I recently purchsed a 79 Camaro for my son and was told it had a rebuilt 350 engine. Someone told me today that the motor is actually a 305. I cannot find the engine VIN number, how can I tell the difference between the two motors?
thanks in advnace
Gary
There's a few ways. Easy: look for a 305 or 350 (or if you're really unlucky a 267) cast into the side of the block. Not sure which Chevy engines did this, but I've seen a couple (Pontiac did that.)
Harder: Casting #'s on block AND heads. You never know if it's a
305 block with 350 heads or ??? The problem is reading the dang numbers - they're cast in and never accessible.Hardest: Pull a cylinder head and measure the bore and stroke. (350 is a 4" bore, 3.48" stroke. 305 is 3.7something and a 3.48" stroke) - all those specs will be online or any shop manual.
I'm sure some of the other guys probably have some magic trick that works better. :)
Ray
On a machined pad behind the alternator there is a partial VIN stamped that will match the VIN number on the dash. If they match the car still has the original engine and you should be able to find out what it has. One of the letters or numbers on the dash tells which engine was originally in the car.
If not, then you'll have to start looking for codes stamped on the engine block.
Just my $.02, but I want to say that small blocks never had the displacement cast into them until relatively recently, when some had the metric displacement (5.7, 5.0, etc.). I want to say these would be found not far from the casting number back on the bellhousing. Anyrate, casting numbers are probably the most reliable method. Sometimes detective work may be needed as a given block may have been used in more than one displacement. A prime example is the 3970010 block casting number, which is a common 350, a much less common large journal 327, or a pretty damn rare 302. Cylinder head casting numbers can be viewed simply by removing a valve cover.
By my experience, most of the time a "rebuilt 350" mystery motor turns out to be a 3970010 350 with 882 heads and a "generic" LM1 cam. They're good for about 170 horses if I remember.
Should you want to go deep into the ID process,
And I sec> m wrote:
only the crank will tell you forsure... if the engine is not the oem.
The vin # on the dash plate is a G or H if a 305, and a L if it's a 350. Post that first.
As everyone else said, on the engine pad, behind the alternator, there's a bunch of #s. Post them all here and one of us will identify it. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
Someone told me that a 305 has the oil dipstick on the drivers side, and on the 350 its on the passenger side... I just bought an '88 Formula with a 350 and it has the dipstick on the pass side.. so I was wondering if that was true...
I can tell you this KITT, my 88' Formula with the 305 / 5 speed has the dipstick on the passenger side. My 68' with a 69' 350 has the dipstick on the driver side. That doesn't mean that the later 350's didn't change but I'd check the casting numbers on the block just the same. Post the numbers in a new post and I'll look them up for you.
Is the motor original, what is the VIN?
...Ron
--
68' RS Camaro 88' Formula BirdSome are wise and some are otherwise
The dipstick location has nothing to do with the displacement. Sometime back the 80's they moved the dipstick to the passenger side on all SBC's. - Gary
On Thu, 23 Oct 2003 19:31:52 GMT, "KITT" puked:
A 327 has the dipstick on the driver's side, btw.
-- lab~rat >:-) Do you want polite or do you want sincere?
I have seen Formulas with the "Formula 350" deacls on the doors, and some with just "Formula" Like mine.... anyone know what the difference was?
The ones without the 350 in the Formula decal are 305 equipped cars.
If you look at the hood scoop on some of those that say FORMULA, you'll see "5.0 LITER". Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
Na, this one according to Carfax.. ya that was pretty much a waste of money, said that there was like 6 owners.. but anyway.. it has been repainted.. so all the stickers and everything have been removed, but the "Formula" decals for the doors were replaced. I know it was repainted, kinda a shitty job too, because the dr door used to be red, you can see it in some places, and there are several places like around the headlights and around the spoiler where they sprayed blue where it shouldn't be... so all I have is the possibly finding the numbers on the engine. Oh, I was looking at the PHS page, and was wondering, it says I will get: A copy of the factory invoice or billing history card for your Pontiac, A letter decoding the options (where necessary), A copy of the dealer order form for that year, An official photo for that year Pontiac (if available). Other specific information for that year and model Pontiac (where available).
Now is that factory invoice the build sheet?
Well, catch you later,
-KITT
1985 Blue Camaro 2.8L w/ T-tops 1988 Blue Firebird Formula 5.7L OR IS IT A 305?!?!?!?! w/ T-tops (Still looking for an '82 Black T/A!!!)WI (or W1) GM 14102182
Can anyone tell me what that means?
Nothing of substantial value.....what are you looking to figure out? Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
Sounds rough. Hopefully you didn't pay more than 1000 bones for it, as that would be the most it's worth. These cars are a dime a dozen, so I'd pitch that one and go for something in better condition.
A 305 TBI is really a waste of time to soup up. Try to find a 350 Formula. At least you'll have something solid to build on (if mods are your thing).
PHS will give you copies of the Pontiac invoice/shipping documents for the vehicle.
That year has no "build sheet" per se, but you will get the major options on the sheets they send.
If the vin on the RPO sticker matches the VIN on the dash which matches the VIN on the door (probably doesn't you said it was changed), then you can start to decode that and see what was originally there. Then, get the codes from the engine and post it here.
Not sure what you're trying to do or what you've figured out already. If it was advertised as a 350, it would be an MFI engine originally. If I got there and saw a throttle body, I would have walked away because I know:
1) The guy is lying and really has a 305 in there, because a 350 never came stock TBI in an F body. 2) The engine was switched if it IS a 350. Who knows what you have there in what condition.Me? This thing would have a for sale sign on it as fast as I could get to Home Depot to buy one. LOL.
Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
Actually it tell us the car has a 91 or 92 Intake manifold. If you have access to a hollender exchange book (junk yard books) you can cross referance the catsing number from the intake to what vehicals it orginally came on.
It also says either the motor was replaced, or the intake was.
A list of casting code locations can be found at the following link:
LOL. As I said, nothing of value :) Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
Well, I just spent about 45 minutes with a flashlight and a mirror looking behind, on the side and under the engine, and I saw part of a number on the passenger side behind then engine right next to the transmission.. all I could see was 1609 (then I think it was a 3?) Does that help at all?
No. You want to take the alternator off and on the pad behind there is the numbers needed.
You find a partial vin stamp and a three digit code (suffix assembly code) and a date code.
Post what you find there and I'll tell you what it is. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.