Grey motor ID

[OldGMHolden]

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.

[EffCee]

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. 

[mcl1959]

Post the ID plate details and the chassis number and I can confirm for you

Regards Ken

[OldGMHolden]

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.