1964 Chevelle Engine ID Codes

 

The engine identification code consists of the engine assembly plant, the engine assembly date, and 3 letter suffix indicating the cubic inch displacement, the horsepower rating, and generally, what type of transmission was to be installed with the engine. Manual transmissions required a bushing in the rear of the bellhousing where an automatic transmission did not. Many engine "accessories" such as the carburetor, alternators, and power steering units were not installed at the engine assembly plant but rather at the final assembly plant.

 

Engine stamp samples

 

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

 

Engine			Transmission	Notes
Code	Size-Carb	HP-RPO
G	194-1	120	Manual
GB	194-1	120	Manual	Heavy Duty Clutch
GF	194-1	120	Manual	P.C.V.
GG	194-1	120	Manual	P.C.V./Heavy Duty Clutch
GH	194-1	120	Manual	Taxi
GJ	194-1	120	Manual	P.C.V./Taxi
GK	194-1	120	Manual	A.C.
GL	194-1	120	Manual	A.C./Heavy Duty Clutch
GM	194-1	120	Manual	P.C.V./A.C.
GN	194-1	120	Manual	A.C./Heavy Duty Clutch
K	194-1	120	Powerglide
KB	194-1	120	Powerglide	P.C.V.
KC	194-1	120	Powerglide	Taxi
KD	194-1	120	Powerglide	P.C.V./Taxi
KH	194-1	120	Powerglide	A.C.
KJ	194-1	120	Powerglide	A.C./P.C.V.
230 ↓
BL	230-1	155-I61	Powerglide
BM	230-1	155-I61	Powerglide
BN	230-1	155-I61	Powerglide	P.C.V
BP	230-1	155-I61	Powerglide	P.C.V./A.C.
LL	230-1	155-I61	Manual	A.C.
LM	230-1	155-I61	Manual	P.C.V.
LN	230-1	155-I61	Manual	A.C./P.C.V.
283 ↓
J	283-2	195	Manual
JA	283-2	195	Manual
JD	283-2	195	Powerglide
JG	283-4	220-L77	Powerglide
JH	283-4	220-L77	Standard
327 ↓
JQ	327-4	250-L30	Standard	(Available March 1964)
JR	327-4	300-L74	Standard	(Available June 1964) *
JS	327-4	365-L76	Standard Transistor Ignition ***	**
JT	327-4	250-L30	Standard	(Available March 1964)
SR	327-4	250-L30	Powerglide	(Available March 1964)
SS	327-4	300-L74	Powerglide	(Available June 1964) *

A total of 149,506 6-cyl engines were installed; 84,400 194-cid and 65,106 230-cid engines.
A total of 221,328 8-cyl engines were installed; 212,993 283-cid and 8,335 327-cid engines.

 

* One reader reports a JR coded L74 block cast May 1, 1964 and assembly date of 0513 from Flint. When the car was sold isn't known but 'availability' dates are always open to some leeway.

 

** This combination was supposedly built for the 1964 Chevelle but Chevrolet's Accumulative Production Report does not list the RPO as being sold in a Chevelle. It is possible there might have been a few built but not reported. There is mention of a JS coded engine in an internal memo from FACILITIES & PRODUCTION PLANNING dated March 19, 1964 of engine codes being added but no specifics on this particular engine code and this memo includes all of the Chevrolet passenger car and truck lineup.

 

The currently available 1964 Chevelle & El Camino Factory Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM) confuses the L76 and/or K66 transistor ignition issue a bit further. Page 250 of the AIM shows K66 with the L76 engine but the dated drawing (April 7, 1964) also shows K66 being canceled. Pages 251 through 255 show other K66 details (in particular, wiring) but no mention of the option being canceled. All-in-all, it is confusing. Whether just page 250 showing the major components was canceled or just the wiring components is questionable. I find it unlikely the wiring pages would still be valid if the option itself was canceled. And, since no L76 engine or K66 transistor ignition option was reportedly sold...until someone comes up with legitimate, documented proof of either I will leave the notations as they are.

 

*** It should be noted that no K66 transistorized ignition options are reported as being sold in the Chevelle lineup by Chevrolet. See 1964 Chevelle RPO Production Numbers.

There is no breakdown of engine type or size by specific series/model.

Canadian Chevelles are not broken down by specific engine size, only engine type.
A total of 13,361 6-cyl engines and a total of 5,524 8-cyl engines were installed Canadian Chevelles.

 

 

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