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Holden HSV Caprice Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden HSV Caprice and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The HSV Caprice is a long-wheelbase luxury-performance sedan built by Holden Special Vehicles on the Holden Caprice/Statesman platform, pairing the extended body with HSV styling, chassis and V8 running gear. It is closely related to the HSV Grange, HSV's long-wheelbase flagship, and is best understood as an HSV interpretation of the standard Holden Caprice/Statesman.
Where to find your Holden engine number
The stamped engine number is on a machined pad on the block. Its location depends on the engine family:
- Inline six-cylinder: on a pad on the right-hand side of the block, above the engine-mount boss.
- V8 (253 / 308, 4.2 / 5.0 litre): on a pad on the left-hand side of the block, above the engine mounting.
- V6 (Buick-derived, Ecotec, Alloytec): on the front left-hand face of the block, below the ignition coil.
- Later V6 and LS V8 models: the build / engine plate sits on the radiator support panel (VT-VZ era) or the passenger-side strut tower (VE / VF era).
You may need to wipe the pad clean to read the stamped number, and on air-conditioned cars the compressor can sit in front of it. Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix (for example 186S or a Q-series V8 code), while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
For the most accurate part match, send us both the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, along with whether the car is automatic or manual.
On this model
The HSV Caprice is V8-powered, using the HSV performance V8 of its era, which broadly means the earlier 5.0-litre V8 on older cars and the later Gen III/IV LS-family V8s on newer ones. Confirm the engine by its casting or engine code and the stamped engine number rather than assuming outputs, as exact specification varies by series and build. Because this designation overlaps closely with the HSV Grange and the base Holden Caprice/Statesman, check the engine identifiers against those related models when confirming the unit. Treat any specific power or capacity figures as unverified until checked against the actual engine code and build documentation.
⤢ Tap to enlargeThis page also draws on later year-by-year data for Holden Caprice to cover modern variants.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden HSV Caprice?
It is stamped on a machined pad on the engine block. Inline sixes are on the right side above the engine mount, the 253/308 V8s on the left side above the mount, and the V6 engines on the front left face below the ignition coil. You may need to wipe the pad clean to read it.
What is the difference between an engine prefix and an engine code?
Older Holden engines use a capacity-plus-tune prefix stamped on the block, while modern engines (Ecotec, Alloytec and the LS V8 family) use a GM engine code plus a separate stamped serial.
Do you match engine numbers to parts?
Yes. Send us the engine code or prefix and the full stamped number, plus whether the car is automatic or manual, and we will match the right engine-related part.
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