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Engine Identification

The 445? The label on the motor refers to the torque rating, 445 ft.-lb. This was confusing to buyers when the cars were new, it is still confusing to restorers 35 years later. The engine is a 401 cid. You may also find 465 which would identify a 425 cu. in. Buick. The VIN does not describe the engine data. The engine production code, which is stamped on the front of the block near where the head attaches, does give engine data. The number is in the form AB123. The engine serial number will also be stamped on the block somewhere nearby. It will be the last 8 characters of the VIN and will tell if the engine is the one which came in the car. The letters of the engine production code are given on the home page of this site. Just click on the model year along the left side. This condition also is the same for the 300 cubic inch, with the 310 and 355 the 340 with the 340 and 365

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Buick was powered by a L-8 (eight in a row makes 'em go) in all models up to and including 1952. In 1953 the V-8 (nailhead) was introduced in all models except the Special which continued to use the 263 inch L-8 for that year. Since 1935 the big eight appeared in many displacements, starting with 233, 235, 278, 345 in 1935 and adding 320 in '36, 248 in '37. The 248 and 320 then ran uninterrupted until 1950 with the introduction of the 263.

Our identification section is divided up into a number of sections. Some are relatively short because there were identification format changes.

Identification 'til 1952 Identification fron 1953 to 1958 Identification from 1959 to 1962 Identification from 1963 to 1975 Identification from 1976 to 1982 Where to find the numbers!

You can identify most NAILHEAD engines from this list; however the letter codes are more accurate. Unfortunately the letter/number codes prior to 1961 were hit and miss or frequently incomplete: Block Cast #      Year      Displacement 1169334 56-59 322   Chev truck 1173201 59-61 364 1174372 59-61 364 1185484 59-60 401 1185404 61-66 401 1196546 61 401 1196547 61 364 1340146 63-66 425 1346046 61-66 401 1349046 62-66 401 1354713 64-66 425 1354714 64-66 425 1364704 63-66 425 1364705 64-66 401/425 1364707 63 425 1364714 64-66 401 Raymond Ackerman

Head Cast #      Year      Displacement 1165549 54-56 264/322 1166349 54-56 264/322 1168930 56 322 1169349 56 322 1172889 59-60 364/401 1175109 56-59 322   Chev truck 1185485 61-66 364/401/425 1190415 62-66 364/401/425 1196914 59-66 364/401/425 1374603 64-66 401/425 1376912 66 401/425

Ultimate American V8 Engine Data Book : 1949 - 74 for a complete selection of Buick Books, CLICK HERE!

Info compiled by: TODD Dr. Frankenbuick bob