Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

253 engine number codes

Started by _yogie_ , Nov 27 2011 05:36 PM

Please log in to reply

12 replies to this topic

#1 _yogie_

Guests

Posted 27 November 2011 - 05:36 PM

howdy blokes, I have a 253 engine, its for E.G QR123456DM what does the DM stand for.

ta blokes. :driving:

Back to top

#2 S pack

Scrivet Counter

Members
15,727 posts

Name:Dave
Location:Luggage Point
Car:73 LJ
Joined: 25-January 10

Posted 28 November 2011 - 12:52 AM

howdy blokes, I have a 253 engine, its for E.G QR123456DM what does the DM stand for.

ta blokes.

Can't say for sure but it could have been an industrial or marine engine.
AFAIK the initials of the company they were supplied to were stamped near or after the engine number (warranty thingy).

Back to top

#3 yel327

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
13,658 posts

Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 28 November 2011 - 05:22 AM

howdy blokes, I have a 253 engine, its for E.G QR123456DM what does the DM stand for.

ta blokes.

Can you send me a photo of the DM suffix? Never seen that one before.

Back to top

#4 _yogie_

Guests

Posted 28 November 2011 - 04:37 PM

ta blokes will post a pic up tonight

Back to top

#5 rodomo

To advertise here, call 13TORANA

Members
18,041 posts

Name:R - O - B Dammit!
Location:Way out west of Melbourne Awstraylya
Joined: 10-December 05

Posted 28 November 2011 - 11:38 PM

FAIL!

Back to top

#6 _Big Rob_

Guests

Posted 28 November 2011 - 11:55 PM

I have feeling that it's been stamped by the RTA (or back in the day, the DMT). When you had a block decked and the engine number was removed you had to go to the DMT (I'm talking about back in the 70's) to get it restamped and they put that on in case someone else tried to register a car with that engine number.
I used to work in the engine reconditioning industry for a long time and have come across many strange engine numbers, but I'm pretty sure I'm right on this one.
And I'm sure you know, but 'Q' is for HQ and 'R' is for 253.

Hope this helps.

Back to top

#7 Collo

( . Y . )

Members
114,647 posts

Location:Newcastle...Home of me.
Car:A Black POS
Joined: 29-February 08

Posted 29 November 2011 - 12:30 AM

To add to the above, the QR prefix could be from HQ-HZ, depending on the cast date.

Back to top

#8 yel327

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
13,658 posts

Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 29 November 2011 - 09:00 AM

And R alone does not mean 253. It means HIGH COMPRESSION 253. QS or 11QS is LOW COMPRESSION 253 for the same era.

Back to top

#9 _LH8VD69_

Guests

Posted 29 November 2011 - 06:48 PM

And R alone does not mean 253. It means HIGH COMPRESSION 253. QS or 11QS is LOW COMPRESSION 253 for the same era.

It's a strange thing this QR engine prefix cause mine has that and it's a 308. Before I bought it I researched the prefix and the 'R' was referenced as a 253. I thought my engine had been restamped and it's possible that's still the case but I have now seen 2 other cases where QR prefix has been on a 308? Not sure what the go is to be honest.

Back to top

#10 yel327

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
13,658 posts

Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 29 November 2011 - 07:50 PM

Someone has restamped a 308 with a 253 number. Seen heaps of them. Easy way to get a 308 into a Landcruiser,early Holden etc.

Back to top

#11 _Big Rob_

Guests

Posted 01 December 2011 - 11:28 PM

Oh yeah, I must have had 20 or 30 308's with 253 engine numbers. It was just an easy way to stick a 308 in a car that had a 253 without having to go to the DMT to have it changed. Back in the good old days you had to go to the DMT, not your friendly local inspection station that would turn a blind eye to some mods.
The last thing I needed was to turn up to have it changed and then get a defect notice for wheels, cage, suspension height, etc.
I'm sure I wasn't alone.........

And yeah, I forgot about the low comp 253 yel327, they were a bit rare anyway and not high on the desirability list.

Back to top

#12 _LHSL308_

Guests

Posted 02 December 2011 - 12:58 AM

And R alone does not mean 253. It means HIGH COMPRESSION 253. QS or 11QS is LOW COMPRESSION 253 for the same era.

Yep the R does stand for the high compression 253, I had one 20 years ago and just sold the block for like $100 2 years ago. I had a mate who I dragged which had a 253 4 speed and I killed him, then he went and got his engine rebuilt, spent like 5K on it with new everything and we dragged again and I beat him again. At the time both of us couldnt figure out why my stock 253 would blow his worked 253 away.

When finding out about the high compression prefix numbers made perfect sense and the fact that the engine was just a beauty for a 253. I guess having an auto and he having the 4 speed might have helped a smidge too.

If only I still had it.

Back to top

#13 yel327

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
13,658 posts

Joined: 10-February 08

Posted 02 December 2011 - 05:17 AM

There are a few different high compression 253's, but they make up maybe 99% of those built. You rarely find 253L, QS, 11QS, HS, ZS, NS or BS prefix engines (all low comp). They are nearlly always 253H, QR, 11QR, HR, ZR, 11ZR (export), VR, NR, N5R or WR. You'd be pretty lucky (or unlucky) to find a car with its original low comp 253. This is from memory, the early high comp 253's (HT-HJ and LH-early LX) had around 9.0:1 compression. The pre ADR27A 308 got an increase from 9:1 to 9.7:1 at HJ release but the 253 didn't. When the ADR27A engines were released with HX (and some late HJ) they went to 9.4:1 but were strangled otherwise. Wayne, maybe yours had a lower ratio diff or it was one of the later 9.4:1 engines that someone had put a decent cam and exhaust into it?