EMD 567, 645 or 710: how to tell which engine you have
The fastest way to identify an EMD engine is the model on its data plate. It reads cylinders, then displacement per cylinder in cubic inches, then the series. A 16-645E3 is a 16 cylinder engine with 645 cubic inches per cylinder, E series, turbocharged.
The three families at a glance
| 567 | 645 | 710 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1938 to 1966 | From 1965 | From the mid-1980s |
| Bore | 8.5 in | 9 1/16 in | 9 1/16 in |
| Stroke | 10 in | 10 in | 11 in |
| Cycle | Two-stroke, 45 degree V | Two-stroke, 45 degree V | Two-stroke, 45 degree V |
| Air supply | Roots blower, or turbo on 567D2 and D3 | Roots blower (645E) or turbo (645E3, 645F3) | Turbo |
The number is the displacement of one cylinder. The 645 got there with a larger bore on the same stroke as the 567. The 710 kept the 645 bore and added an inch of stroke.
Reading the series letters
- 567A, 567B, 567C, 567D. Successive crankcase designs. The 567C replaced the water deck with water manifold piping and has round handhole covers, which is an easy visual check.
- 567AC and 567BC. Earlier blocks rebuilt to accept 567C power assemblies.
- 645E. Roots-blown. A 16-645E makes 2,000 hp in a GP38-2.
- 645E3. Turbocharged. A 16-645E3 makes 3,000 hp in a GP40 or SD40-2, and a 20-645E3 makes 3,600 hp in an SD45.
- 645F3. The later, higher output turbocharged version used in the GP50 and SD50.
- 710G3 and later. All turbocharged.
Turbocharged 645 engines run a 14.5 to 1 compression ratio and Roots-blown engines run 16 to 1, so pistons and several other parts differ between an E and an E3 even though the bore is the same.
If the plate is missing or painted over
Start from the locomotive model. These pairings are standard, though any unit may have been re-engined:
| Unit | Standard engine |
|---|---|
| SW900, SW1200, GP9, GMD1 | 567C (8, 12 or 16 cylinder) |
| GP18, GP20, GP30, GP35 | 567D series |
| GP38, GP38-2, SW1500, MP15DC | 645E |
| GP40, GP40-2, SD40, SD40-2 | 645E3 |
| GP50, SD50 | 645F3 |
| GP60, SD60, SD70 | 710G3 series |
Then look at the rear of the engine. A turbocharger there means a turbocharged engine. Roots blowers (one on an 8 cylinder engine, two on larger ones) mean it is not.
Why it matters when you order
A parts supplier needs the full model, including the series, to quote the right power assembly, head, turbocharger or gasket set. "645 power assembly" is not enough. "16-645E3, fork rod" is.
Not sure what you have? Add the part to an RFQ with a photo of the engine data plate and we will work it out from there. You can also browse parts for the 567, 645 and 710.
Sources
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