I am trying to identify what my engine came out of and I have searched through the previous post and couldn't find out.
The casting number on my heads is 853 and when I pull the valve cover the number on the inside is 12552203.
My casting number on my block is 12559378.
I looked at a previous post that said that there is a number on the flange between the transmission and the block on the drivers side. I have no number in this location. I have also looked at the mortec site to find the head number and had no luck there either. I am not sure what It came out of so any help is appreciated.

 

I have some limited info on LS1 casting numbers. Your head casting number 853 designates 1997-2000 passenger car (Camaro/Firebird and Corvette). The number under the valve cover should be 12559853 to correspond with the 853 on the end of the head, don't have knowledge of the 12552203 you list, possibly is head assembly number. Are you sure this number is CAST in and not etched or stamped?. As far as the block numbers go, my 99 Camaro motor has casting number 12562174. I also have a 2002 Camaro motor and have a friend with a 2001 Camaro motor and both have 12559378 casting numbers.

I tried unsuccessfully to get members to post their casting numbers to build a database for future reference. I hope some publication comes up with something so we can verify what we have. The only thing I've seen in print is in the May, 2003 issue of GM High-Tech Performance and only covers head numbers.

Nick

 

Hey Nick thanks for your fast reply.

 

I can do one better... Give me the derivative VIN located on the blocks flange above the oil filter by the alignment pin to the trans. It is laser inscribed. And can be a little hard to read. With that I can tell you the exact car the engine came out of

 

Oops I didn't read the whole post another location is in front of the passengers side head on the block, just behind the water pump

 

Swap,
I can't find anything on the block in the area you describe or on the front of the pass head. I have 1334AK with 866365 right below it, on the rear of the driver side head just below where the exhaust manifold bolts on. I also see a label on the front of the head with a bar code on it and a set of numbers if that would help. Another set of numbers in the same place as above from a different motor are 1030XK with 859365 (first number may be a 9). Can you make anything from these?
Nick

 

Not really but I am no expert. I was able to tell on my engine by the derivative vin. There are instruction on how to find it in the helms manuals . Mine are 98's maybe they put it some where else on other years but I doubt it. The derivative vins are hard to read. They look like the same kind of type that a dot matrix printer would print, and are much fainter than the other numbers that are stamped or cast. They are put into the rough casting too I think this is to make them harder to change. I had to use a magnifying glass on mine to see them clearly. If you would like I could e-mail you a picture of mine so we are sure we are talking about the same area

 

That would be great. I am offshore right now but I could use it when I get in. Thanks for all of your help!

 

Is there a website somewhere, that you can look up the V.I.N., to determine what vehicle our LS1 engines came out of? Just curious. Thanks, Ed

 

Not a web site but rather a code laser inscribed into the block. Here is a copy where I explained it in another post.

Actually you can tell the exact car the engine came out of. It is called a derivative vin. the first digit signifies 1 for chev 2 for pontiac. The second digit is the model year v for 97 w for 98 x for 99 y for 2000 and z for 2001( I am not sue what they did after that) the third digit is the assembly plant 2 for St. Therese ( where all f- bodies were built) I think y bodies are built in Detroit or bowling green. ( correct me if I am wrong). Bowleen green is 5 I don't know what Detroit is.. Digits 4-9 are plant sequence.
So if the third digit is 2. it is definitely out of an f-body the number is laser inscribed on the flange where the engine mounts to the trans on the drivers side. This is what they mean by numbers matching if the last 4-9 of the derivative vin match digits 12-17 of your actual vin it is numbers matching. Good luck in your search
here are some casting number ( located just under drivers side head)
12550592...350...97-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12559378...350...99-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12559846...350...98-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12560621...350...98-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12560629...350...99......crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12561168...350...01-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12562174...350...98-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
I can explain how to decode a vin I will use mine as an example. The regular vin goes as follows.
2G1FP22G0W2132624
Digit sequence
1 country of origin 1 for us 2 for Canada ( all f-bodies were made in canada)
2 manufacture G for GM ( all f or y bodies) ( y bodies are vettes)
3 division 1 for chevy 2 for pontiac
4-5 car line series YY for vettes and fp for camaro and fierbirds
6 Body style 2 for two door hatch 3 for convertible
7 restraint system 2 for drivers and passenger air bags ( all vetts and f bodies)
8 engine G for 5.7
9 check digit just insert a 0
10 model year v for 97 w for 98 x for 99 y for 2000 z for 2001
11 assembly plant 2 for all f-bodies 5 for y-bodies ( I think)
12-17 plant sequence
Derivative vin
1 position 3 of actual vin ( division)
2 position 10 of actual vin (model year)
3 position 11 of actual vin (assembly plant)
4-9 position 12-17 of actual vin ( plant sequence)

My derivative vin was 1 (so I knew it was a chevy) ( if it would have been 2 it would have been a pontiac) the second digit was W so I knew it was a 98. The third digit was 2 so I knew it was built in St. Therese Canada, and digits 4-9 were plant sequence.

So knowing that my actual vin would be
2 because I know it was built in St. Therese Canada
G because I know it is GM
1 because my first digit derivative vin told me so
FP because mine was out of an f-body once again because I know it was manufactured in St. Therese where all f- bodies are
2 because I guessed it was out of a hard top and not a convertible which would have been 3 instead
G because I know it is a 5.7 V8
0 Check digit ( I was told it is almost always 0)
W because my derivative vin told me it was a 98
2 because my derivative vin told me it was
132624 also because my derivative vin told me so

So it had to be 2G1FP22G0W2132624 if it was a hard top
Or 2G1FP32G0W2132624 if it was a convertible
Not too complicated LOL


Ps. I will go under and take a pic tomorrow and email it

 

LS1SWAP,
Send me the pic as well. I would like to know where to find the VIN derivitive also.
Thanks,
NickD55@aol.com

 

Pictures sent... let me know if you didn't get them for some reason