Motors junk anyways. Gonna pull it, I have a roller 350 going in soon. I don't have the motor out yet. Too damn cold out

I picked up an 86 trans am I ran the vin and 10th vin is g so I know it's an 86, 8th vin is an H = 305 ci V8 LG4 MFI w/AT (1985-1986). I am assuming MFI means multi port fuel injection? It clearly has a carb set up that looks factory. Nothing aftermarket. Has a mechanical fuel pump on the motor as well.
Question is, I thought 86 started the new design heads with the center bolt valve covers. The valve covers on it has the perimeter bolts on it. I can get pics if needed. Just looks like a very odd set up. What's the deal with these motors.

I guess I'm not really too worried about the motor because it's bad, but more of what I can use off the 305 to put on my 350 block. The casting off the 350 block is 14093638 87-95 5.7 roller, 1 pc rmc 2 bolt mains. The heads on the 5.7 I have casting numbers are 3998920 72-74 5.7 truck heads with 194/150 valves 76cc. I know there garbage heads. Mostly interested to see if flex plate, distributor, starter, harmonic balancer

Been a while since I been on here and it's been about 14 years since I messed with a sbc

 

can't help you too much but my 86 trans am with an original 305tpi has perimeter valve covers.

 

H = LG4

LG4 = carb

H IS NOT related in any manner way shape form or fashion to AT.

MFI is not an issue on the LG4. Not sure where you got that "information" about what H means, but it's wRong. Or at least, not right.

All of the parts you listed should transfer over. 86 was the 1st year of the 1-pc rear main seal, meaning the flex plate ought to be the same as the later motor. Center bolt valve covers started in 87, meaning you have the correct version for 86.

I'm not hearing anything odd about any of it; sounds to me pretty much exactly like what ought to be there.

 

1985 - 1986
1 G 2 F W 8 7 H X F N 1 0 0 0 0 1
| | | | | |-| | | | | +---------+---> Production Sequence
| | | | | | | | | +---------------> Assembly Plant
| | | | | | | | | N = Norwood
| | | | | | | | | L = Van Nuys
| | | | | | | | +-----------------> Model Year
| | | | | | | | F = 1985
| | | | | | | | G = 1986
| | | | | | | +-------------------> Check Digit
| | | | | | +---------------------> Engine Code
| | | | | | 2 = 151 ci L4 LQ9 (1985)
| | | | | | 1 = 173 ci V6 LB8 (1985)
| | | | | | S = 173 ci V6 LB8 (1986)
| | | | | | F = 305 ci V8 LB9 (1985-1986)
| | | | | | G = 305 ci V8 L69 HO w/MT (1985-1986)
| | | | | | H = 305 ci V8 LG4 MFI w/AT (1985-1986)
| | | | | +------------------------> Body Type
| | | | | 87 = 2 door coupe
| | | | +---------------------------> Carline Series
| | | | Chevrolet:
| | | | P = Sport Coupe, Z28
| | | | S = Berlinetta
| | | | Pontiac:
| | | | S = Firebird
| | | | W = Trans Am
| | | | X = Firebird S/E
| | | +-----------------------------> Carline Code
| | | F = F-Body
| | +-------------------------------> Make
| | 1 = Chevrolet
| | 2 = Pontiac
| +---------------------------------> Manufacturer
| G = General Motors
+-----------------------------------> Country
1 = USA
2 = Canada



Pulled my vin info from trans am world

 

Not that it really matters. The motors gonna be pulled anyways.

 

As sofakingdom Said The LG4 Is A 4-Bbl. The Only Engine With MFI Is The LB8.

 

That "information is WRONG no matter who posted it where.

The LG4 was also available with manual transmission. The trans type is not encoded into the VIN except to the extent it can be inferred in cases where an engine was only available with one trans, which is not the case with the LG4.

 

I was just more curious if my car had tpi and maybe it was pulled off and a carb was put on. But I pulled the air cleaner off a while ago and it looks to be factory. I think the car still has the air pump on it. Doubt anyone would go through the effort to put a factory carb set up on.

Anyways so is this car a real trans am or a firebird with gta ground effects?

Like I said before more interested on what can be utilized from the 5.0 to the 5.7

Is the 5.0 that's in the car a roller cam motor? And am I able to use distributor on the 5.7 or will I have to change the gear on it and go with a bronze gear since the 5.7 is a roller cam. The distributor in the 305 is an hei if that make a difference

 

H = LG4

LG4 = carb

So yeah, it came with a carb, not TPI

Can't tell from the VIN characters you've posted so far whether it's a Trans Am or not

You "can" reuse almost every piece off the 305 on a 350 including the distributor, subject to details like what heads you use and therefore which intake bolt angle they have. Whether reusing any given part is A Good Idea or not, is however a totally different question. Above all, using the existing exhaust IS NOT wise, as it's one of the main things making that particular 305 slower even than other 305s. Every single piece, from the heads to the bumper, needs to go in the trash, along with those heads you have.

 

Yeah I don't plan on using the 305 heads or manifolds or intake. I'm looking for vortec heads and yes I know it requires the vortec intake. Planned on getting headers anyways and new carb. What about the hermonic balancer and the flex plate? Are they the same balance?

All the pollution and computer and harness are being removed when I pull the motor anyways.

 

Balancer & flex plate are the same.

I wasn't talking about the 305 heads only. Those ... other ... ones are just as bad if not worse.

If you don't use the ECM and OE carb, you'll need a different distributor.

 

The 5th digit is a W=Trans Am. And you have Trans Am Ground Effects not GTA,GTA didn't start till 87.
This info is for 86.

 

I know the heads on that 5.7 I have are junk. I have one off right now. Got to get the other one off soon here. Not using the computer on the swap so look like I'm getting a distributor added to the list.

There's an issue with the motor I'll post in another thread with pics.

Thanks for the vin decoder

I have pics of the car. Just another typical trans am t top, just have to figure out where to post it

 

As an aside - center bolt valve covers and the new intake manifold bolt pattern didn't start until 1987.