Not sure where to put this. I am doing a swap if it works out, so I'll post here.

I am going to look at an 88 Firebird with a 350. Now I know that if it is a 350, it ain't stock. Kid doesn't know history on car. Doesn't even know if it is carb or TB ("circle filter thingie is on top of engine"). My question, how can I tell if it is a 350? I know it is easy to read numbers on block if you can find them.. But what am I looking for? For research what #'s am I concerned with to see if it is even a decent block?

Thanks
Thirim

 

http://www.mortec.com has all casting numbers. Kinda hard to tell any other way especially if the motor was swapped. If it was an original 350 motor it'd be TPI

 

Mortec will tell you where on the block to look for the casting number. On the passenger side of newer blocks will have the displacement in liters (5.0 or 5.7) on it. An older 350 will have a bigger balancer than a 305 but that is kinda hard to tell if you don't know what to look for. Casting number is the best way to tell.

 

ok thanks. I did have the mortech site. I printed everything out to take with me. I didn't know how reliable it was.. now i do.
I thank you all for the input.. Will look on pass side for 305 or 350 .. thanks

 

My 305 says "GM5.0L" or something like that on the drivers side. it's an '86 i dunno if they changed the locations or what.

 

Actually it's on the driver side. See the attached pic I've provided.



You know this same engine identification location question must get asked twice a week. Maybe one of the moderators would take this pic, and it to thirdgens directory in case I delete it off my site at some later point, and make a sticky thread showing the location.

 

I wasn't talking about the casting number. On the side of the block of newer 305s and 350s it will have the displacement in liters on it. I could be wrong about the side but it is a completely diffrent mark from the casting numbers.

 

I know. The liter marking is on the driver side. I wasn't talking about the casting number either.

 

DOH!

 

ya, some of the gm blocks have the litre on the side.. but others don't.. my friend's does, however, i still can't find mine.. though i havn't looked hard enough, :-D