i was wondering if someone could get me in the ballpark with this engine? I just got this '84 camaro Z-28 from a fella and he said that the engine came from Canada? I cann't see the engine block casting code in the back and all I know is that it is a short water pump and the place where the fuel pump goes, it is blocked off. Not with a plate either, rather seems to be casted that way.

 

One of the best ways to know for sure is from that casting code.

Sounds like you already know where to look. But just to be sure, look down at the engine between the back of the driver side cylinder head and the firewall. It is on the block facing you as you look down at it. You may need an inspection mirror, a flashlight or some solvent and a brush. The numbers you are looking for are cast into the block.

Once you have this number do a web search for chevy casting numbers. One place that has them is http://www.chevy-camaro.com/chevy-ca...gine-codes.asp

There is also the suffix code on the front of the engine block. This one is right in front of the passenger side head. The deck of the block is "longer" than the head and there is a number stamped into the surface where the block deck extends past the head. The number is stamped into the same surface of the block that the head gasket would sit on. The link above will also decode the suffix code.

Good luck.

 

Casting number doesn't tell you much. The same casting were used on different engines over many years. The common 010 casting was used on 302, 327 and 350 engines.

The suffix number can tell you a lot more about an engine. If the block has ever been decked, the suffix number will have been machined off.

I can't find any reference to a block without a fuel pump hole cast over but I suppose it could be an old 283 or 327 fuelie engine. Not really worth rebuilding with the products that are now available to build engines but could be worth something to collectors if it's still original.

 

when i got my engine that im rebuilding now i looked up the block casting and it said it could either be a 302 327 or 350 when i checked the head casting i found out it was a 350 so try the head casting

 

The head castings didn't tell you it's a 350, they only told you that it had those particular heads on it.

 

Measure the bore! You can tell from your vin number, if the motor is original.

 

Are you sure about the short water pump?

Sounds like a newer engine, actually. They stopped drilling the fuel pump holes in the early 90's.

 

the website i used said it was 350 heads so that with the block casting and the guy i got it off of i figured it out lol

 

I could put 350 casting heads on a 283 or a 305 and tell you it's a 350 and you'll believe me.

Measuring the bore and finding out it's a 4" bore still means it can be a 302, 327 or 350 because they all use the same bore size. That's why block casting numbers don't tell you very much. On later engines, it's an easy way to distinguish if it's a 350 or a 305 block but can tell very little else about the engine.

Get the suffix code that's stamped on the pad in front of the passenger side head and stop guessing what it is.

 

These are the numbers from the front of the motor-These #'s were closest to the block in large numbers-K0406PHC,these were under the first ones and stamped with smaller stamps-CJ4145077

 

K0406PHC

K = St. Catherines, Ontario engine plant
0406 = 4 June
PHC = There is no PHC code that I can find. Recheck those numbers to make sure they're correct. I can't even find anything similar like BHC, PHO etc.

CJ4145077 = The VIN number although it doesn't look right.

C = Chevrolet? Should be a 1
J = Year code. The only time J was used was 1988
4 = Production plant. Orion Ontario?
145077 = serialized number that matches the car's VIN

 

If it's a late engine, on the driver's side of the bellhousing, near the casting number, it'll have either "5.0LG" or "5.7LG" cast there.

 

Maybe it says "DHC" instead of "PHC"??? If "DHC" then per the link above, that is a 1981 305 with 155 HP and 4 bbl E4ME carb. But that's probably not right since I would expect a 1981 engine to have mechanical fuel pump provisions.

OR

Maybe it says "DKC" instead of "PHC"??? This would mean misreading 2 letters. DKC is for a 1986 TPI 350 with 230 horsepower. This one would maybe not have the mech fuel pump provision since it would have been fuel injected originaly.

If you go to the website link I posted above you can get the full list of suffix codes and play "what if" to your heart's content.

Good luck with it.

 

If it's an uncommon block because of the missing fuel pump hole, a casting number could narrow down the choices. The only engines I can think of that don't have a fuel pump hole are the newer EFI engines. I know the Gen V 454 blocks can't have a mechanical fuel pump installed on them. I'm not sure about the small blocks of the same era but it would make the J date code about right.

I don't think the 87-95 305 and 350 blocks can have a mechanical pump.

Personally. I think it's a 1988 350 (based on the previous head casting). A short water pump means you won't have the alternator or any other accessories like power steering attached to the water pump.

 

I was able to clean off the rear casting #'s-10054727 which it say's is an '86 on up 350.The other numbers are correct "PHC",tomorrow I will put some pictures in my garage so you can see them if you want.I was wrong about the water pump then because both belts go around it. If this is an '88 was it EFI?
One more thing ,it has the center bolt style valve covers if that helps,I will take the valve covers off tomorow also to get their codes.