Engine ID Code/Vehicle Assemby Date
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Island Heights NJ
Engine ID Code/Vehicle Assemby Date
My Engine ID Code, VO422ZVB, translates to an April, 22, 1993 date stamp. Yet the build sheet is dated April 19, 1993.
I was under the impression the engine build date always preceded the date the car comes down the assembly line. Is this a stamp the factory puts on the engine after vehicle assembly? 4/19 was a Monday, 4/22 a Thursday. Would it take 4 days to build?
Any insight would be much appreciated.
I was under the impression the engine build date always preceded the date the car comes down the assembly line. Is this a stamp the factory puts on the engine after vehicle assembly? 4/19 was a Monday, 4/22 a Thursday. Would it take 4 days to build?
Any insight would be much appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: MidOhio
My Engine ID Code, VO422ZVB, translates to an April, 22, 1993 date stamp. Yet the build sheet is dated April 19, 1993.
I was under the impression the engine build date always preceded the date the car comes down the assembly line. Is this a stamp the factory puts on the engine after vehicle assembly? 4/19 was a Monday, 4/22 a Thursday. Would it take 4 days to build?
Any insight would be much appreciated.
I was under the impression the engine build date always preceded the date the car comes down the assembly line. Is this a stamp the factory puts on the engine after vehicle assembly? 4/19 was a Monday, 4/22 a Thursday. Would it take 4 days to build?
Any insight would be much appreciated.
From 2 independent sources I have, the ZVB checks as a '93 LT1 300HP built to go with a manual trans. Engines are always built before the final car assembly and are stamped with a code (like ZVB) for the type of trans and sometimes other optional equipment it was built for.
The 5-digit build sequence number (last 5 of the VIN) is (used to be) stamped on the engine pad when the factory knows which body it's going into. The VO422 doesn't seem to follow the sequence number pattern even if the O is a 0. What's the VIN on your car? Typically. alphanumeric coding systems don't use "O, ohs" since they can be mistaken for zeros and vice versa. I've never read of any data that indicated the factory stamped a build date (0422 meaning Apr 22th) on the engines. There are some block casting numbers and cast date/shift indicators on various GM blocks and these should indicate dates well before final assembly if it's the original engine. Keep in mind, my interest in Chevy engines pretty much ended with the '89 L98 and I haven't secured any books on the coding practices of GM published after '96.
No way it takes 4 days to build a C4 or any other car. This leads me to believe your assumption that the "VO422" is a date stamp is incorrect.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Island Heights NJ
I'm assuming you got the engine ID from the pad on the right front of the block at the head surface.
From 2 independent sources I have, the ZVB checks as a '93 LT1 300HP built to go with a manual trans. Engines are always built before the final car assembly and are stamped with a code (like ZVB) for the type of trans and sometimes other optional equipment it was built for.
The 5-digit build sequence number (last 5 of the VIN) is (used to be) stamped on the engine pad when the factory knows which body it's going into. The VO422 doesn't seem to follow the sequence number pattern even if the O is a 0. What's the VIN on your car? Typically. alphanumeric coding systems don't use "O, ohs" since they can be mistaken for zeros and vice versa. I've never read of any data that indicated the factory stamped a build date (0422 meaning Apr 22th) on the engines. There are some block casting numbers and cast date/shift indicators on various GM blocks and these should indicate dates well before final assembly if it's the original engine. Keep in mind, my interest in Chevy engines pretty much ended with the '89 L98 and I haven't secured any books on the coding practices of GM published after '96.
No way it takes 4 days to build a C4 or any other car. This leads me to believe your assumption that the "VO422" is a date stamp is incorrect.
From 2 independent sources I have, the ZVB checks as a '93 LT1 300HP built to go with a manual trans. Engines are always built before the final car assembly and are stamped with a code (like ZVB) for the type of trans and sometimes other optional equipment it was built for.
The 5-digit build sequence number (last 5 of the VIN) is (used to be) stamped on the engine pad when the factory knows which body it's going into. The VO422 doesn't seem to follow the sequence number pattern even if the O is a 0. What's the VIN on your car? Typically. alphanumeric coding systems don't use "O, ohs" since they can be mistaken for zeros and vice versa. I've never read of any data that indicated the factory stamped a build date (0422 meaning Apr 22th) on the engines. There are some block casting numbers and cast date/shift indicators on various GM blocks and these should indicate dates well before final assembly if it's the original engine. Keep in mind, my interest in Chevy engines pretty much ended with the '89 L98 and I haven't secured any books on the coding practices of GM published after '96.
No way it takes 4 days to build a C4 or any other car. This leads me to believe your assumption that the "VO422" is a date stamp is incorrect.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: MidOhio
1G1YY33PXP5116026 . Yes, the Engine ID Code stamp was at the passenger side front head plate. The Engine Stamp - 1P5116026 is at the rear, drivers side of the head, on the bellhousing flange. I guess the question then is what the 0422 of VO422ZVB represents? We know "V" is the Flint Engine Plant, and as your point out, ZVB is a '93 Manual.
The main book I have that gets into engine ID is by Pierre Lafontaine, '96, ISBN 0-7603-0175-1. It leaves a lot to be desired in pulling together all he writes about.
On page 63 (block ID chapter) he shows a block picture with the stamp V0126CTB. It says it's a 1970 LT1 block but doesn't mention anywhere in the book what the V0126 means when stamped. He does get into that kind of alpha-numerical pattern as cast codes but never with a 0 or an O as a leading digit. From the date code chapter, a proper code should be V126 and mean month "V", 12th day, x6 year. Using V as a month code doesn't make much sense (19th month?) even dropping I, O, and Q, as many do. It probably is a "plant" code. He does say that they used this sort of stamped code on things like distributors, carbs and alternators.
On page 89, he gives the letter codes for GM production plants as: F, Flint; K, St Catherines, Ontario; M, Mexico; and T, Tonawanda but no mention of what a V prefix stands for. From the books suffix code listings, that CTB could be a 305-400 CI from '70-'78. You have to get additional info from the block casting numbers and bore size to pin it down.
Sorry I can't be more help but when you try to get that far into the guts of GM production you're in no-mans-land. Only the guy on the line would know for certain what a given stamp was suposed to be at any given time but that doesn't necessarily mean that's what he stamped.
If I was very interested in knowing what that V?422 meant, I'd get on the NCRS.org web site and start searching and posting questions. Some of those guys could probably tell you what the main entree at the plant cafeteria was for any given date. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 0
From: Poop land
The 638 casting in my 89 was used in cars and trucks from 87 - 95. Came in either a 2 bolt or 4 bolt main.
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm
http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm
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