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Buick Engine Identification, 1953-1958

 

-- Where to find the numbers!

NAILHEAD Codes 'til '58

The engine serial number is stamped on a machined surface on the top outer edge of the left cylinder bank, between the middle branches of the exhaust manifold. The last digit of the engine serial number is 4 for Series 40, 5 for Series 50, 6 for Series 60, 7 for Series 70. According to some sources, a 100 suffix is used for the Series 100 Skylark of 1954.

A stamped 1/4" long dash after the production code number indicates a .010" O.S. production engine. It is not unusual to find the letter I used in place of the number 1 in the id numbers (this makes alteration more difficult). In some cases the letter I is intended, as in the case of year identifier character for 62. The VIN is the same as the engine serial number for 1957 to 64.

These are all known as "Nailheads" except the 263 in 1953
YEAR
SERIES
DISPLACEMENT
SERIAL NOS. START AT
1953
40
L-8 263
6950620-4
50
V-8 322
V2415-5
70
V-8 322
70 V2001-7
1954
40
V-8 264
V273956-4
50
V-8 322
V273956-5
60
V-8 322
V273956-6
70
V-8 322
V273956-7
100
V-8 322
V273956-100
1955
40
V-8 264
V720080-4 *
50
V-8 322
V720080-5 *
60
V-8 322
V720080-6 *
70
V-8 322
V720080-7 *
1956
40
V-8 322 2bbl
V1460023-4
50
V-8 322
V1460023-5
60
V-8 322
V1460023-6
70
V-8 322
V1460023-7
1957
40
V-8 364 2bbl
4D1000989 (NOTE 1)
50
V-8 364
5D1001001
60
V-8 364
6D1001001
70, 75
V-8 364
7D1001001

*V prefix dropped after engine number 1,000,000 reached in 1955.

NOTE 1: On the 1957 production code number, data is very scarce for the prefix characters ahead of the 3-digit date code. At present, it is easier to identify these engines by the serial number. There were few, if any, optional engines that year.

1958
40
V-8 364 2bbl
4E1001001 (NOTE 2)
50
V-8 364
5E1001001
60
V-8 364
6E1001001
70
V-8 364
7E1001001
700
V-8 364
8E1001001

A stamped letter X before the production code number indicates a 60-50-70-700 series engine equipped with 9.5 to 1 compression ratio pistons.

NOTE 2: On the 1958 production code number, data is very scarce for the prefix characters ahead of the 3-digit date code. At present, it is easier to identify these engines by the serial number. There were few optional engines that year.

CANADIAN ENGINES, IDENIFICATION OF ENGINES USED WITH AUTOMATIC TRASMISSIONS - All 1953 Series

The 1953 passenger car engines that are used with automatic transmissions are identified in Canadian Production by the number "9" stamped in front of the engine serial number. The starting engine serial numbers for 1953 Production engines are B-119001

When the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, the figure "9" will precede the engine number. For example, Buick engine serial #B-119001 would indicate Synchro-Mesh transmission. If the vehicle was equipped with automatic transmission, the engine serial number would then be W-9119001.

This numbering system may have been used thru 1963. At some point, the letter B may have been changed to C to indicate the more powerful engines used in the bigger cars.