Recently had my '00 SSEI'* engine sent out for rebuild (severe knocking noise,
rod about to go out/or spun bearing).*

Shop claims they pulled my engine out (73K miles), sent it out for rebuild, and
reinstalled it -- as opposed to exchanging core.

Any idea where engine identifcation can be found on the 3800 Series II block?

I'd like to check behind the shop and verify that it is *indeed* my engine that
was put back in the car.

Thanks!

* - Don't even get me started! I blame GM.

- Lee

--
2000 Bonneville SSEi, Bronzemist Metallic
No Mods: Just a nice car that I really like, fun to drive, and GM sucks for not
issuing a recall for the upper-intake manifold gasket problem that *does* go
back to the 2000s!

Lee the only marking to show it was your block would have been a sticker attached to the lower block. If a machine shop rebuilt it, they would have hot tanked, painted and done a lot of machining to it. Hence..I'd expect the sticker to be completely gone.

There are 3 locations you might find the VIN
1. The primary location of the VIN derivative for the 3800 engines is above the starter motor on the engine block.
2. The secondary location of the VIN derivative for the 3800 engines is below the water pump on the engine block.
3. The primary location of the Engine ID for the 3800 L36 and L67 engines is under the exhaust manifold close to where the bellhousing bolts to the block.
Any of these locations could be a sticker, lazer etching or a casting stamp.
The derivative is a set number that corrospond to vin characters
derivative position 1 = VIN position 3 Division
derivative position 2 = VIN position 10 Year of the car
derivative position 3 = VIN position 11 assembly plant
derivative position 4 = VIN position 12-17 the serial number on the car.
good luck, hope this helps

Nice, I learned more today. Thanks for the great post.

Thanks for the info! Too bad it is so hard to get to all of those locations,
but I'll look around as best as I can whenever I can get under the car.
(It'* amazing how little of the block is visible with the engine in the car! )

The only visible markings I've been able to find is this, located on the block
just under the thermostat housing (at the right side of the rocker cover):

E160
GM-10

...these are not stamped into the block or on a plate, but are obviously from
when the block was cast.

Anyone have ideas how to decipher them? I've done all kinds of Google
searches on GM 3800 Series II engine identification and haven't found much,
certainly nothing like what you can find for older engines, say, Chevy small
blocks.

Anyway, hopefully the shop that did the work is honest and I didn't end up
with just a used engine. The work is warranted for 12 mos/12K miles at least.

Thanks again,

- Lee

2000 SSEi, Bronzemist Metallic
No mods, all factory: I get into enough trouble racing people @ 95+
(gee, that wouldn't have anything to do with needing a rebuild at 73K
would it?) -- probably don't need any performance mods. <grin>

There is a cast into the block that says "Series !! 3800" ... it'* down lower though. The way I'd try to tell is if the paint is nice and new.

The last few characters of the VIN should be on a machined pad on the passenger side of the engine block, located near the transmission bell housing flange.

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