Title of the thread indicates LEA/LE5.

 

By golly, I didn’t see that, musta not had my glasses on.

 

Alright everyone, just spent the whole of Black Friday at U-Pull-it. Took the heads off of an LAF, LE5, LE8, and an LE9. Lots of pictures, including some VINs and oil-filter housing stampings.

To summarize my findings: The LE8 and LE9 short blocks are identical to the LAP and LE5 short blocks, respectively. Meaning the LE8 and LE9 are both foam-cast and still have the old, non-reinforced, open-deck design. The LAP/LE8 pistons are domed, with valve reliefs cut in them. The LE9 still uses LE5 pistons. So the only differences between the LAP/LE8 or the LE5/LE9 are the injectors and tune.

Both the LE8 and one LE5 I found had no stampings at all on the oil-filter housing. There was also an LE9 I found but the place was closing so I didn’t have time to clean it off and see if it was actually blank, or just dirty. All three of those were 2011 model years.

Comparing the pictures I have of oil-filter housings and VINs, there seems to be no obvious correlation. There MAY be a correlation between these oil-filter housing stampings and displacement, but the only 2.2L I checked had a blank housing. I will be back around Christmas, and will probably spend more time just checking these housings this time.

This means that to the best of my knowledge, if there is no make, model, or throttle body, there is no way to visually distinguish an LAP/LE8 from an LE5/LE9. You’d have to either: take the head off, or take out a spark plug and use a bore-scope to look at the piston design.

I will post all the pictures when I get back, the Wifi has been down at my mom's all holiday.

 

I suppose it is worth specifically noting: due to the fact that LAP/LE8 pistons are domed and have valve reliefs, while L61 pistons are dished, they are distinct from L61 pistons and should not be interchanged(unless you're willing to be a guinea pig)

 

Before i begin this post i just want to define: When I say the foam-cast pattern is visible, I mean there is a pattern on the block visible that makes it look like Styrofoam. This is an indication it was made with a foam-cast method, which is weaker than sand-cast. Sand-cast was done on the earlier and later engines.



First, let’s look at the LE8 I found

This batch of pictures show: 2011 Chevy HHR, 2.2L engine(2009+ 2.2L was LE8). Forgot to take a pic of the VIN. Blank oil-filter housing, foam cast pattern visible. Pistons are domed, AND have valve reliefs. Block is still open-deck(not reinforced design). All these things come together to make it physically identical to the LAP. Head part number is 12600788, could not find part number of block(stamping is not in same place as LEA)

 

Next, here’s the LE9 I found.

These pictures show: 2011 Chevy HHR, 2.4L engine(2009+ 2.2L was LE9). Also forgot to take a pic of the VIN. Blank or dirty oil-filter housing, foam cast pattern visible. Didn’t have time to get the head ALL the way off so I couldn't see the pistons, but nothing has led me to believe they would be any different than LE5 pistons. Block is still open-deck(not reinforced design). All these things come together to make it physically identical to the LE5.












Then, the LE5.

These pictures show: 2006 Chevy Cobalt, 2.4L engine. Forgot to take a pic of the VIN. Oil-filter housing is stamped, “10TAL S511070011”. 7th digit(2nd digit in second group of characters) is 5, indicating 2005 build year. Foam cast pattern visible. Pistons have valve reliefs. Block is open-deck(not reinforced design). All as-expected. Head part number 12600788 stamped in.

 

Also, the LAF.

This batch of pictures show: 2010 GMC Terrain, 2.4L engine. VIN 2CTFLCEW616402957. Oil-filter housing is stamped, “10TPP N006180383”. 7th digit(2nd digit in second group of characters) is 0, indicating 2010 build year. No foam cast pattern visible, indicating sand-cast. Pistons have valve reliefs. Block is reinforced, closed-deck design. I see no shared sections between the VIN and oil-filter housing code. Head part number 12592995. Block part number 12608279.

 

Last groups of pictures are a series that show oil-filter housings as well as make, model, and year.

Red 2012 Chevy Equinox(LEA), VIN: 3GNBABDB3AS651167. Oil-filter housing stamping: 10AKR N121642027. 7th digit(2nd digit in second group of characters) is 1, indicating 2011 build year.





Black 2008 Chevy Malibu(LE5), VIN 1G1ZH57B38F194951. Oil-filter housing stamping: 10TCC S712050196 7th digit(2nd digit in second group of characters) is 7, indicating 2007 build year. Foam Cast.





Black 2011 Chevy Malibu(LE5), No VIN pic. Blank oil-filter housing stamping. Foam Cast.







White 2011 Chevy Malibu(LE5), No VIN pic. Oil-filter housing stamping: 10TCC N005141568. 7th digit(2nd digit in second group of characters) is 0, indicating 2010 build year.







There are some conclusions that COULD be jumped to regarding oil-filter housing stampings, but all I have to go on right now are the stampings on 2.4L engines and the blank housing on the 2.2L. Will need more data to make any assessment on that front. Will be back around Christmas, will probably spend a little bit focusing on that.

 

2CTFLCEW6A6402957, not 1.

Looking up the VIN, it carries RPO "LAF." Sorry if I missed it, I just wanted to make sure you noticed that if you have the VIN, you have the engine RPO code, from (at least some) online VIN decoders.

But, as always, do not assume RPOs mean the exact same thing across years and models. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. For example RPO "L61" is VERY different in 2006 and 2007-2008 HHR.

To keep the confusion complete, sometimes there are "running changes" to part numbers or just specifications, within a model year, with no change to the RPO.

EDIT - another little tidbit; HHR SS (2008-201) carried engine RPO "LNF," but 2010 (only) had bigger injectors.

 

I’m wondering the significance of it all, up here yes the sand block is more desirable then the lost foam block, but any of these engines don’t look to be rebuildable. Maybe a core to send out to a rebuilder like Jasper but The amount of that almost justifies a new long block from ZZP or other suppliers online.