Pontiac VIN Engine Codes

One character of the VIN tells you which engine a Pontiac left the factory with. Find the model year, then the character, below.

Covers these models: GTO. Each engine opens its own spec page.

Decode a VIN

Paste a 17-character VIN to see which engine the vehicle left the factory with.

Which VIN character is the engine code

Model	Years	Engine code is the
GTO	1964	not in the VIN
GTO	1965–1971	not in the VIN
GTO	1972–1974	5th character

The VIN tells you what the vehicle left the factory with. Engines get swapped, so check the stamp or label on the engine too.

Pontiac engine codes by year

Year	VIN code	Engine	Rated	Models
1972	T	400 V8	250 hp net	GTO
1972	X	455 V8 (LS5)	300 hp net	GTO
1972	Y	455 V8	250 hp net	GTO
1973	T	400 V8	230 hp net	GTO
1973	Y	455 V8	250 hp net	GTO
1974	K	350 V8	200 hp net	GTO
2004	G	5.7L / 346 V8 (LS1)	350 hp net	GTO
2005	U	6.0L / 364 V8 (LS2)	400 hp net	GTO
2006	U	6.0L / 364 V8 (LS2)	400 hp net	GTO

Years without a row are not yet confirmed.

Where the engine code is stamped

• Pontiac V8 (389/400/455/350) — Engine code (two letters from 1965; a number-letter code in 1964) stamped on the pad on the front of the passenger-side (right-hand) bank of the block, just below the cylinder head, with the engine production/unit number stamped above it.

More

• VIN engine codes for other makes
• Pontiac GTO engines by year