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Buick Engine Identification 1963 - 1975

YEAR	ENGINE	TYPE	CODE	COMMENTS

1963	V-6 198		JL
	V-8 215		JM
	V-8 215	HP	JN
	V-8 401*	2bbl	JR
	V-8 401*	4bbl	JT
	V-8 425*	4bbl	JW

1964	V-6 225	Std.Eng.	KH
	V-6 225	low comp.	KJ
	V-8 300	Std.Eng.	KL
	V-8 300	low comp.	KM
	V-8 300	Std.Eng.	KP
	V-8 300	low comp. (export)	KR
	V-8 401*		KT
	V-8 425*	4bbl	KW
	V-8 425*	2X4bbl	KX

1965	V-6 225		LH
	V-8 300	Std. Eng.	LL
	V-8 300	HP	LP
	V-8 400(401)*	GS	LR
	V-8 401*		LT
	V-8 425*	4bbl	LW
	V-8 425*	2X4bbl	LX

1966	V-6 225		MH
	V-8 300		ML
	V-8 340	low comp.	MX
	V-8 340	2bbl	MA
	V-8 340	4bbl	MB
	V-8 401*	GS 400	MR	325hp
	V-8 401*	GS 400	MS	11 to 1 comp.
	V-8 401*	GS 400	MU	356hp
	V-8 401*		MT	340hp
	V-8 401*	low comp. (export)	MY	8.75:1 comp.
	V-8 425*	4bbl	MW
	V-8 425*	2X4bbl	MZ
Click for more on 425 identification

1967	V-6 225		NH
	V-8 300		NL
	V-8 340	2 bbl	NA
	V-8 340	4 bbl	NB
	V-8 400		NR
	V-8 430		MD
	V-8 430		ND

1968	L-6 250	3 spd. manual	SA
	L-6 250	2 spd. auto w/o a/c	SD
	L-6 250	2 spd. auto a/c	SE
	V-8 350	2 bbl	PO
	V-8 350	4 bbl	PP
	V-8 400		PR
	V-8 430		PD

1969	L-6 250	3 spd. manual w/o a/c	LA
	L-6 250	3 spd manual a/c	LE
	L-6 250	ST-300 w/o a/c	MA
	L-6 250	ST-300 a/c	ME
	V-8 350	2 bbl	RO
	V-8 350	4 bbl	RP
	V-8 400		RR
	V-8 400	Stage 1	RS
	V-8 430		RD

1970	L-250	3 spd. manual	SA
	L-6 250	THM350	SB
	V-8 350	2bbl	SO
	V-8 350	4bbl	SB
	V-8 350	4bbl	SP
	V-8 455	4bbl	SF
	V-8 455	4bbl	SR
	V-8 455	4bbl GS Stage 1	SS

1971	L6-250	man. trans.	ZB
	L-250	auto. trans.	ZG
	V-8 350	2bbl LeSabre	TC
	V-8 350	2bbl except LeSabre	TO
	V-8 350	4bbl except LeSabre	TB
	V-8 350	4bbl LeSabre	TD
	V-8 455	4bbl GS	TA
	V-8 455	4bbl	TR
	V-8 455	4bbl GS Stage 1	TS

On models from 1972 through 80, the fifth character of the VIN provides engine identification. This character appears on the dash VIN plate, but not on the engine itself. D

YEAR	ENGINE	TYPE	CODE	VIN

1972	V-8 350	2bbl	WC	H
	V-8 350	4bbl single exhaust	WB	J
	V-8 350	4bbl dual exhaust	WB	K
	V-8 455	4bbl single exhaust	WF	T
	V-8 455	4bbl dual exhaust	WF	U
	V-8 455	4bbl, Stage I	WS	V
	V-8 455	4bbl	WA	W Riv GS

1973	L-6 250	auto. trans.	CCA	D
	L-6 250	auto. trans. w/ emission ctl.	CCB	D
	L-6 250	man. trans.	CCC	D
	L-6 250	man. trans. w/emission ctl.	CCD	D
	V-8 350	2bbl dual exhaust	XC	G
	V-8 350	2bbl single exhaust	XC	H
	V-8 350	4bbl single exhaust	XB	J
	V-8 350	4bbl dual exhaust	XB	K
	V-8 455	4bbl single exhaust	XF	T
	V-8 455	4bbl dual exhaust	XF	U
	V-8 455	A-body GS Stage I	XS	V
	V-8 455	4bbl	XA	W

1974	L-6 250	man. trans.	CCR	D
	L-6 250	auto. trans. w/emission ctl.	CCW	D
	L-6 250	auto. trans.	CCX	D
	V-8 350	2bbl dual exhaust	ZC	G
	V-8 350	2bbl single exhaust	ZC	H
	V-8 350	4bbl single exhaust	ZB	J
	V-8 350	4bbl dual exhaust	ZB	K
	V-8 455	2bbl single exhaust	ZF	P
	V-8 455	2bbl dual exhaust	ZF	R
	V-8 455	4bbl single exhaust	ZF	T
	V-8 455	4bbl dual exhaust	ZF	U
	V-8 455	A- Body GS Stage I	ZS	V
	V-8 455	4bbl	ZA	W

1975	L-6 250	man. trans.	CJU	D
	V-6 231		AD	C
	L-6 250	auto. trans., exc. Calif.	CJY	D
	L-6 250	auto. trans., Calif.	CJL
	V-8 260	exc. Calif., no a/c	QE	F
	V-8 260	exc. Calif., with a/c	QJ	F
	V-8 260	Calif. no a/c	TE	F
	V-8 260	Calif with a/c	TJ	F
	V-8 350	2bbl.	AB	H
	V-8 350	4bbl.	AM	J
	V-8 400**		YM	S
	V-8 400**		YT	S
	V-8 455		AF	T
231 V6, the engine serial number is on the front of the right cylinder bank 260 V8, the engine serial number in on the oil filler tube on the front of the engine. 400 V8, the engine serial number is located on the machined face of the cylinder block, below and in front of the right-hand cylinder head. On most 1975 and later engines, the production code number can be found with the engine serial number.

* Engines which are known as "Nailheads".

Here is some iteresting information about one of the more mysterious motors in our ID tables. There's been no doubt that this is a Pontiac mill. It appears in the 1975 Buick Shop Manual and has its own chapter for service. The rear axle table shows the intended usage was in the LeSabre and the Estate Wagon models.

It is entirely reasonable to see the Pontiac 400 being proposed as a California-only alternative to the 455. Who knows why the Electra 225 and the Riviera would have continued on with just the 455 for that state?

There are serious doubts that such cars were ever built however. There is no mention of a 400 engine in the sales brochure for 75. A Buick parts list from 83 shows no such engine used in 75. This parts list does show California and 49-state applications including 455s for California. There is even a Buick service bulletin regarding tuneups issued in September, 1975 that shows no such engine. The engine table attached to that bulletin shows every other combination under the sun that Buick supplied that year. No 1975 400s have turned up in messages on this site as far as I can remember.

Maybe some Buick engineers tweaked up the 455 to get it to pass California emissions after the shop manual was sent to the printers? Then the plan to install the Poncho motors was scrapped?

To my knowledge there is no data at all on a 76 application for this engine in a Buick. If anyone could guide us to some more resources for further information, it would be most appreciated. (You can post them on the web board.)

There are a few other non-Buick design engines (like the Chevy in-line sixes) that were used in the earlier years. These are not listed as such in the ID tables, mainly due to oversight. But maybe Bob C. can make the needed changes to show them as 'foreign' sourced motors.

Todd