G'day all,
I have an FC which (I believe) may have it's original motor, as it has an L prefix engine number
I have read in several posts that you can positively identify it from castings on the block.
Can anybody enlighten me?
Cheers,
Ol' Fella.
Ol Fella,
The guru in this area is Ken Mclean (mcl1959). He has written several articles that have been published in club magazines and is also on the main FE FC site, from which this forum is a spin off. There is a lot of technical information on the site which may help also, such as the decoder, which will advise when your car was built.
I have attached another article of Ken's below which gives the approximate month that the engine was produced. I hope that this of some assistance
Keith
Firstly the engine prefix should be an "L". Up to the introduction of the FE, GMH did not put a letter before the engine number so all 48s and FJs have 6 digit engine numbers only, with no letter before the numbers. FJ utes and vans made after the FE sedans were introduced have a "U" prefix, and then when the FE vans and utes were introduced, they took on the "L" prefix in line with the sedans. FBs and EKs have a "B" prefix, while EJs have a "J" prefix. The table below shows the approximate engine number against registration date which, providing you have the original number plates or know the original registration date, will allow you to check the engine as original or not. Please note that due to some cars sitting in dealers' showrooms longer than others (e.g. cars sent to country dealerships), your engine number may be a month either side of that shown below. Further analysis of your car's body and chassis numbers will enable a more accurate date to be established.
Month Engine No Month Engine No
1st FE Engine L283373 1st FC Engine L439507
July 1956 L290000 May 1958 L455000
August 1956 L294000 June 1958 L467000
September 1956 L298000 July 1958 L479000
October 1956 L301000 August 1958 L487000
November 1956 L307000 September 1958 L494000
December 1956 L313000 October 1958 L503000
January 1957 L321000 November 1958 L512000
February 1957 L325000 December 1958 L522000
March 1957 L330000 January 1959 L530000
April 1957 L339000 February 1959 L537000
May 1957 L346000 March 1959 L548000
June 1957 L354000 April 1959 L558000
July 1957 L361000 May 1959 L567000
August 1957 L370000 June 1959 L573000
September 1957 L378000 July 1959 L580000
October 1957 L388000 August 1959 L590000
November 1957 L394000 September 1959 L600000
December 1957 L409000 October 1959 L615000
January 1958 L415000 November 1959 L634000
February 1958 L420000 December 1959 L640000
March 1958 L431000
April 1958 L441000
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This article was written and researched by Ken McLean of the FE-FC Holden Car Club of Victoria, and has been published in their newsletter, as well as the NSW Club's magazine Sideplate.
Post the ID plate details and the chassis number and I can confirm for you
Regards Ken
G'day Ken,
I punched all the info I have into the machine, and got the following reply.
ID Plate
NO: FC-225-27138-M
TRIM: 254-847
PAINT: 253-7773
INSERT: 253-5300
TOP: 253-7773
Other Details
Chassis Number: FC-56782-M
Engine Number: L607304
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FC-225-27138-M Vehicle is an FC Special Sedan, the 27,138th manufactured in Melbourne, Victoria.
254-847 The Exterior Trim Code (254) describes this car as Two-Tone: Wangarra Grey over Ascot Grey.
The Interior Trim Code (847) refers to: Riff Red & Black.
253-7773 The main colour (bonnet, guards) is DUCO Lacquer Ascot Grey
253-5300 The insert colour (window frames, rear quarters) is DUCO Lacquer Wangarra Grey
253-7773 The roof colour is DUCO Lacquer Ascot Grey
The vehicle was painted in the Mid 1959 scheme style (based on the ID No)
FC-56782-M The vehicle was assembled during 1959, and was the 55,782nd FC (in any bodystyle) assembled in Melbourne, Victoria.
L607304 Manufacture date (based on engine number) is September 1959
However, I still don't know if the engine and chassis numbers relate to the same car.
Is there a way I can confirm this?
Cheers,
Ol' Fella.