BUICK CASTING NUMBER ID CHART

The 445? The label on the motor refers to the torque rating, 445 ft.-lb. This was confusing to buyers when the cars were new, it is still confusing to restorers 35 years later. The engine is a 401 cid. You may also find 465 which would identify a 425 cu. in. Buick. The VIN does not describe the engine data. The engine production code, which is stamped on the front of the block near where the head attaches, does give engine data. The number is in the form AB123. The engine serial number will also be stamped on the block somewhere nearby. It will be the last 8 characters of the VIN and will tell if the engine is the one which came in the car.

Buick was powered by a L-8 (eight in a row makes 'em go) in all models up to and including 1952. In 1953 the V-8 (nailhead) was introduced in all models except the Special which continued to use the 263 inch L-8 for that year. Since 1935 the big eight appeared in many displacements, starting with 233, 235, 278, 345 in 1935 and adding 320 in '36, 248 in '37. The 248 and 320 then ran uninterrupted until 1950 with the introduction of the 263.

You can identify most NAILHEAD engines from this list; however the letter codes are more accurate. Unfortunately the letter/number codes prior to 1961 were hit and miss or frequently incomplete:

Block Cast # Year Displacement

1169334 56 - 59 322 Chev Truck

1173201 59 - 61 364

1174372 59 - 61 364

1185484 59 - 60 401

1185404 61 - 66 401

1196546 61 401

1196547 61 364

1340146 63 - 66 425

1346046 61 - 66 401

1349046 62 - 66 401

1354713 64 - 66 425

1354714 64 - 66 425

1364704 63 - 66 425

1364705 64 - 66 401/425

1364707 63 425

1364714 64 -66 401

This is not a complete list, but should contain the most common casting numbers used.

Year Engine Type Code

1963 V-6 198 JL

V-8 215 JM

V-8 215 HP JN

V-8 401* 2bbl JR

V-8 401* 4bbl JT

V-8 425* 4bbl JW

V-8 425* 2X4bbl JX

1964 V-6 225 Std.Eng KH

V-6 225 low comp KJ

V-8 300 Std.Eng. KL

V-8 300 low comp KM

V-8 300 Std. Eng. KP

V-8 300 low comp KR

(export)

V-8 401* KT

V-8 425* 4bbl KW

V-8 425* 2X4bbl KX

1965 V-6 225 LH

V-8 300 Std. Eng. LL

V-8 300 HP LP

V-8 400 (401)* GS LR

V-8 401* LT

V-8 425* 4bbl LW

V-8 425* 2X4bbl LX

1966 V-6 225 MH

V-8 300 ML

V-8 340 low comp MX

V-8 340 2bbl MA

V-8 340 4bbl MB

V-8 400* GS 401 MR

V-8 401* MT

V-8 425* 4bbl MW

V-8 425* 2X4bbl MZ