Its NOT a Sandman question but I hope you can help.

**SNDMN** · 14-10-2010, 10:05 PM

Hi All ... Since finding/reading many postings on this site I have now found a fantastic forum full of helpful members wishing to share their incredible amount of knowledge with each other.

Although this is not a Sandman related question I was wondering with all the wisdom here if I run it by you, someone might be able to share any info about this engine in my Torana.

It's a 3/79 plated UC Torana with a ZL prefix 202 red motor in it. Now everywhere I look ZL always comes up as a "late HZ" engine and a UC Torana should have a HL, HM, XQL or XQM.

I am the third owner and still have the original Vehicle ID Certificate stapled in the front of the Owners book with the ZL engine listed as what it was delivered with new on 20/4/79.

Did GMH just fit up whatever they had lying around or are the prefixes not as accurate as on would hope ... confused???

Appreciate any thoughts

Cheers Tony

**HK1837** · 15-10-2010, 07:05 AM

Auto LX and UC Toranas with ADR27A got 6cyl engines from the W sized vehicles (HQ-HZ). In Torana they had an X in front of the HX or HZ engine, hence XQL, XQD etc. So it is normal for a UC to have XZL. If it has ZL instead of XZL it is just a Dandenong plant stuff-up. The X is stamped away from the rest of the number, and is a different font as it is hand stamped, just like the 11 or 12 in front of HQ-WB Statesman engines.

**SNDMN** · 15-10-2010, 07:44 AM

Thanks for that HK1837, it now all makes sense ... I'll go and re-check the stamping to see if I can find an X.

Speaking of hand stamped ... I have another Q for you if you don't mind. Can ID tags for the Body, trim, paint running gear etc be hand stamped/stamped from the front or are they meant to be reverse stamped like the VIN and Drivers side tag?

I am looking at an Adelaide built 74 HQ GTS 4 door that has a passender side tag that is not reverse stamped like the VIN tag and Drivers tag is. I have only ever found one other tag like this on a HJ which was also from Adelaide. Is this common for that era? The stamping is very straight like it was done in a proper jig or something. At work we used to stamp the comp plates for motorcyles we imported in the 80's & 90's by hand and could never get them that straight.

Would like some info on this if you can help as I'm pretty keen on this GTS as all the info on the tag makes it a genuine 4 door.

Thanks again for your help, much appreciated ... cheers Tony

**mr.jones** · 15-10-2010, 09:02 AM

Adel body tags only were stamped down up till at least Sept 75. What month is the GTS/4 you are looking at I can give you a range of numbers that the PSN chassis and body no should be to match. Or put the numbers up and then it will be easy to tell.

Leroy