What engine came in my '65 impala SS ?

3deuces

New Member
I can NOT for the life of me figure out what engine (other than the fact that it was an 8cyl) came in my '65 Impala SS. I've looked all over the net, and can't find anything. Where should I be looking on the VIN/Body Tag to find the engine codes? Thank you for your help!
 

tripowerguy

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 3
Didn't 65's have fender emblems that denoted engine size. In 63 they started putting 409 fender tags and I thought 65 Chevrolet put fender tags denoting engine size other than the 6. Of course if the car had fender tags you would'nt have posted this. But I know I have seen 65's or 66's with fender tags of 396 and 327.:dunno Roy
 

ROYALOAK62

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 1
What engine came in my 65 Impala SS

If you have an engine in the car now or you don't, the V8 engines for the Impala SS are the following.

Base V8
283 ci , 195 hp with Rochester (7024101) 2-barrel, code #GA or GC

Optional V8
283 ci , 220 hp with Rochester (7024024) 4-barrel, code #GK or GL (NOT SURE IF THE SS HAD THIS ENGINE, AS THE BOOK ONLY SHOWS CHEVROLET NOT SS. ALL OTHERS ARE LISTED AS THEY WERE USED ON THE SS)

327 ci , 250 hp with Carter (3846247) 4-barrel, code #HA or HC

327 ci , 300 hp with Dual exhaust and Carter (3851761) 4-barrel, code #HB or HD

396 ci , 325 hp with Carter (3851761) or Rochester (7025200) 4-barrel, code #IA, LF, IC, IG, II, LB, IV, IC, IW, or IB

409 ci , 340 hp with Dual exhaust and Rostester (7025123) 4-barrel, RPO code #L33, engine code JB, JC, JE or JF

409 ci , 400 hp with Dual exhaust and Carter (3855581) 4-barrel, RPO code #L31, engine code JA or JD

Dave
 

1958 delivery

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
so there's no way of knowing if it had a 283, 327, etc.?


There are little things that will point you towards what it had, things like just single exhaust mounts under body indicating it had a single exhaust V-8, radiator size, if it's original. But what's the point. The original engine is long gone, make it the way you like it.
 

3deuces

New Member
Here's what I've come up with for the numbers I have:

VIN: 166375JXXXXXX ('65 Impala SS 2dr Sport Coupe)
11C : November, 3rd week
ST 65-16637: Impala 2dr sport coupe, 8cyl
Body - JAN3622: ?
TR 879: Impala SS, red interior, vinyl, bucket seats
Paint R-R: Regal Red lower & upper body color
E: Tinted Glass
2L: 4 speed, M21, M22
3C: Padded Dash
5W: Right Exterior Mirror

Is what I've come up with correct? I can't find and RPO numbers for the engine... where would those be? Thanks again for everyone's help.
 

1958 delivery

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
Here's what I've come up with for the numbers I have:

VIN: 166375JXXXXXX ('65 Impala SS 2dr Sport Coupe)
11C : November, 3rd week
ST 65-16637: Impala 2dr sport coupe, 8cyl
Body - JAN3622: ?
TR 879: Impala SS, red interior, vinyl, bucket seats
Paint R-R: Regal Red lower & upper body color
E: Tinted Glass
2L: 4 speed, M21, M22
3C: Padded Dash
5W: Right Exterior Mirror

Is what I've come up with correct? I can't find and RPO numbers for the engine... where would those be? Thanks again for everyone's help.


That's a nice combo. Most 65's seemed to be blue or white. A red on red 4spd car iSS is very very nice. Which engine turns you on?
 

bobs409

 
Administrator
I've been trying to complile a list of ways to tell if a car had a 348 or 409 for each year. This may help you to see if it was a 409 car at least. I made a post about this a while back and some members helped by submitting some info. Here is what I have for 1965:

*All 409 cars had ballast resistor on firewall
*all 409's had a fuel return line
*larger radiator
*No AC on high performance 409's. (63-65 for sure, not certain on 62?)
*340hp 409 cars had a Heavy Duty unit. The HD/PG is easy to tell apart from a STD/PG as the case is larger and has a giant "H" cast into the top of the bell housing
*12 bolt rear
*4-link rear suspension (the left rear upper control arm is unique to 409s and station wagons)
*14X6" rims
*Fan shroud-409 fan shrouds have left and right upper gussets spot welded between the ring and the frame. BBC '65-'66 shrouds dont have these.
*dual exhaust


Just disregard the powerglide part as yours is a 4 speed.

Other than that, have you checked under the seats for a build sheet? They could be many other places too but I wouldn't recommend tearing the car up over it, sometimes a car didn't have one. (although, some had 3!)

Bob
 

real61ss

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 8
Bob,
I believe some corrections may be needed to the list you posted. My comments are in red.





*All 409 cars had ballast resistor on firewall
*all 409's had a fuel return line '61 & '62 409's did not have return lines
*larger radiator
*No AC on high performance 409's. (63-65 for sure, not certain on 62?) solid lifter 409's were not available with A/C
*340hp 409 cars had a Heavy Duty unit. The HD/PG is easy to tell apart from a STD/PG as the case is larger and has a giant "H" cast into the top of the bell housing
*12 bolt rear
*4-link rear suspension (the left rear upper control arm is unique to 409s and station wagons) I don't know of any factory installation of the left arm other than maybe the Z-11 cars
*14X6" rims 6" rims were available in '63 & '64 but not standard on any 409 unless the motor was factory installed in a station wagon
*Fan shroud-409 fan shrouds have left and right upper gussets spot welded between the ring and the frame. BBC '65-'66 shrouds dont have these.
*dual exhaust
 

Rockfish39

 
Supporting Member 1
*14X6" rims 6" rims were available in '63 & '64 but not standard on any 409 unless the motor was factory installed in a station wagon

Beg to differ with you (just a little) good buddy. All five of mine are 14*6 date coded (March) '65s and sported 8.20*14 tires originally. Oddly, all five of them are also stamped 65-GM-W on the face of the wheel hubs. I wonder if that means "W" referred to 409?? or "W" as in Wagon ??? :scratch They could have been shared between the two of them I guess... But I'm fairly certain that all '65 409 cars came with 14*6 rims and 8.20*14 tires from the factory.

Let's change directions a little... Here is an interesting eBay ad I saw just yesterday...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...ategoryZ6169QQihZ019QQitemZ290106312669QQrdZ1

I'm curious as to what you all think (I have my opinion of it) , Is this an original L-78 convertible??? or isnt it??? The difference could be worth many thousands of dollars.
 

real61ss

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 8
Rock,
You are correct. When I think of the 409's, I think of the '61 to '64 cars. I don't mean to exclude the '65 cause I know they are special cars. They are a different frame and body style. I had a '66 427/425 and it had 6" wheels with 8:25x14 tires.
Thanks for correcting me.
 

1958 delivery

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 2
*14X6" rims 6" rims were available in '63 & '64 but not standard on any 409 unless the motor was factory installed in a station wagon

Beg to differ with you (just a little) good buddy. All five of mine are 14*6 date coded (March) '65s and sported 8.20*14 tires originally. Oddly, all five of them are also stamped 65-GM-W on the face of the wheel hubs. I wonder if that means "W" referred to 409?? or "W" as in Wagon ??? :scratch They could have been shared between the two of them I guess... But I'm fairly certain that all '65 409 cars came with 14*6 rims and 8.20*14 tires from the factory.

Let's change directions a little... Here is an interesting eBay ad I saw just yesterday...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...ategoryZ6169QQihZ019QQitemZ290106312669QQrdZ1

I'm curious as to what you all think (I have my opinion of it) , Is this an original L-78 convertible??? or isnt it??? The difference could be worth many thousands of dollars.


Unfortunately since GM didn't vin code these, everything can be re-created on that car to make it appear to be original. Buyer beware. Plus his statement of how many is nothing more than a some what educated guess, no production records are in existance from GM.
 

bobs409

 
Administrator
Thanks for helping Tommy. The fuel return line I listed was really only aimed at 1965. Didn't mean to sound like all years had it. From my info, 63-65 was the only years for this.

I'll update my info for the AC though. I wasn't sure on 61 & 62 but now thanks to you, I am. :)


Bob
 

real61ss

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 8
"Would the fuel line size determine big block or small block ?"


Depends on what year model you are referring too. If you are referring to '61...yes, if the car had a 3/8" fuel line that appeared to be original, that would be a good indicater that the car may have been a 348.

Later years......the 300/327 also had the 3/8" fuel line.
 
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