i have dug out a old 253 to check out and maybe put into a WB ute

Engine No QR 697 xxx

Date code on the block is 2F1...1pm

That tells me its from a HQ ...dated the 2nd of June 1971...I think.

Also from what I can tell its a 1st gen block by the looks of the dowel pins.


Now I was was to believe that early date stamps followed the yanks with the date letter before the numbers, is this not a early cast block for Hq's? So why is the number before the letter?

Now I know some of you guys are whizzes at all this so maybe shed some light on this...Thanks...griffo.

Sorry HK...I have not played eyes on that 327 Chev since...I will keep a eye out mate..

Edited by user Monday, 20 June 2016 10:03:19 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

It's not from 81. QR prefix is a red motor. I am thinking that you will have dramas at rego time fitting a red motor into a WB? I thought they didn't meet the pollution requirements for WB?
They changed from the Chev numbering system in 71 didn't they?

Something is fishy. Definitely 1971 date coded block, the change to Aussie style didn't happen until late HQ. But the engine number in the 697000's is from late 1975, so from a HJ. So either someone has restamped the block, or it was a very old casting used in late 1975 (unlikely but possible) or you've misread the number.

Rough stamping doesn't necessarily mean a restamp but it very well could be. Given it is rough and it has a 6 digit number on an engine that should be 5 digit then I'd be betting it is a restamp though.

If it is oversize, keep all the internals and just find a blue 4.2L block (cheap as chips), bore it to the right size, fit new rings and bearings if the crank is OK (or linish it) and off you go. Cam bearings, new cam and lifters aren't all that dear. You'll have a nice engine. Better than a possible dodgy one!

Yes i will post a pic as soon as I get back to the shed...

I got a mate in the rego dept to do a check on the history of that engine No....They have no record of it ever existing,he is unsure of how far their records go back .I THINK the car it came out of was register only a few years ago.

But who is to say what engine number was used.

I got a scare tho...We ran a few other engine numbers and got the fright of my life as one number was showing up in someone else's car...LOL....only a transpose of numbers thank god.

I misread your original post. 2F1 is 2nd June 1981, so it is a blue block. A 1971 block will be F21. I can't see that engine number too well but it looks off. A photo of the back of the block will prove it is a blue block.

1981 without a doubt. That is a post 9/74 block. I think I can still see blue paint on the flex plate and just above it.

LOOKS DODGY alright...Like Hk says , take all the internals and put in a NON dodgy block.

Thx for the input fellas...appreciated.

EDIT...I used a wire brush on a drill and rubbed back the paint in all the hard places to paint and there is no blue as the original colour from what I can tell...the base colour is all holden orange...then that darker blue.

They did a good job of getting the original blue off if it ever was blue.It has blue rocker covers,blue sump,4brl pollution valley cover....Go figure??

I got it in the back of a engine less WB with s multitude of gearboxes and stuff back a few years ago in Coffs Harbour when I lived there.

Edited by user Wednesday, 22 June 2016 8:18:29 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Thanks given

Bloody freight is a killer HK.

I am in the sunshine state these days.....I looking up here for one but without luck so far at the right price anyway.