How to Tell What the Year of a 454 Is on a Chevolet Engine
by Michael E Carpenter
In 1970, GM introduced the 454 V8 engine in high-performance cars like the Corvette, Camaro and Chevelle. Later, the company stopped placing the 454 in cars because of government regulations involving smog. In 1979, the company also ceased production in trucks. Chevrolet started placing the 454 in light and medium-duty trucks in 1983. Three different 454 engines were produced. However, the LS-7 was only available over the counter, and GM never produced a consumer vehicle with that engine. Knowing what year the engine was produced will help in finding replacement parts for the engine.
Step 1
Find the engine and date code. These will be located on the top center of the bellhousing flange, where the transmission meets the engine, or on the passenger side of the block near the freeze plugs. Clean any dirt and debris away with degreaser. Write these numbers down on a piece of paper.
Step 2
Locate the casting numbers which can be found on the rear driver's side flange that meets with the transmission bellhousing. This may require that you get underneath the cars in some vehicles. The codes may also be located between back of the engine and the firewall. Clean with degreaser. Write down the cast numbers.
Step 3
Determine the year of the engine, using the alphanumeric code from the bellhousing flange. The letter corresponds to the month (A for January, B for February, etc), the next two numbers represent the day of the month. The last digit will tell you the year the engine was made.
References
Things You'll Need
- Flashlight
- Degreaser
- Rags
- Pen and Paper
Warnings
- Make sure you are working on a cool engine before starting.
Writer Bio
Michael Carpenter has been writing blogs since 2007. He is a mortgage specialist with over 12 years of experience as well as an expert in financing, credit, budgeting and real estate. Michael holds licenses in both real estate and life and health insurance.
