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L98 or LB9, How to identify

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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 06:47 PM
  #1  
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Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
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L98 or LB9, How to identify

I just picked up a 87 trans am gta, i was told by the previous owner that it had the 305tpi in it but he was told by the guy he bought it from that is had been swapped to 350tpi. I looked up the vin code and verified that it originally came with the 305tpi. I cannot tell the difference between the two by looking at them.

Can anybody tell me how to distinguish between the two motors without finding the block number. I will post pictures ASAP.

The car definitly pulls hard, but ive never before driven a trans am so i wouldnt know the difference. Thanks, Josh
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 06:51 PM
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

This is rather easy. Get a flashlight and peer down behind the driver's side cylinder head. a 305 will have 5.0LG cast there, the 350 will say 5.7LG.
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Old Mar 21, 2009 | 09:13 PM
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Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

I cant find it, i did a full tuneup today and couldnt find it. Is it near to firewall? Is it on the top or bottom. Thanks, Josh
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Old Mar 21, 2009 | 10:39 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
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Near the firewall. Almost under the firewall.

Another possibility is to look for a 3 digit number cast into the side of the block. You'll have to look for it from underneath. Get that, and we'll be able to tell you which it is.
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 12:17 PM
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From: San Antonio Texas
Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
Transmission: 700r4
Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

Can anybody tell me exactly where these two numbers are, ive searched everywhere, ive scraped the dirt off, used mirrors. Its ridiculous, should be easier to identify than this. Thanks, Josh
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 12:58 PM
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

Originally Posted by jkrustchinsky
Can anybody tell me exactly where these two numbers are, ive searched everywhere, ive scraped the dirt off, used mirrors. Its ridiculous, should be easier to identify than this. Thanks, Josh
57 is the man, just do what he says, and dont forget google.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&r...numbers+gm+350 is the link that talks about where gm puts the numbers on gm blocks. see i even did the google search for you.
if we tell you, you will just forget.
if you find it yourself you will be proud you could find it and you will never forget.
good luck
tony
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 03:14 PM
  #7  
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
www.mortec.com
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 04:49 PM
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Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: LQ9
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

What side ids the oil dipstick on?
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 05:35 PM
  #9  
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Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

its on the passenger side, the tranny dipstick is close behind it, ill post a picture in a few minutes.
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 05:56 PM
  #10  
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Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

heres the Pics,

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heres a fun pic, i like this emblem

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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 05:59 PM
  #11  
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From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
Engine: 454ci, 6.1 Hemi
Transmission: TH350, A5
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

Originally Posted by BadAzzGTA89
What side ids the oil dipstick on?
That only distinguishes between '57-79 and '80-99 blocks. Won't tell you what the displacement is.
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 06:16 PM
  #12  
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Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
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Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

Sorry guys but i cant see those numbers, ive worked on countless engines and have never had this difficulty, what freking moron put them under the firewall
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 06:40 PM
  #13  
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From: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
Engine: 454ci, 6.1 Hemi
Transmission: TH350, A5
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

Originally Posted by jkrustchinsky
Sorry guys but i cant see those numbers, ive worked on countless engines and have never had this difficulty, what freking moron put them under the firewall
Take off a valve cover and get the casting number from the cylinder head. Both heads will have the same number, so it doesn't matter which one you take off.

If we know what heads are on it, we can at the very least make a good educated guess about what the engine is.
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 07:55 PM
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Originally Posted by Air_Adam
Take off a valve cover and get the casting number from the cylinder head. Both heads will have the same number, so it doesn't matter which one you take off.
On a 22-year-old car, I wouldn't bet on that.

8 years ago, I picked up an '87 LB9. It had 2 different casting heads on it, one the correct 081 TPI head, the other a swirl-port LO3 head.

But, getting the head casting #'s isn't a bad idea, regardless.

Have you gotten underneath the car and looked for those 3 digits? That's a lot easier than what you've gone through so far. Have a good light with you when you do this.
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Old Mar 22, 2009 | 07:59 PM
  #15  
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Car: 1982 Trans Am, 1986 Gmc sierra
Transmission: 700r4
Re: L98 or LB9, How to identify

I havnt tried looking for the numbers under the car, do you know where they are, thanks, Josh
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