It would be interesting to know how to identify a 2.4L with the forged rods. They were supposedly changed over to sintered rods mid-2007.

 

I've got it in my notes that that it was 06-mid 07 but I don't know what my source was for that. So theoretically it should mean that if the build year code is a 5 it's got the stronger rods, if it's a 6 its a toss-up. This is actually something I would like to start looking for at the junkyard by taking off oil pans, but I am low on extra time at the moment and don't have my power tools with me. If I start checking for that I will update you.

Also, I've found two more things now that I have more data:

• All of my LE5s with blank stamps are 2011+ model years
• starting in 2012, the year code got extended to two digits, so the 8th AND 9th year are a year code. Example: <!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->10A61 N123350968 the "12" after the N is the year code. Built in 2012.
  • I have one engine built in 2012 with a 2 instead of a 12. Not sure what that's about. Double checked it. Not a typo.