1968 Chevelle Engine ID Suffix 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			Transmission	Notes
Code	Size-Carb	HP-RPO
BA	230-1	140	Manual	Overdrive
BB	230-1	140	Manual	Heavy Duty Clutch/A.C.
BC	230-1	140	Manual	Heavy Duty Clutch
BD	230-1	140	Manual	A.C.
BF	230-1	140	Powerglide
BH	230-1	140	Powerglide	A.C.
250 ↓
CM	250-1	155-L22	Manual	Overdrive
CN	250-1	155-L22	Manual	A.C.
CQ	250-1	155-L22	Powerglide
CR	250-1	155-L22	Powerglide	A.C.
307 ↓
DA	307-2	200	Manual	Overdrive
DB	307-2	200	Manual
DE	307-2	200	Powerglide
DF	307-2	200	Powerglide
DN	307-2	200	Manual	Heavy Duty Clutch
327 ↓
EA	327-4	275-L30	Manual
EC *	327-4	275-L30	Powerglide	Documented on KC-built 13680 & 13637 Documented on Fremont-built 13637 Documented on Atlanta-built 13637
EE	327-4	275-L30	Powerglide
EH	327-4	250-L73	Manual
EI	327-4	250-L73	Powerglide
EJ	327-4	250-L73	Manual	Heavy Duty Clutch/L73
EO	327-4	275-L30	Manual	Heavy Duty Clutch
EP	327-4	325-L79	Manual	Spcl High Perf
ES	327-4	325-L79	Manual	Spcl High Perf/Heavy Duty Clutch
396 ↓
ED	396-4	325-L35	Manual	A.I.R.
EF	396-4	350-L34	Manual	A.I.R.
EG	396-4	375-L78	Manual	A.I.R./Spcl High Perf
EK	396-4	325-L35	Powerglide
EL	396-4	350-L34	Powerglide	A.I.R.
ET	396-4	325-L35	TH-400
EU	396-4	350-L34	TH-400	A.I.R.

A total of 82,845 6-cyl engines were installed; 39,762 230-cid and 43,083 250-cid engines.
A total of 381,824 8-cyl engines were installed; 245,032 307-cid, 74,007 327-cid, and 62,785 396-cid engines.

The engine assembly date and ID suffix code as well as the partial VIN for all V8 engines is always stamped on the engine pad as shown here. I6 engines were stamped on a pad by the distributor.

All 350hp and 375hp, regardless of transmission, as well as 325hp manual transmission SS 396 Chevelles, came equipped with A.I.R.; the 325hp SS 396 with an automatic did not have the A.I.R. system.

* EC engine code found on several KC-built 13680 El Caminos like the late January El Camino on the Chassis Broadcast Copy sheet and Malibu engine stamp shown here, at least one Fremont Malibu, and one Atlanta Malibu. The EE engine code was changed to EC due to a Powerglide cooler line clip being added to the pan rail.

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When the base 325hp 396cid engine was ordered with an automatic transmission it would have the Closed Combustion System (CCS) instead of the Air Induction Reactor emission system.

So, if you have a documented 1968 327/275 w/Powerglide and an EC engine code, let me know the plant and VIN sequence so I can document it here and maybe solve issues for others.

1968 396 V8 Engine Production

RPO	hp	Transmission	Suffix	Production	Notes
L35	325	Manual	ED	26,831
L35/M35	325	Powerglide	EK	02,042
L35/M40	325	TH-400	ET	19,114
				46,987	Total L35 Engines
				45,553	Total L35 Chevelles
97% of total L35 engine production went into Chevelles in 1968.				01,434	Service Engines

L34	350	Manual	EF	9,630
L34/M35	350	Powerglide	EL	0,126
L34/M40	350	TH-400	EU	3,795
				13,551	Total L34 Engines
				12,481	Total L34 Chevelles
92.1% of total L34 engine production went into Chevelles in 1968.				1,070	Service Engines

L78	375	Manual	EG	4,848	Total L78 Engines
				4,751	Total L78 Chevelles
98% of total L78 engine production went into Chevelles in 1968.				0,097	Service Engines

Beginning with the 1968 model year all engines, not just 396-cid engines, received partial VIN identifying stamps as directed by GM. Also note difference in the location of the Tonawanda or Flint engine stamp and the associated assembly plant VIN derivative between the 396 engine and the 307/327 engines.

Examples of engine assembly plant ID stamped codes and engine VIN derivative stampings.

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