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How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:46 pm
by Cottees
- Australian built -

For example :
M571V12345

#1 : Engine Series
T = Saturn
M = Astron
V = Astron (Magna)

#2 : Engine Capacity
3 = 1.6L
4 = 2.0L
5 = 2.6L

#3 : Performance (Pre-1981)
3 = Standard Performance
5 = Turbo

#3 : Type (Post-1984)
1 = Non Silent shaft North-South
3 = Silent shaft North-South
6 = North-South 1985 spec (Astron II - Leaded)
7 = North-South 1986 spec (Astron II - Unleaded)

#4 : Transmission
1 = Automatic
2 = Manual

#5 : year
J = 1977
K = 1978
L = 1979
M = 1980
N = 1981
O = 1982
P = 1983
Q = ?
R = ?
S = 1984
T = 1985
U = 1986
V = 1987

#6 - #10 :
The engine's serial number


I got some of the info from here : http://www.network54.com/Forum/133789/t ... ron+2+help+-
I'll update it when I find more info, or when people flame me for getting something wrong.

- Imported engine (ie. GH Sigma/Scorpion)

For Example:
54AB1234

#1
2 - 1.6L Saturn
54 - 2.6L Astron

#2 - Serial Number
AA0201-YY9999


- Imported Engine (ie. 1st Gen Lancer)

For Example:
52J12345

#1
3 - 4G33
2 - 4G32
6 - 4G36
52 - 4G52

#2 - Serial Number
A00101 - Y99999

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:10 pm
by COBWBS
well done dude.

Very good..

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:48 pm
by GC75
good addition :mrgreen:

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:27 pm
by Cottees
I had seen this info before, but I keep losing it. So I thought that the best place for info like that was on here. I was looking for it again cause I wanted to see what my engine was. That engine number is pretty much what my engine is, except for the 5 digit serial.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:10 pm
by Sigmaproject
Ha , that was my post back in 2004 :shock: That was good forum, most of the guys have moved on :roll:

The difference between 85 and 86 spec Astron II's is one is leaded and the other unleaded.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:45 pm
by BrianO
Hi all,i was just checking my engine mumber and according to the info posted the first letter signifies an Astron engine but my 2.6 magna engine has a Y as the first digit.All other letters and numbers check out correct.My engine is Y571U15762.Therefore checks out as Magna -86 -unleaded-auto block-last 5 letters eng number.Cheers.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:37 pm
by Cottees
BrianO wrote:Hi all,i was just checking my engine mumber and according to the info posted the first letter signifies an Astron engine but my 2.6 magna engine has a Y as the first digit.All other letters and numbers check out correct.My engine is Y571U15762.Therefore checks out as Magna -86 -unleaded-auto block-last 5 letters eng number.Cheers.
I also noticed this the last time I was at U-Pull-It when I was looking at Magnas. I'll update the first post with this new info.

It could be M is north-south Astron where as Y is an east-west Astron. The 'Y' engine in a magna is east-west, yet it is using '7' as the 3rd number, which I have seen as being north-south. Once I have more evidence of what I have stated, I'll change the first post to reflect it.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 6:19 am
by galantgrunt
Hi, I have been reading through this post and searching else where, i am just trying to work out what year this engine block is. Any ideas, or do you no where i can find out? eg, rta? who would have these records?

Was sold to me as a 2.0ltr Sigma engine
# M431N53790

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:17 pm
by GB_BB4C
M431N53790

M - Astron
4 - 1995cm3 - 2lt
3 - Silent Shaft North-South
1 - Auto
N - Year
53790 - Serial Number

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:19 pm
by tango76hardtop
i always thought mine is a 2.6 series2 astron but going by this its a 2.0 and my #3 and #5 digit isnt listed my engine number is m432p62545 heres a pic of it, would it be a 2.6 head on a 2.0 block
Image

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 6:48 pm
by Sigmaproject
-
Your valve cover is from an imported 4g. model, so maybe the engine is from a Scorp or a commercial.

One sure way of picking an Australian Astron ll is the lack of balance shaft covers

It is hard to tell with imports because they all use blocks with removable balance shaft covers.

And just to confuse things Astron 80's didnt have balance shafts at all

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:46 pm
by galantgrunt
Thanks GB but i already worked that out from the previous posts what I really need to no is what year it is, or how I can find out? I guess i need to know how to prove this to the engineer and rta.

If no one can tell me where i would go to find out exactly would it be safe to have a guess? what would others do? Im hoping it's pre 1986 I am going to have a guess and say late 70's. Could it be a 1977 2.0ltr from the first of the sigma's? That would be nice as it is the same year as my car.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:59 pm
by tango76hardtop
Sigmaproject wrote:-
Your valve cover is from an imported 4g. model, so maybe the engine is from a Scorp or a commercial.

One sure way of picking an Australian Astron ll is the lack of balance shaft covers

It is hard to tell with imports because they all use blocks with removable balance shaft covers.

And just to confuse things Astron 80's didnt have balance shafts at all
my one dosnt have balance shaft covers on the side but it does have a big bulge where its at so i couldnt use the starter motor from my astron 1 motor and had to use an magna shorter smaller starter motor

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:24 pm
by Sigmaproject
If you have the bulge and no cover it is an Astron ll 2.6

Maybe someone has did a job on the engine number.

Also, all of the Sigma/Scorp starter motors I have are a fair bit shorter than the Magna starter that I fitted to the wagon.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:02 pm
by galantgrunt
Hi guys just emailed Ron at coltspeed and found out that the engine year is in alphabetical order should of realised.
J=1977
k==1978
L==1979
M==1980
N==1981
So that answers my question my block is 1981

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:35 pm
by Manelite
galantgrunt wrote:Hi guys just emailed Ron at coltspeed and found out that the engine year is in alphabetical order should of realised.
J=1977
k==1978
L==1979
M==1980
N==1981
So that answers my question my block is 1981
ok what is mine
W531C41371

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 1:44 pm
by stealth
yeah ive got to say i think were still missing things here
here five different blocks that i have here
1)
4G54
54AS5659
2)
4G54
54B07604
3)
M572U0156
4)V572W17574
5)V510F02317
now a couple of these fall into the system but what about the others?
cheers stealth (H)

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 7:30 pm
by galantgrunt
Well I went and had a look at the vehicle data information supplied by the rta to inspection stations and I could not find any example of my engine number. There were M5341M but no M431N and there were other numbers that were close, but no cigar. Mind you they are labelled as examples. I was wondering where GB_BB4C got your information from have you got any suggestions as to where I might get this same information in writing? You have stated that the 3 denotes silent shaft. Again have you got this in writing?

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:06 am
by GB_BB4C
The first one is from a GH workshop manual, the second scan is from a GK workshop manual. Hope this helps.

Image

Image

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:37 pm
by tango76hardtop
thanks this helped me except for the year mine has the letter P which isnt listed. Im starting to think someone has changed my engine number cos going by this my motor is a 2litre but im sure it's a 2.6. Did the astron 2l come in wideblock cos mine is a wide block.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:01 pm
by galantgrunt
Thanks mate for posting those scanned images the engineer took a copy and was satisfied with what he saw. I think the years go in alphabetical order so I believe P would be 1983.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:47 am
by Rally_2.6LC
Just another number I thought I would throw in here.......my old block (before it destroyed itself) was V51126563. I called Mitsubishi and gave them that number saying "I bought a car with this modified engine, I need to know what it is originally out of so I can get some parts for it".......the response "this sounds a bit sus" fired back with "think what ever you will its only a 4cyilnder mitsubishi engine so either way the engine or the car it came from isnt worth very much"
The lady punched it into the computer and it came up with TP Magna. Thats all she gave me, and thats all I wanted.


Cheers Matt

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:31 pm
by Rally_2.6LC
stealth wrote:yeah ive got to say i think were still missing things here
here five different blocks that i have here
1)
4G54
54AS5659
2)
4G54
54B07604
3)
M572U0156
4)V572W17574
5)V510F02317
now a couple of these fall into the system but what about the others?
cheers stealth (H)

Stealth your V blocks are most likely 2.6L magna as my old block was a 2.6 magna and was V51126563
if you do find out what the first and second one are out of that would be extremely helpful to me as my current block is
4G54
54bK9422
had someone suggest might be out of an early pajero with the 2.6L in them or possibly an import engine.....i only need to know the year its from for my engieneer so i need to know if i need a cat or not.........the hunt continues


Cheers Matt

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:40 pm
by trainzkid88
i have an m57 engine in my sigma and when you go to get parts and tell them that they look at you funny as if you don't know what your on about and that your wrong and its a 4g54 when the owners book doesn't say that. i have had 4g54's before in a triton which is listed in the owner book for a triton atleast this info has answered some quetions for me.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 10:40 am
by natsroy
Hi guys I'm a bit of a newby to the mitsy scene and Im trying to Id the engine in my 82 l200 ute. It was originaly a 1600cc and it has had a 4g52 put in it. I have read this forum and still dont know what this engine is out of ,the engine number is 52f46620 if anyone can help any info would be happily recieved Cheers

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 12:46 pm
by Cottees
natsroy wrote:the engine number is 52f46620
That kind of engine number would mean it is an imported engine from probably Japan. It would have either come out of a Japanese built car that was released in Australia, or imported from Japan as a low km import engine.

Edit: I have also edited the first post to add import engines.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 8:31 am
by armor117
can some one plz help me out iam trying to find out whats in my ge the numbers are g52b 52e93963

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:21 am
by simon
Hi all,
I am trying to figure out what vehicle a 2 litre astron motor has come out of.

Engine number is 4g52 52BL2722

Obviously it is a 2 litre astron - quite possibly from an L200 or L300, but I can't find any info on how to work out what it is from

Any help would be appreciated

Regards Simon

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:26 am
by geezer101
Some one will jump on me if I'm wrong on this one, but I'm sure the L200/L300's only came out with Sirius belt drive engines from 1.6 to 2 litre until they updated the L300's to a 2.4 litre engine. So your 4G52 will be sourced from an early Scorpion or Sigma.

Re: How to read the serial number on an Astron block.

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:11 pm
by simon
Thanks for your reply,
I thought that the 2 litre astrons in the sigmas were Australian built motors with Australian numbers on them as explained earlier in the thread. I had an L200 4 x 4 1982 model and it had a 2 litre astron motor. I am trying to find out what the motor is out of for an engineers report

Simon