jfroh1992

i recently traded my 87 camaro for what i was told was a 87 iroc L98. i just checked the vin the other night and it turns out it is a 86 305 car. i know the engine was out at one point. is there anyway i can tell if its a 305 or 350 with out tearing the engine apart to check the bore diameter?
anybody who can help me please let me know.

toolegit86

get the numbers off the back of the block, just look behind the heads, post them up or search them.

jfroh1992

are the facing straight up? or towards the rear of the car?

Apeiron

Facing straight up, down behind the head.

jfroh1992

i got the numbers off the block
57LG
SGI

Apeiron

That'll be a 350.

jfroh1992

i kinda figured thats what the 57 meant

stroked_3g

i just bought an 87 for a parts car it has a 350 in it, the engine is not original to the car; i decoded the vin. i cannot see any casting number on the back only the 57lg stamp. i am going to stroke it and dont know if i have a 1 or 2 piece rms, i do know that this is a newer engine because the top pans have 4 inline bolts keeping them on. anyone have any knowledge about this?????

Damon

If the engine is original/complete/unmolested those centerbolt valve covers indicate a later one piece rear main seal block.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

Only the 1 pce RMS engines have the 5.0LG or 5.7LG casting at rear

astrosurfer

What if I told you that my engine has the stamp and is a 2 piece RMS?

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

I would change my comment to I have never seen one out of all the SBC's I have worked on
What year is your engine?

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I have seen them also.. some very early truck roller cam motors had goofy machine work done to them from the factory..
I have seen a 2piece rear crank and funky seal adapter on a original factory truck motor with 57l cast in it. The roller stuff cast in the top but not machined.
It looked like one of those aftermarket adapter thats out now 2 put a older crank in a newer motor.. but I know it was org and I was 1st to take trans out..
Family ownd truck bought new.
I have also seen the normal ole 2piece seal motor with that 57 in it.

astrosurfer

Mines is #'s matching so it'd be an '84.
Now I'm not sure if you meant later blocks but you didn't specify.
I can provide a pic if needed. I took many when I was dismantling first time. I was looking for a lot of info back then (3 yrs ago almost). My story is on here so to speak. And another site.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

I'm not doubting you.
Thinking about it now , I have no experience with the 81 -85 blocks where the dipstick was swapped to pass side so maybe the change was there and not with the 1 pce RMS blocks as I thought ?

astrosurfer

That's possible. I have no experience with any other SBC except my own...
And boy has this been an experience.
I've learned a heck of a lot about the sbc just from reading this site.
I spend a good while reading this forum just for knowledge about our cars, probably a couple hours a night 3-4 nights a week sometimes more.
It threw me when you said about the stamp...I was thinking I had some special engine...lol. Oh well.