mikeyg785

hi, i have a 1986 camaro iroc that i bought recently and im not sure what the engine is. i was told it was a 305 tpi from the guy i bought it from but i brought it to my mechanic and he said that the only tuned port injections were 350's. so basically i was just wondering if they made 350's for my car or it was a swap.

DomesticCheese

the mechanic was an idiot.

You 99.9% have a 305TPI

In 1984 the 305TPI came out. The 350 TPI wasn't produced until 1987.

The 305 TPI's and 350 TPI's at first glance look completely identical.

Being an 86 Iroc - most definitely is a 305. Could it be swapped? Yes - however if the previous owner told you it was a 305 then I'm 100% sure that it is just because if any one was going to to lie to you about the motor they'd say it was a 350.

mikeyg785

thx for the info. how could u tell the difference between the two engines?

Blackdog36

iTrader: (3)

Chevy produced a handful of 350's in 86 but they were prototypes for full release in 87. Eight digit of VIN is engine - see VIN link below. Also, you can check RPO list which should be on backside of armrest or under trunk glove box lid. Engine code will start with letter "L" as shown below. Only other way to tell is to look at engine block stamping or measure crank.

1986
F 305-190 (LB9)
G 305-190 (L69)
H 305-155 (LG4)
S 173-135 (LB8)

http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...-third-gen.asp


https://www.thirdgen.org/1986-chevy-camaro

grumpygreaseape

that introduction year would be 1985 for the tpi motor.

Steve86TA

iTrader: (57)

First thing I would do is find another mechanic..

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

Blackdog36 is right about the engine codes but pulling the digit off of the vin plate still doesnt verify the engine. The Engine Block Casting code is one of the best ways to identify a Chevy engine block. This casting number is usually found at the rear of the block on the left or drivers side on top of the bellhousing flange. Here is a great site to verify the engine, not the vin digit as Blackdog36 mentioned. Anyone can say "its a 350, and not be able to verify it. the best and ONLY way to verify the engine block is by its casting number. The L98 (350 TPI) and the LB9 (305 TPI) is just the type of block. Example, the L03 and the LB9 are the very same engine block (both 305) with a different intake and fuel setup. Either way here is the verification you need. http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...es.asp?group=1

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

DomesticCheese wrote;
In 1984 the 305TPI came out. The 350 TPI wasn't produced until 1987.

Incorrect DomesticCheese. There was a handfull of 350 TPI IROC Z that were made in 1986. They were made as the "test vehicles." Im not sure if they were released to the public but GM made a final decision to make the 86 IROC a fuel efficient car. So they scrapped the idea of making a 1986 350 IROC Z. So the 305 was put in place. A year later GM said "Hell, were are sponsoring IROC Z (International Racing Of Championships), lets put some more power in the 1987 IROC-Z. Now keep in mind, the 1986 IROC Z model was being built in late 1985 as the same occured with the 1987 350 IROC Z which was being produced in late 1986. The 350 was produced in the 1986 IROC Z but never made mass production. The 350 was introduced in the 87 IROC Z.Food for thought.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

The only true way to identify an engine is from the 3 letter code stamped on the block pad at front along with a partial VIN #.That identifies chassis /engine / Hp / trans that the engine originally came with.
As noted the one block casting may have been used for multiple engine combos so block casting # only gets you ballpark ID
Exp ;
the roller cam block used for the '87+L98's was also used in '87 - '94 TBI truck engines with a flat tappet cam.

grumpygreaseape

as a guy who was there in those years-i can tell you this argument above is a silly hair splitting experience. as i recall-one of the primary reasons gm did not place a 5.7 motor in a camaro in those years was because it would have been faster than a corvette. optioned properly the camaro was a relative lightweight compared to the vette. there were drivetrain issues but the reason was as simple as that.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

What I posted here about is what I read in a Chevy High Performance magazine back in 2002. Are you calling the publisher of the magazine a lier?????
So as for the 1987 350 IROC Z, which has the same frame and parts as the 1986 IROC Z (minus the block), It should be relatively the same weight right? So what about the 1986 Corvette to the 1987 Corvette, is the weight the same. So given that the 1987 corvette is basically the same as the 1986 Corvette, it should weight the same right? Now would the 1987 IROC Z that now has the 350 (L98) beat a stock 1986 Corvette? Im just curious.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

vetteoz is the man. He knows his stuff. Thanks for providing me with pictures of the vacuum hoses. But yes, I was just telling the thread starter that the way to identify the block, just the block is by checking the casting number. Hell, my block even has the stamp
"GM 5.7". I think that would ring a bell in anybodies head. 5.7, o yeah, its a 350.

grumpygreaseape

first off its "liar". second off 3rd gen camaros do not have a "frame" they are what is called "uni-body" construction. 3rd believing what you read in any car related mag isnt the best way to gain info.

mikeyg785

i just wanted to thank everybody for all the info but with the corvette thing i thought bodies were fiberglass so i would think the vette would be considerably less in weight.

grumpygreaseape

corvettes were larger and heavier. in 85 the lb9 305 was rated at 215 hp. the iron head 350 l98 was was rated at 230 hp. you can see that there was a thin margin of power that the corvette enjoyed. the curb weight of the vette was about 3300-3400 lbs. the curb weight of the camaro was about 3025-3100 lbs. a 230 hp l98 in an f-body would have smoked the vette.

mikeyg785

o

Abubaca

iTrader: (3)

.

vetteoz

iTrader: (13)

The 5.7LG cast on the bellhousing area generally is a indication the block is a late, 1 pce seal crank engine

Jimmy D

Hi guys - first off let me say, honestly, I'm not trying to hijack this thread but I have a question about an engine that is still in my 1994 4WD Suburban. I want to pull it and do a .030 over rebuild on it. It is currently supposed to be a 5.7 with TBI, (aluminum intake cast #10166133). I am the second owner of this (bought in 1999). The engine is still in the Suburban - I can't see the rear casting numbers - but the front one is;
VO71ODTF - the head casting is; 14102193.

Did GMC re-use suffixes around this time because this - VO71ODTF - looks like a 1979 305 block based on my limited research.

Any help decoding this before I pull the engine? It certainly felt like a 350 all these years - but doing my research before planning my rebuild has kind of confused me a little.

P.S. I'm not sure if this matters but this "Burb" has the full 4WD tow package and aux coolers, backed by a non electronic 4L60.

Thanks

Problem solved, it's a 92 - 94 4 bolt tbi - 193 head - aluminum intake - 5.7 block

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

lier or liar, you got the point grease monkey and you know exactly what I mean when I said frame. So reading from a magazines is bad because they misrepresent things right? So why should I learn from you? You corrected my spelling, good for you. You've officially became my spelling guardian angel, you have made me feel less than you...... Yeah right Grumpy... You aint got nothing on me.. Feel free to talk to you're self. Wait a minute, let me correct myself. Feel free to type to yourself you internet board banger .

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

mikeyg785, sorry for the disruption. If grease begins to try to start something agian, Ill just let him continue to act childish. Im to old to be acting like grumpygreaseape, a child. shall we?

mikeyg785

just got home from cape after a four day weekend so i finally was able to go out and check the engine stamp. my engine is rusty as hell so it turns out i cant read it it was the night and i had to use a flash light so im going to check it out tomorrow and see if i can make anything out of it.

cIaRmOaCrZo

well like what the other people are saying, just check the 8th digit on the VIN. but there are other obvious ways of telling too. i myself have an 86' iroc-z 305 tpi. one quick way of telling is look and see if your alternator is on the passenger side and a/c compressor on driver side. valve cover bolts on perimiter of head. just a few quick hints. oh and your mechanic doesnt know crap about camaros. any question you could possibly have for a "third gen camaro or firebird" can be answered on this website.

mikeyg785

thanks, my alternator is on the passenger side and my ac compressor is on drivers side(though im not sure it still works).

94Pontiac

Tell ur mechanic to go read a book. There were 305 TPI's. And if you can see it run the number on the block

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

you can have either a 350 or 305 with the external components on the "86" side because all the bolts are the same as in position. in other words, the 86 IROC Z (305)has the altenator on the passenger side right? and the ac compressor on the driver side. you can swap out the 305 and drop in a 350 and use the very exact same brackets because the engines have the same bolt hole patterns. To make an engine look different, you would have to get different accesory brackets from a later model IROC. Having center bolt heads makes no difference. You can have any camaro with center or side mounted bolts. It really comes down to what type of heads youve got on. cIaRmOaCrZo, youre on track about the 86 IROC Z, but I myself took out my blown 305 and dropped in a 350, and Im using the same brackets as the 305 had. Nobody believes me until I show them the casting which I usually do.

cIaRmOaCrZo

well yeah of course all of that stuff can be swapped out on either engines and work. but i was just assuming it was stock. but about the perimiter bolt and center bolt vavle covers, i thought there was a specific year those changed or switched for 305 to 350 (as in they traded set ups)? and i thought 87' was the year it happened...?? i may be wrong

mikeyg785

could someone plz show me the where the engine stamp is in a pic. i have no clue and i dont even know if i would be able to see it with everything in.

cIaRmOaCrZo

dude its a 305.

mikeyg785

ya i guess it is. i wouldnt think otherwise if the idiot mechanic didnt say anything.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

mikeyg785, It can be a 305, or a 350. How many owners had the Camaro before you did? Of course you may not know? So if someone tells you "Dude, its a 305," he may be wrong. I mean that person is not the previous owner so how does he know? When me bro-N-law gave me his 86 IROC, he himself thought it was a 305 according to the vin number. Now after I threw a rod, me and my drunk uncle pulled out the motor. When we pulled off the heads, I was shocked because the diameter of the cylinders were a little big. so we grabbed a tape measure and bang, 4 inches across. I calle dmy wife and gave her the block casting # so that she can look it up on the net. Sure enough, It was a 350 4 bolt main. My Camaro has obiously been overhauled. So dont believe what you hear or told. You never know what you got until you get the numbers. Without the numbers, you can only assume as what cIaRmOaCrZo is doing. We are here to help, not give bad info. Whether you like it or not, you may have to get a little dirty to verify what you got. Get a Dremel tool and buff out the rust so that you can get a casting number off the block.

cIaRmOaCrZo

im not tryin to give anyone bad info, just everyone is throwing suggestions left and right (all indicating 305) and yes its not 100% that its a 305, but damn!!! how far you wanna go into research to find out what it is, so its up to him to do so. i just threw out the most educated guess that happens to agree with everything else. so thats y i said that. it aint "bad" info, its just "most educated assumption", now what his mechanic said can be considered "bad" info!!! yes Chevy86 IROC-Z, you have good points, so maby i shouldnt have given a (seemingly) for sure answer as my (assumption). so sorry mikeyg785 for giving you helpfull educated assumptions. but when you feel like diggin in and gettin the "for sure" answer, let me know. i have the identical car you have, which means my dont mean ****... i was just tryin to help

later

Z2887

I'd say like others have said. Its 99.9% a 305. Someone COULD have swapped it for a 350 at some point. IMO I doubt someone would do all that work, and keep it bone stock. If they had to replace it, then I would guess they put what was in it back in it, or they wouldnt have left it all stock. Check the bolts. Do any that are in dirty areas look like the've been removed ? Like bellhousing, motor mounts,ect.

cIaRmOaCrZo

couldnt have said it better. thats prolly how i should have put it lol.

grumpygreaseape

hello-here is a picture of my motor. it is the passenger side cylinder bank. underneath those wire looms that you see is a block deck. you have to unearth it and write down what the numbers and letters are. the other picture is the drivers side rear of the block-there is a casting number below all that gm wiring. let us know what the number is.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

Looks like I lit the fuse on his tampon. I got an 86 too! And for your info, when I got the Camaro as a gift, it already had a 350. So dont go giving out your "most educated assumption." This is how I see your educated assumption , and for giving a guess rather than advice. Have fun guessing because I think you give info.

cIaRmOaCrZo

Your a ****in idiot! I'm gonna enjoy laughin in your face when he tells us all it's a 305. The guy who owned it before him even said it was a 305 and that guy could have very well did his own research. But I can't wait till my assumption turns out to be a fact. And I even corrected myself after you rudley called me out, and your still trying too, and won't accept my correction.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

cIaRmOaCrZo, You dont pay much attention. I said it could be a 305 or 350, read post #31. So where did I say he has a 350? Now who's the (your comment stated above)? Yes 86 have 305's and it wouldnt suprise me if it has it now. All im saying that if someone had done an overhaul in the past, they could of dropped in a 350. I never said the guy has a 350. I said it can be a 305 or a 350. Pay attention.

mikeyg785

i just wanted to throw this out there: 1. i cant check it out today cause its raining and 2. the only reason im digging any deeper is because he told when i bought it there was engine work done at 80,000 miles and he wasnt specific at all to what that entailed to. he also said it had 115000 miles on it and on the title it says unsure about mileage. lastly when i took it to the same mechanic that told me it was a 350 i also noticed on the slip he gave me back it had 175000 mi on it(i have no clue where he got that # and didnt bother to ask him) So all of these things dont seem to add up and are a bit odd. i can also tell that there was some wires that were changed in some way because i can tell they either arent original or were moved. btw there's no reason to get mad so everyone should just cool it a little. its just a forum. theres no need to talk smack.

bowtiejoe

If the car appears to be 100% stock, 350's only came in auto. So if you are not sure about it being a 305 or a 350 Im assuming that the car is automatic. I have read that only automatic 305 cars have around shifter ****, as the 350 cars have a pear shaped shifter ****. Hope that helps a little, I have also read that 350's came out in 1987.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

My 86 305 IROC had the round shifter. Not all IROC 350's had pear shaped shifters. The 87 IROC had a square shifter **** and the 350 TPI IROC Z actually came out in the 1986 IROC-Z. They were only test vehicles. Word has it that a handfull were released to the public. When some one says they have a factory 1986 350 IROC-Z, challenge them by checking the vin code.

bowtiejoe

You said that 87's had a square **** for 350's, is that the pear shaped **** with a square button? or something different?

mikeyg785

alright. i hate to tell everyone this but i cant get the stamp. thank you for the pic grumpy but yours is much cleaner than mine and i have alot more wires. im not a mechanic so i dont want to start disconnecting wires. thanks everyone for all the info anyway though

grumpygreaseape

your welcome-i guess the moral of the story is just enjoy what you have and remember there is always somebody faster than you somewhere. enjoy the ride.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

Im not sure. My bro-n-law has a 87 but when he got his, it already had the B&M shifter. He told me that the **** was square and I found out that the **** was square too somewhere on the internet thus leading me to believe that it is square, but exactly what is square? I dont know. I got the original round one on my 86 IROC.

subroc

iTrader: (2)

86 was the last year that the autos in camaros had round shift *****. In 87 they went to a squarer **** with a squared off button.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

Well said.

Chevy86 IROC-Z

iTrader: (17)

found the section that states that a handful of 350 86 IROC-Z test vehicles existed.
Read the info that is located in the section of
1986 Chevrolet Camaro Drivetrain List
on this link https://www.thirdgen.org/1986-chevy-camaro