I pick-up a super clean '67 Chevy G-10 Van a few weeks back. Problem is, I can't I.D. if the engine is a 230 or 250. The local parts shop, and speed shop couldn't figure it out. After surfing the internet, I still can't find without 100% certainty which it is. Most sites I found list it like this, 230-250=7. I found a thread here on the HAMB, but it doesn't solve the question. Here's a pic of the casting number that's located on the passenger side just behind the motor mount. The casting number is 3877178, below that is GM, and below that is what looks like 4.7 or 4.1. I know the 230 is 3.8 litres, and the 250 is 4.1 litres. Would appreciate any assistance. Thanks.
Go to www.inliners.org They have most casting numbers on that site. You'll probably get your answer there. Good luck.
If it's a ''67, an the original, it should be a 250........std engine by then.....of course it could have been swapped........ Ray
I did a little research for you but came up with what you found out. On another web site your ID # came up Buick/Olds/Chev./Pont. 62-67 230-250. Nothing more. If you want I could pm you the website. While I was doing this Deucedreamer found the site. Jerry
Just curious, why do you need to know? Short of pistons arn't they the same? Not trying to be a smart ass but really, does it matter?
Previous owner says it has 72,xxx original miles on it. Considering the condition of the van, I have to take it for face value that it's the original engine, and drivetrain as well.
Hupcap, thanks for that bit of info. I'm just getting my head wrapped these 6 cylinder engines. What you said is all new to me, so I guess from that point-of-view it doesn't matter. However, I still want to know what it is so when I go to work on it, order parts, or have it serviced, I make the informed choices.
In a van, I'd venture that it's probably a 250, BUT I'd hate to stake my reputation on it.....not that my rep is worth much. LOL
I have owned several of these. From the stand point of maintenance and after-market parts (int/ex manifolds, ign, etc) it doesn't matter. On the outside they are identical. The only difference is inside and if you are doing a total rebuild you will want to measure everything anyway. Most parts stores just want to know the year/truck anyway. I have a hell of a time getting parts for my 283 in my '31 coupe, I usually just make up the year/car combo.
Hubcap, great points. Thanks. I totally appreciate the all the responses, really. But I'm looking for a concrete answer that can be verified in some literature. Determining the difference between the 230 and 250 externally has to exist somewhere? I find it weird the answer is so elusive.
Usually the engine model/size is a digit or letter in the vehicle serial number....even back then.........might try researching that if you have not already done so. Also, might see if you can access a factory shop manual.........FAXON has them........would provides lots of data................Justa thought.... Ray
Update!!! Seems we are not alone in the search for this answer. I went a local machine shop today and dug up some juicy info. The answer didn't jump off the manual's pages, but did point us in the right direction. The 230 and 250 both have the same bore of 3.875", which by-the-way can be opened up to 4" to accept 350 pistons, but thats another story to be ventured into. The stroke on the 230 is 3.250", and for the 250 it's 3.531". Seems there is no external way to positively identify the difference between a 230 and 250. The magic number could be hidden behind the bell housing. I'll update this thread with that info after I pull the trany to rebuild it. Yep, blew the trany in my Van. It's a running joke with my idiot posse ; ) Gotta laugh! So, without finding an external casing number somewhere on the block, the only way to know, is to get the forging number off the crank. I'm replacing the rear main seal and oil pan gasket anyway, so when I'm there I'll rotate the crank and get the number to find my answer. Still can't believe it's so difficult to identify it. Maybe we're all missing something. I'm sure after all the digging and labor someone will chime-in and say, "Oh it's right there." Until then... I referenced the Clevite 77 catalog No. 2-200-05 for this data, as follows. 250 Crank Forgings: 460407, 480407,3855914, 3876802, 3876804, 3876840, 9790154 230 Crank forgings: 8424, 3788423, 3788424, 3788428, 3820618, 3864465, 3899424, 5743013, 9782279, 9782297
Come on now....how are you gonna look at the local ar show/bar/6 banger pissing match if when asked what motor you running...you don't know and instead give an option of 2 motors it could be...if your on this site, you just got to know.
Thanks for the support Hans'. Knowledge will always be King! Now if can only get this crown to stop cutting me ; )
Bingo we have a winner. I checked one online parts site and they show both engines listed for a 67 G10 van. Either by serial number or the emissions tag if it still has one. Otherwise it is measure the pistons if you ever take it apart.
Pull a plug and look at the top of the pistons. 230's had flat top pistons. 250's had dished pistons. What is the stamped serial code next to the distributor?
The stamped serial code next to the distributor is F1212SK. Haven't found what the S and K mean. This is what I dug up on it so far. Please correct if wrong, and fill in the missing blanks. F = Flint manufacturing plant 12 = December, month of manufacturing 12 = 12th day, day of manufacturing S = ??? K = ???
Carb have a tag on it? 7028006 or 7028010 were used on the 230, 7028007 or 7028011 on the 250. Per Standard Catalog of Chevrolet Trucks. According to this, the 230 was standard in the G10, 250 and 307 optional.
Snarl, pulled a few plugs, very difficult to see, or even get my mellon in there to see, but I'll try again in the morning. rustynewyorker, thanks for the carb tip, I'll be checking for that tag Also, as for the S and K. I learned they are Engine Plant Code suffix's, and found two sites that both point to the same result. I hope. http://www.nastyz28.com/chevy-engine-code-stampings.php http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-camaro-engine-suffix-code-help.asp S = Saginaw service K = McKinnon Industries (St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada) The S makes sense since my 3 speed manual trany code is 3858986 (Saginaw 3 speed). The K checks out against the web sites listed, but conflicts with the F (Flint manufacturing plant) code at the begining. Hmmmmm? Still looking...
According to my Hollander interchange manual, SK is a 1966 or '67 Chevy truck 230 with manual transmission, or a '67 GMC 230 with manual transmission.
Read the first site again CAREFULLY... the F, S & K that they talk about are in reference to the first letter, not the last letters... F for FLINT is what you have.... the SK has nothing to do with location as they are not the first letter in the code. understand?
Yeah, the SK is the motor ID code. Sometimes Motors and Chiltons manuals have those codes listed, too, I'm not sure where my Motors truck books are or I'd look them up just for the cross-reference.
I think we've found the magic bullet! Snarl, Yep, it was Assembly Plant, my bad. And, thanks for taking your time on this hunt. Are you sure of the decode? From some information I've read, trucks (C models) can have different codes than van (G models). Just laying it out there to be sure. Had no luck on-line finding a list of all the suffix code's for the G model vans for 1967.
SUCCESS ! ! ! The long awaited answer is a 230. Of all the places I searched local and on-line, the local Chevy Dealer had it in an old manual they still had shelved. It was the Chassis and Body Parts Catalog 1946-72 1/2 thru 1 Ton Trucks Series 10-20-30., page 29 (see pics). Finally got it in black and white. I'll double check this against the crank forging number in a week or so. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. You've been great help and it's much appreciated. HAMB ROCKS ! ! !
Six years later and it seems like we're still hunting for ways to identify our engines... I'm surprised no one has spent the time scanning in those old shop manuals.
Up to about 1972 all a GM vin# would tell is if the vehicle was built with a 4, 6 or 8 cylinder engine. Not which 4, 6 or 8 the vehicle left the factory with. Sometimes you have to open them up to get the real answer. Example from Ford..., Every Y-Block is a 312 until proven otherwise. -Dave
I spent a little time scanning a few pages, but I'm too lazy to scan more...instead, I break out the books every time. The problem with scanning them is they really need to be in a database so they can be searched. And there are a few web pages that have a lot of them entered, but not all (mostly the older truck stuff is missing)
Look into a cylinder through a spark plug hole, ALL 250's have dished pistons, 230's have flat tops with 4 valve reliefs. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
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