# stamped into the engine block

[1dollardog]

What is the number stamped into the block on the driver's side just near where the trans bolts up? It is stamped in, not a raised number. It isn't long enough to be a vin number, I don't think. It appears to be 1EM196960 or maybe 1EH496960 I couldn't see it perfectly. This is an 84 model. Someone enlighten me please Thanks...

 

[Grumpy]

the last few #s should match the vin

 

[1dollardog]

the last few #s should match the vin

Thanks a bunch. Is there any other way to tell exactly what it came from? Is there a complete vin on the engine anywhere? The other number I found was a raised number below this other one, it is 25514290 Just trying to nail down what it is and some history on it...Thanks..

 

[Grumpy]

Thanks a bunch. Is there any other way to tell exactly what it came from? Is there a complete vin on the engine anywhere? The other number I found was a raised number below this other one, it is 25514290 Just trying to nail down what it is and some history on it...Thanks..

hmmm..is that just a part # or casting #

 

[TurboDave]

What is the number stamped into the block on the driver's side just near where the trans bolts up? It is stamped in, not a raised number. It isn't long enough to be a vin number, I don't think. It appears to be 1EM196960 or maybe 1EH496960 I couldn't see it perfectly. This is an 84 model. Someone enlighten me please Thanks...

The last 6 digits should match your VIN. That much is for sure. It's been so long since I looked at mine that I forgot if the first 3 letters/number are also in the VIN.

the other number (25514290) is the block part number. The last 3 digits of the turbo blocks (86/87 that is) is 109

Here's a picture of the area you're refering to. You can just barely see the stamped vin number. No there isn't a "full" vin stamped anywhere on the block.

 

[Grumpy]

The last 6 digits should match your VIN. That much is for sure. It's been so long since I looked at mine that I forgot if the first 3 letters/number are also in the VIN.

the other number (25514290) is the block part number. The last 3 digits of the turbo blocks (86/87 that is) is 109

Here's a picture of the area you're refering to. You can just barely see the stamped vin number. No there isn't a "full" vin stamped anywhere on the block.

I was to lazy to walk downstairs

 

[S10xGN]

Don't know about your '84 model, but an '87 will have 2 letters followed by 6 numbers, as in HP444444. The "H" is the year, the "P" is the plant code (Pontiac, MI) and the 6 numbers are the VIN (production) sequence.

 

[TurboDave]

Don't know about your '84 model, but an '87 will have 2 letters followed by 6 numbers, as in HP444444. The "H" is the year, the "P" is the plant code (Pontiac, MI) and the 6 numbers are the VIN (production) sequence.

They actually have a number, followed by two letters, 4HP in the above picture example. Not sure what the leading 4 indicates though.

 

[turbofish38]

It appears to be 1EM196960 or maybe 1EH496960

Here's the breakdown

1-Should be a 4 if it is from a Buick
E=1984
H=Flint MI assembly line
496960 VIN sequence

Here are the other first,second and third digit codes used.
1st
1-Chevy
2-Pontiac
3-Olds
4-Buick
5/6-GMC,Import
2nd
A=1980
B=1981
E=1984
F=1985
G=you get it. In alpha-numeric sequence
3rd
P=Pontiac
F=Flint
2=St.Therese,Ontario
R=Arlington,TX
F=Fairfax(KC)
M=Lansing

 

[1dollardog]

Here's the breakdown

1-Should be a 4 if it is from a Buick
E=1984
H=Flint MI assembly line
496960 VIN sequence

Here are the other first,second and third digit codes used.
1st
1-Chevy
2-Pontiac
3-Olds
4-Buick
5/6-GMC,Import
2nd
A=1980
B=1981
E=1984
F=1985
G=you get it. In alpha-numeric sequence
3rd
P=Pontiac
F=Flint
2=St.Therese,Ontario
R=Arlington,TX
F=Fairfax(KC)
M=Lansing

I finally got it broken down last night. The 1 is what is called the "check digit". I'm not sure what that means but that is what it is, and the rest are what you said. The first few letters/numbers of a vin are easy to figure out being that 1G4 would be a buick made in the usa. The next letter/number would be an A for the restraint system for the 84 model year. We know it is an 84 because it was the only year regal was made in the Flint plant already pointed out in the latter part of the vin. After the A would have to be a K because we know it is a turbo motor and that was the only letter/number available for a turbo car. After the K would be

 

[1dollardog]

Here's the breakdown

1-Should be a 4 if it is from a Buick
E=1984
H=Flint MI assembly line
496960 VIN sequence

Here are the other first,second and third digit codes used.
1st
1-Chevy
2-Pontiac
3-Olds
4-Buick
5/6-GMC,Import
2nd
A=1980
B=1981
E=1984
F=1985
G=you get it. In alpha-numeric sequence
3rd
P=Pontiac
F=Flint
2=St.Therese,Ontario
R=Arlington,TX
F=Fairfax(KC)
M=Lansing

I finally got it broken down last night. The 1 is what is called the "check digit". I'm not sure what that means but that is what it is, and the rest are what you said. The first few letters/numbers of a vin are easy to figure out being that 1G4 would be a buick made in the usa. The next letter/number would be an A for the restraint system for the 84 model year. We know it is an 84 because it was the only year regal was made in the Flint plant already pointed out in the latter part of the vin. After the A would have to be a K because we know it is a turbo motor and that was the only letter/number available for a turbo car. After the K would be the number would be 47 for a 2 door regal (it has to be a 2 door regal because the turbo motor wasn't put into a 4 door regal and the turbo riviera wasn't produced in the Flint plant).The next number would be a 9 confirming a turbo motor. So when you put all this together it is 1G4AK4791EH496960. This engine came from a wrecked ttype from Arizona.

 

[turbofish38]

Thats almost correct. On the 84 and older cars the 4th character is always the letter A on the 17 digit VIN. 85 and newer it is the body line. G for G-body Regal.The letter K was for the base Regal. Limited would be the letter M. But the number 1 on your block VIN is not the check digit. I bet if everyone checked their blocks they would all be the number 4 like the pic in Daves example. Here is my block. The check digit on my VIN is the number 6. I dont know maybe 84 is different but that is not the case with the blocks from my 84 and 85 Rivieras. I never checked any of the 4.1 blocks I have. Somewhere I have the formula for determining what the check digit should be. You know turbo and NA shared the same block castings so it's quite possible you have a NA VIN stamped on that block. I'll see if I can post some examples of the NA blocks I have laying around. Really it doesn't matter as like I said, NA and turbo use the same blocks. It's the guts that make the difference.

 

[1dollardog]

Thats almost correct. On the 84 and older cars the 4th character is always the letter A on the 17 digit VIN. 85 and newer it is the body line. G for G-body Regal.The letter K was for the base Regal. Limited would be the letter M. But the number 1 on your block VIN is not the check digit. I bet if everyone checked their blocks they would all be the number 4 like the pic in Daves example. Here is my block. The check digit on my VIN is the number 6. I dont know maybe 84 is different but that is not the case with the blocks from my 84 and 85 Rivieras. I never checked any of the 4.1 blocks I have. Somewhere I have the formula for determining what the check digit should be. You know turbo and NA shared the same block castings so it's quite possible you have a NA VIN stamped on that block. I'll see if I can post some examples of the NA blocks I have laying around. Really it doesn't matter as like I said, NA and turbo use the same blocks. It's the guts that make the difference.

The number is hard to see with the engine still in the car but I'm 99.9% sure it is a 1. If you run a carfax report of this vin# with the check digit "1" It lists it as an 84 Buick Regal TType 3.8 litre SFI turbo. If you try to substitute the check digit "1" for a "4" it lists it as an invalid vin#, please try again. It was probably just an early production 84 thing maybe using blocks pulled from the NA line or something...Stranger things have happened I guess. Like you said, its the gutts that count.