I am in the UK and looking for help regarding a Buick engine....

jerryjal

Newbie
Hi all, good to be here.
I do not know if I am in the right place but here goes anyway...
We have recently imported my late father in laws 1974 TVR 2500M from the USA to the UK, we are in the process of going through the car to make sure it is roadworthy. You may ask why I am mentioning this on a Buick forum, well here goes.
It turns out that the engine my Father in Law installed in to the TVR is a 1977 Buick 231 "C" Odd Fire, as part of the required registration documents in the UK I need to find the engine serial number and for the life of me I can't see it.
Do any of you fine folk either know where it will be located or are able to point me in the right direction.
We have found the casting number which we think is: 1255862 but need the serial number which so far we have not been able to locate.
Thank you so much in advance!
I have attached a picture for reference.
 

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It should be stamped into a machined pad in front of the right bank of Cylinders. As your looking at it in that picture it would be below the alternator. Here in the US the 231 v6 engine has been referred to as the 3.8 L since 1978.
 
That's what you're looking for. Someone will be along eventually that will be able to tell you what make and model your engine is from. That engine was available in 4 of the 5 GM brands in existence at that time.
 
That's what you're looking for. Someone will be along eventually that will be able to tell you what make and model your engine is from. That engine was available in 4 of the 5 GM brands in existence at that time.
Thank you, so would that number be classed as the serial number for the block?
 
Yes.
The first 3 digits denote the make, model year and assembly plant the last 6 digits are the actual serial number but for your purposes the entire number should suffice. A quick lookup told me 3 is Oldsmobile. It is most likely from an Omega which was their economy model at that time.
 
I would expect that the last 6 digits are from the VIN of the car it came from. As mentioned, 3 is Oldsmobile, the 7 is probably 1977. 1255862 is consistent with a 1977 V-6.
 
Here are some pages from the 1977 Buick Chassis Service Manual that will confirm the info above.

The engine serial number stamped on the block is a derivative of the VIN of the original car. It consists of the first and last 8 characters of the VIN.

Plant code 2 = Ste. Therese, Quebec

The only Buick model built in that plant that year was the H body Skyhawk. If the pattern holds, the original car was an H body Oldsmobile Starfire.
 

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