KK..so here i am begging for u guys help once again...my camaro is an 85 z28 which i know is the first year of the tpi...i was told by a few people who claim to know the owner of the car before the guy i bought it from and am told its a 350...i know its not the stock motor unless thy went from tpi to carb..is there an easy way to tell what the motor is??

 

There were carbed cars in 85 (the LG4 and L69) and TPI cars, but none were 350's. A search would probably reveal some block/casting numbers that would provide the info you want.

JamesC

 

The block casting number is the only way to know. If you can read that while the engine is in the car, I'd really like to know your secret as I have a similar problem (my car was a 305, but now has a shortblock of unknown origin.)

 

yeah, i know about the other two models...mine has the TPI badges all over..

 

It's easy to fake badges and decals. A VIN code should say what the car originally had. A casting number will tell you if it's a 350 or 305 since they use different casting numbers.

 

hmmmm..im surethey used different plugs for a 350 than a 305 right?? i should be able to pull a plug and compare them right???

 

No and no.

JamesC

 

check the block casting number with an adjustable mirror and flashlight (mirror is like 5 bux at an auto parts store). ive done it on carbed and tpi models with little fuss.

 

if its not too rusty or covered with gunk on the passenger side of the block where the water pump bolts up there a flat area with numbers. the top number might be part of a vin and under that there should be more writing called suffix codes. Find em if you can and look it up online searching under suffix codes. I think theres like 6 digits mixed letters and numbers.

 

So much easier to get under the car and look for 3 cast-in numbers on the side of the block. They are the last three digits of the full casting #, and are all you need to identify the block on www.mortec.com - which will tell you whether it is 305 or 350.

If by chance those three digits aren't there (not sure when they started doing that), then get the full casting number from behind the driver side head.