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Wanting to establish engine history and if this is a LS4 ? Any help much appreciated.
Regards
Phil
I hope you know that your car is likely not very original as it came from GM and probably has a state-issued replacement VIN.
1972 454 was designated as the LS-5. The VIN for the LS-5 should have a W where your chassis VIN has the K. The K was for the standard 350 small block. ('72 was the first year where the engine was indicated in the VIN.)
Your other VIN (7A82R...) is not a GM-assigned VIN. Is it on a tag, visible through the driver's windshield pillar? Can you post a photo of it?
Engine No: 14015445 (off the engine) VIN:1Z37K2S515077 (from the drivers pillar)
That's good news on the VIN that it's not reissued.
1=Chevrolet
Z=Corvette
37= coupe body
K= standard small block
2= 1972
S=St. Louis MO assembly plant
5= placeholder used for '72 Corvettes
15077= the sequential number in the model year's production run
This car was completed about March 1, 1972.
Since the car originally came with a small block 350, the 454 is a later modification. I believe the 14015445 block is a later-'70s truck block (this # is on the rear flange of the engine where the trans bolts, yes?).
Thanks for the reply. Yes, the number is from the rear flange above trans bolts. Car has been themed a Baldwin Motion trubute car so your theory around the modifications is most likely correct. This car now resides in New Zealand. Thanks for your reply. Philip
As you know, the block number you are sharing is the casting number. On the right front of the block, immediately foreword of the head, is a pad that will bear two sequences stamped in the casting. The first will begin with a T (e.g. T0123AB) and the second will be in smaller font and have the last 8 characters of the car’s VIN. If the block was a replacement from GM, it will begin with CE (counter exchange).
14015445 is a 78-90 454 truck block. As a truck engine it could be out of a pick up, a Suburban, a motor home, or even something larger. The "445" may have been used for crate engines too.
Most of these truck 454's were rated at 205 to 250 "net" horsepower, and 330-370 torque, depending on the year, application and emission system. Most were around 8.00:1 compression ratio, and came as either 2 or 4 bolt mains (I think the 2 bolt versions used the 4 bolt caps with only the outer bolt holes drilled and tapped). LF8 was one of the RPO's assigned to the truck 454's of that era. On the opposite side of the block from where you found the 14015445 casting number there will be a casting date which can be helpful in narrowing the engine's.
Engine number history
