Guys

Holden seems to have done a pretty good job giving unique codes for replacement engines where there is something different eg cam, sump, pistons etc. Anyone help with the following:

NT should be the code for HQ-VB red L31, LH/LX L31. How did they distinguish between Trimatic or TH blocks, or Commodore? Ive found a 1972 cast 308 with the engine number prefix 308N so obviously the sump was recognised (otherwise the customer would just be sold an NT and told to use their sump). Not sure if the gearbox would be recognised or not as the originals didn't. What about Statesman destined blocks - anyone seen an 11NT??

The above question then raises the same issue with JL, JD etc as the sump is different so they can't be NL, ND etc.

Holden also used a mixture of H series prefixes and Q series prefixes in LX/UC Torana ie some were HL some were XQL. If there was a special reason for this how did they distinguish in the replacement engines? I assume XQL would be replaced by NL but what about HL if it's different to QL for some reason?

How would the 173 and 202 engines in late HG be replaced? Would Holden have used 173N and 202N prefixes like they did for the 161, 173, 253 and 308 engines even though the originals were GD, GL etc?

_______________________________________________________
If we all had the same (good) taste, who would buy all the Fords?

I think the answer is so simple youll kick yourself Byron.....

Its just like say VC commodores - they all had VT prefixed 308s in them - but some were turbo pattern, while others (manuals) were trimatic pattern.

But as for replacement blocks - heres

VB was N* (NL, NR, NT etc)

Blue motor (XT5 upgrades) saw the new N5* prefixes - WB and VC ones were N5L, N5R, N5T etc.
Even the early EFI V8s were still N5U (which has often been misread as HSV), before they went to a simple S* (ie SU) number for the