X=Light Grey Cord Cloth and Vinyl
11Y=Light Grey Velour and Vinyl
23V=Light Blue Vinyl
23X=Light Blue Cord Cloth and Vinyl
23Y=Light Blue Velour and Vinyl
33V=Sage Green Vinyl
33X=Sage Green Cord Cloth and Vinyl
33Y=Sage Green Velour and Vinyl
63V=Buckskin Vinyl
63X=Buckskin Cord Cloth and Vinyl
63Y=Buckskin Velour and Vinyl
77V=Carmine Vinyl
77X=Carmine Cord Cloth and Vinyl
77Y=Carmine Velour and Vinyl

ENG: Denotes what motor the car has.
L18-1.9 HC Starfire
LD1=2.85/173
L14=3.3/202HC
L31=5.0/308
L36=4.2/253

TRANS:
Here is the codes for what transmission the car has
MC6=4 Speed Torguremaster
M20= Australian design and built 4 speed(inline 6 and 253 only)
M21= Australian design and built 4 speed(5 litre only)
M40=Trimatic
M38=TH350

RRAXLE:
RR denotes Rear Ratio Axle, diff ratio
G70=2.60
GU7=2.78
GU4=3.08
GV4=3.36
GV7=3.55
GU8=3.90
 

Trevor loves holden.

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The 5th letter on the vin plate, and the first two letters on the engine number match up.

As these letters are the specific engine identifiying letters for an engines capacity and model it was fitted to.
If these letters are correct and matching on the vin 5th, it's obviously is matching numbers.

The books can further tell if it is factory original engine fitted as it states full engine numbers.

Obviously foundry casting dates are further to this if books missing.

For example;

a red 253 with VR engine block ID prefix that is the first two letters stamped on the engine number, it indicates it is from VB model and VB only, the 5th didgit on the vin will be R.
WR is a blue 253, from WB ute.
HR is a red 253 from a Hq ect ect.

This principle is across all models.
So yes We can easily identified what engine, chassis, model, year, month, arvo or morning shift in the foundry an engine is, and matches to what car by the vin 5th letter.

If a car has correct engine date and prefix letter type, sometimes they missing actual full engine number due to zero deck block grind whilst rebuilding, cast date code numbers are then important, found above the water pump and normally a month or two, sometimes three or seldom four depending on plant, prior assembily build date.

If the car has original colour paint, trim, box, engine prefix letters, and block dates to the ID plates it's therefore a matching number car.

So the assertion that matching numbers is a myth is not entirely correct as vin plates do identifie specific engines, and types of engine from another via the 5th.

Its just not as much of an easy identification process, and its matching numbers to corrisponding letters, not matching numbers to numbers.
 
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