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Some Technical information including information on engines, transmissions and what those compliance plates actually mean.

Torana Codes

  • 8UG69 Torana S 1900cc.

  • 8UH69 Torana SL 1900cc.

  • 8UH77 Torana SL (ex) or Sunbird hatchback.

  • 8VB69 Torana S (six or V8) sedan.

  • 8VC69 Torana SL (six or V8).

  • 8VC77 Torana SL (six or V8) hatchback.

  • 8VD69 Torana SL/R sedan.

  • 8VD69 Torana SL/R 5000.

  • 8VD69 Torana SL/R 5000 A9X sedan.

  • 8VD77 Torana SS Hatchback.

  • 8VD77 Torana SS A9X hatchback.

Transmission

  • MC6 four-speed Torquemaster (Filipino) floor-shift manual (1900cc model only).

  • M15 three-speed column-shift manual (RHD six-cylinder only).

  • MC2 three-speed column-shift manual (LHD six-cylinder only).

  • M20 four-speed floor-shift manual (Australian).  All models except 5.0 litre.

  • M21 four-speed close-ratio floor-shift manual (Australia).  5.0 litre only.

  • MC7 four-speed Bourg-Warner Super T-10 floor-shift manual (some A9X only).

  • M40 three-speed Tri-matic floor or column-shift automatic.  Except 5.0 litre.

Engines

Engine Size                                      Compression ratio            Output (Kw)          Engine No Prefix

​Prior to July '77 (ADR 27)

1900cc low-comp (ex)                  8.6:1                                        74                           Y

1900cc hi-comp                              9.0:1                                        76                           Y

2850cc (173ci) low-comp            8.3:1                                        71                            HE

2850cc (173ci) hi-comp               9.4:1                                        78                            HD

3300cc (202ci) low-comp (ex)   7.8:1                                         75                           HM

3300cc (202ci) hi-comp              9.4:1                                          82                           HL

4200cc (253ci)                                9.0:1                                         130                          HR

5000cc (308ci)                                9.7:1                                         186                          HT

July '77 onwards (ADR 27)

1900cc                                              9.0                                             72                          Y

2850cc (173ci) manual              8.3                                              78                          HE or XQE

2850cc (173ci) automatic         9.4                                              87                         HD or XQD

3300cc (202ci) manual              7.8                                              81                          HM or XQM

3300cc (202ci) automatic        9.4                                              88                          HL or XQL

4200cc (253ci)                              9.0                                            120                          HR

5000cc (308ci)                              9.2                                            161                          HT

+ (ex) export.

Compliance Plates

Chassis and Eng numbers can tell us important things about our vehicles, and even confirm the originality or authenticity of our machines. 
Looking from the front of the car, the plate on the firewall are, from left-to-right: 
Safety Compliance Plate (ADR plate) on the left, 
VIN Plate in the centre
Body Identification Plate on the right.

Safety Compliance Plate

(Location: Drivers Side Firewall)
The ADR plate includes manufacture dates, model name 
and style (eg. LX Torana Coupe) and serial number. 
Example:

​

 THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED BY
     GENERAL MOTORS-HOLDEN'S PTY LTD
TO COMPLY WITH AUSTRALIAN DESIGN RULES-NOS.

      1,2,3,4C,5B,6,7,8,10B,11,12,14,15
      16,18,20,21,22A,23,24,25,27,28
                   HOLDEN
               LX TORANA COUPE
9-75                              ALX000011A
GVW            LBS           SEATING CAP. 5
THIS PLATE IS AFFIXED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE
AUSTRALIAN MOTOR VEHICLE CERTIFICATION BOARD.

​

ADR's - JULY 76 on will have 27A.
Make - HOLDEN
Model, Name and Style - LX, TORANA, COUPE
Month and Year of Manufacture
Vehicle Serial Number
Seating Capacity

​

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

The VIN Plate Includes alot of info about the vehicle. It is a 14 character code. 
Example:

      8D77TFJ496723X       

​

8 - GMH, all Holdens start with 8 
D - Series/Degree of Luxury. B = 'S', C = 'SL', D = 'SL/R' or 'SS', G = 4cyl 'S' 
77 - body style, 69 = sedan, 77 = coupe/hatch 
T - engine code, T - 308, R - 253, L/M - 202, D/E - 173, Y - 1900cc 
F - Year, E-75, F-76, G-77, H-78, changes 1st Sept. for year 1Sept. to 31Aug.
J4 - Assembly Plant and Production Line, H1-4 = Bris, H5-9 = Syd, 
J = Dandenong, L = Adel 
96723 - Sequential Production Serial - assigned to all vehicles regardless of type, so this was the 96723rd vehicle produced at this plant. 
X - Model Code designation for each model programme, eg. LH - H, LX - X

​

Body Identification Plate
The Body Identification Plate is stamped with a bit of info. 
From Top to Bottom, 
MODEL: - for example LX8VD77: LX = Model Series, 8 = Manufacturer as above, V = 6&V8 (U = 4cylinder), D = degree of luxury as above, 77 = body shape as above.
BODY No.: - eg. 496723M which corresponds to the VIN, M indicating Melb Plant. 
TRIM: eg 1916-18X, Slate Black vinyl & cloth trim. 
PAINT: eg 568-17777, Papaya
TOP: if the top was a different colour or had a vinyl roof, it is marked here. 
Then across the Bottom, 
ENG. eg.L31 TRANS. eg.M21 RR.AXLE eg.GU7 
ENG. = L31 - 308 V8, L32 - 253 V8, L34 = High performance 308 V8 - LH only, L20 - ,LD1 - 173 6cyl.
TRANS. = M40 - Trimatic, M20 - std ratios, M21 - close ratio V8 box, T10 

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