304 Prefix?

kinger3, Jul 27, 12:40pm
Does anyone know where to find this! I've looked on the block but can't find anything
schultzie, Jul 27, 4:01pm
where the head meets the block. Right above the oil pump. Theres an engine stamp pad there consisting of two letters (prefix) followed by a series of numbers
modie61, Jul 27, 5:19pm
As above,that is the location,the prefix is VU .
schultzie, Jul 27, 5:41pm
Most likely but not necessarily. 304 engine had a variety of prefix numbers during its course. The engine in question could be an HSV model. VU is the basic vn-vs engine found in majority of commodores. The HSV engines such as the 215i, 350ci strokers found in the VR-VS model(prefix VL) & the last batch of 304s produced for the series 1 VT HSVs 220kw (prefix VP). Theres a catch to the VP prefix as the VL Walkinshaw shared this prefix as well. Identified by the bellhousing trimatic pattern.
kinger3, Jul 28, 7:06am
Great thanks found it. So ive got another question. It is VU and according to the book VE was the 200kw red HSV engine, VK the 200kw black HSV GTS engine but for the VU prefix theres two options. Theres the standard 5ltr 165kw engine and then theres the 5ltr 180kw HSV and option engine. All the engines have the option no LB9 so how does one tell if its the standard 5ltr or the HSV option 5ltr!
modie61, Jul 28, 7:15am
I might be wrong,but the HSV has steel headers and different chip in computer.
kinger3, Jul 28, 7:29am
Not sure about the headers but the chip would stack up
gmphil, Jul 28, 8:11am
Marked on steel covers ontop of rockers 185 imbossed
kinger3, Jul 28, 8:13am
sorry! not sure what you mean
gmphil, Jul 28, 11:06am
On the plate that has 5000 injected there would b 185 in red
kinger3, Jul 28, 11:36am
if youre talking about the covers on top of the fuel rail then ive got ya. Still cant tell thou as I got the motor without them . Guess it doesnt really matter because im about to stroke it but was interested to know
schultzie, Jul 28, 12:45pm
Once you start pecking to bits engine codes, numbers etc once the donk has beenremoved from the original vehicle or removing various covers etc it becomes increasingly difficult to ID an engine successfully unless you can located the varying differences between all the engines holden & in particular HSV used. Some engines had rollers while others didn't & thus dont have the mounting threads bored into the heads. Thats just one example of many. Essentially if the prefix is anything other than VU, its an HSV engine.