1960 Buick Invicta engine ID

[fhogeweg]

Hi everyone,

 

i am working on a 1960 Buick Invicta convertible with some engine problems. 

We aren’t sure what kind of engine we are dealing with. The original should be a 401, but how can we tell that there is still the original motor in the car after all those years?

 

we found this number on the engine: 1190451

 

what else can we try to sort this out before ordering parts and maybe ending up with the wrong ones. 

 

Thanks Ferdy 

[GARY F]

Cant help but maybe post down in the Buick section.

[Bill Stoneberg]

The engine production code, which is stamped on the front of the block near where the head attaches, does give engine data. The number is in the form AB123. The engine serial number will also be stamped on the block somewhere nearby. It will be the last 8 characters of the VIN and will tell if the engine is the one which came in the car.

 

 

1960	V-8 364* Standard engine	3G
	V-8 364*	L3G low comp. engine "regular gas option" auto. trans.
	V-8 401*	4G

[fhogeweg]

We found another number at the front off the engine: 4G4006709

what would that tell us?

 

thanks again for helping out!

[sean1997]

What it tells you depends on what side of the engine it is from.  Since it is 9 digits long, I'm guessing it is from the driver side of the engine, which makes it the car/engine serial number. This number decodes as follows:

 

4G4006709
4= Series 4400/LeSabre
G = 1960 model year
4 = built at Kansas City, KS
006709 = sequential number, range for KC was 001001 to 032090

 

You said you were working on an Invicta, if this was the original numbers matching engine then the engine serial number should start with a 6 and match the serial number plate in the driver door jamb. This engine is from a LeSabre, so you will need to find the engine production code.  The engine production code will be found in the same location on the passenger side and it is usually less than 9 digits long.  Bill listed two of the engine production codes used in 1960, the complete list is:

 

L3G = low comp. 364 V8
3G = 364 V8
4G - 401 V8

 

The format AB123 didn't start until the 1963 model year, so in 1960 the numbers following the engine production code are a sequential number, which can be upto 6 digits long since 1960 Buick production was 253,999.  My guess is the engine production code will start with 3G, making it a 364 nailhead V8.