so i got an 87 formula (i traded for it) the guy i bought if from said it had a 350 corvette engine but unless theres a vette engine with cast iron heads i dont think i got that, also after reading all these threads about guys who thought they got a 350 but got a 305 i was hoping for some help. its got the 5 speed manual (stock) and i know the biggest engine you could get with that was the 305 (its TPI) and also still had the SMOG system on it too. If anyone could help me figure out if its a 350 without tearing it apart (because i just put it back together) i would be forever grateful. Thanks a ton

 

The TPI 350 in the '85-'86 vette had iron heads except for the '86 convertibles, AFAIK. If it's an '87-up block, then if you look down behind the driver's-side head, you should see either 5.0LG or 5.7LG cast there with the casting number.

 

thank you so much i'll check that out tonight and see what i find but i appreciate the help more than you know. we'll see if i got screwed or not

 

also if it does happen to be a 350 is there a way to find out if it is the vette engine?

 

Pretty sure what he meant was that the engine was also used in vette's. The L98 was used in F-bodys and vettes. I am not 100% sure but I think the valve covers on vettes had the two flags symbol on them. And I don't think tpi 350's came stock with manual transmission, but you should get a second opinion on that one..

 

no as far as i know you couldnt get it stock with a stick but the guy i bought if from said if was a corvette C4 350 but the heads arent aluminum and i couldnt see the tag on the back tonight so i'll have to check it tomorrow, but do you know what the power difference between a 305 and 350? also he said the 85 and 86 had cast iron heads but there were no flags on the stock covers, also do you know if a lot of those cars were NON-HEI because im just seriously rackin my brain trying to figure out a hint of what this engine is? all the parts ive bought have had to be for a 5.7 camaro like the C4 water pump was too short, also i doubt this makes a difference but it has the sqaure bore exhaust and the longer manifolds.... does that mean anything? thanks

 

I just want to throw this out there.....I think they are more Vette engines out there then there EVER was vettes... lol.. i just love seeing cars for sale and the guys says its got a vette motor in it!... chances are its not and even if it was, its nothing special....just a motor... Doesnt make your car a vette. SO with that being said, if your motor is in good shape be happy! just run the numbers on the back of the block near the dizzy, pull a valve cover and get the numbers off the heads to tell what it COULD have came in.

 

and hope they aren't 624s

 

The suffix code stamped in the pad in front of the passenger side head can tell you what the engine came out of.

Selling a "Vette" engine doesn't mean much any more. The F-body got the same engine and was usually sold with a lower HP rating because GM didn't want the Vette to have a lower rating. With some simple bolt on parts, any engine can outperform a Vette engine.