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Holden HSV Gts Engine Number
Use this guide to locate the engine number on your Holden HSV Gts and line up the right engine-related parts enquiry.
The HSV GTS was Holden Special Vehicles' flagship high-performance sedan, a top-spec V8 hero built on the Commodore across the HSV era from the early 1990s through to 2017. It ran from the 5.0-litre and later stroked Holden V8s to the LS-family engines, culminating in the supercharged 6.2-litre LSA of the final Gen-F GTS.
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 GTS was always the range-topping V8, but the specific engine depends on the series, so confirm which one you have before ordering driveline parts. Early cars used the 5.0-litre Holden V8 and later a stroked version of that engine, the VT through VY generations moved to the LS1-based Callaway-developed V8, and the VE E-Series stepped up to the LS2 and then the LS3, before the Gen-F GTS adopted the supercharged 6.2-litre LSA (widely quoted at around 430 kW, though verify against the individual car). Locate the engine code and the stamped engine number and match them to the build plate to confirm the unit is correct for that series. Note that HSV ran its own tune and specification on these engines, so the GTS state of tune can differ from the equivalent Holden V8, and exact outputs should be checked for the specific model year rather than assumed.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the engine number on a Holden HSV Gts?
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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