1969 Chevelle Protect-O-Plate Decoding Engine

ENGINE IDENTIFICATION

The engine identification code consists of the engine assembly plant, the engine assembly date, and a 2 or 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, distributor, and exhaust manifolds were not installed at the engine assembly plant but rather at the final assembly plant.

T = Tonawanda Engine Plant
1104 = November 4
JK = 396/325 L35 w/TH400

Engine Assembly Plant - 1st letter
Code	Assembly Plant
V	Flint, Michigan
*T	Tonawanda Engine Plant

Assembly Month - 1st and 2nd numbers
Number	Month	Number	Month
01	January	02	February
03	March	04	April
05	May	06	June
07	July	08	August
09	September	15	October
*11	*November	12	December

Assembly Day - 3rd and 4th numbers
01...31

Engine			Transmission	Notes
Code	Size	HP
AD	230-1	140	TH-350
AM	230-1	140	Manual-3/4
AN	230-1	140	Powerglide
AO	230-1	140	TH-350
AP	230-1	140	Standard	A.C.
AQ	230-1	140	Powerglide	A.C.
AR	230-1	140	TH-350	A.C.
AS-AU	230-1		Manual-3	Low Compression Engine
AT	230-1		Powerglide	Low Compression Engine
AV	230-1		Manual-3	Low Compression Engine, A.C.
250 ↓
BB	250-1	144-L22	Powerglide Torque Drive
BC	250-1	144-L22	Powerglide	A.C.
BD	250-1	144-L22	TH-350
BE	250-1	144-L22	Manual-3
BF	250-1	144-L22	Standard	A.C.
BH	250-1	144-L22	TH-350	A.C.
BI-BJ	250-1		Powerglide	Low Compression Engine
BK-BW	250-1		Manual-3	Low Compression Engine
307 ↓
DA	307-2	200	Manual-3/4
DC	307-2	200	Powerglide
DD	307-2	200	TH-350
DE	307-2	200	Manual-4
FS	307-2		Manual-3	Low Compression Engine
FT	307-2		Powerglide	Low Compression Engine
350 ↓
HA	350-4	300-L48	Manual-3/4
HB	350-4	300-L48	TH-350
HC	350-2	250-L65	Standard
HD	350-2	250-L65	TH-350
HE	350-4	300-L48	Powerglide
HF	350-2	250-L65	Powerglide
HP	350-4	300-L48	Standard	Heavy Duty Clutch
HQ	350-4	255-LM1	Manual-3/4
HR	350-4	255-LM1	Powerglide
HS	350-4	255-LM1	TH-350
396 ↓
JA	396-4	325-L35	Manual-3/4
JC	396-4	350-L34	Standard
JD	396-4	375-L78	Standard
JE	396-4	350-L34	TH-400
*JK	396-4	325-L35	TH-400
JV	396-4	325-L35	Manual-3/4	Heavy Duty Clutch
KB	396-4	350-L34	Manual-3/4	Heavy Duty Clutch
KD	396-4	375-L78	Standard	Heavy Duty Clutch
KF	396-4	375-L78	TH-400
KG	396-4	375-L89	Standard	Aluminum Heads
KH	396-4	375-L89	TH-400	Aluminum Heads
KI	396-4	375-L89	Manual-3/4	Heavy Duty Clutch, Aluminum Heads *
402 ↓
CJA	402-4	325-L35	Standard
CJC	402-4	350-L34	Standard
CJD	402-4	375-L78	Standard
CJE	402-4	325-L35	TH-400
CJK	402-4	350-L34	TH-400
CJV	402-4	325-L35	Manual-3/4	Heavy Duty Clutch
CKB	402-4	350-L34	Manual-3/4	Heavy Duty Clutch
CKD	402-4	375-L78	Standard	Heavy Duty Clutch
CKF	402-4	375-L78	TH-400
CKG	402-4	375-L89	Standard	Aluminum Heads
CKH	402-4	375-L89	TH-400	Aluminum Heads
CKI	402-4	375-L89	Manual-3/4	Heavy Duty Clutch, Aluminum Heads *
427 ↓
MP	427-4	425-L72	TH-400	COPO
MQ	427-4	425-L72	Manual-4	COPO

* Tonawanda does not show this engine in their production reports but information presented here is from Alan L. Colvin's "...by the numbers..." reference book.