Just bought a 87 T/A--orignally a 305 TPI it feels too strong, so I think it is a 350.

Motor is all blue! Heads, block and even intake manifold. Could this have been a replacemet engine?

Also, where do I find casting numbers or anything that will tell me what it really is?

thanks

 

For third gen cars:

Factory engines were blue in 82. In 83-92 they went to black.

Check the block where the tranny bolts to the engine on the drivers side for numbers. I also think that the reman'd engines had a sticker on the valve cover with the cubic inches on it.

WooHoo

Tom

 

Okay I'll try but I can't see sqaut--they don't really make it easy. After drving it more--I think it is a 305 but only the numbers will tell for sure.

 

You are correct about that. I have driven 305's that run like 350's and 350's that run like 305's...

You could also check the passenger side front pad (between the head and block) for engine codes. They won't tell you 100% what it is, but could give you an idea.

Good Luck

Tom

 

SBC's went from Chevy Orange to Corporate Blue sometime in the 70s. In the 80s they changed to black.

 

yes I know but I still have centre bolt heads--so they are at least 86 and up--maybe they painted them blue to match the block??

Funny how time and stupid people can really mess a car up.

 

What side is the dip stick on? Older blocks had them on the driver's side. I believe all 3rd gens had them on the passenger side.

 

It's on pass side---anyone know what year they switched over?? (from drivers to pass)

 

I know my 79 has it on the drivers side and my 82 is on the passenger side.

WooHoo

Tom

 

You know I wonder the same thing about my car. From day one it always ran stronger than a 305. I guess when I get under it this weekend I will try to get block casting numbers. Find out what it really is. Come to think of it from what I can see on my not so clean block it looks silver. ?!?! Don't know what it means.

My valve covers have no printing or writing of any kind on them.

 

One of the top 5 best colors ever in my opinion.

 

with my blue car--I am glad it's not orange Clash!

 

My L69 is gonna be painted Chevy Orange before she goes back in... I refuse to make it look like a Ford or Pontiac motor

(someone actually asked me why I have a Ford engine in my Camaro because i painted it blue)

 

80 was the crossover year for the dipstick moving from driver's side to the passenger's side.

 

I had the same problem with my 87 T/A LG4........except after a little research (Blue motor, Drivers side dipstick) I decided the only way to really be sure was to scrunch myself in behind the drivers side rear block. Mind you , you will have to be totally in the engine compartment. Use a mini-Mag flash light, and a full can of W-D 40 with the tube spray nozzel. You might have to pull a few groups of wires in towards you, but if you look strait down behind the engine block, you can see the casting #'s as they are rather large. If its all black gunk........Blast it with the W-D 40, then try to look again. Make sure you have pencil and paper near by or a buddy recording the numbers for ya is even better !! I found out that my motor was a 1977 350. I too thought it had way too much power for a 305. Good Luck !!

 

79 was the last year for driver side stick, most 78 engines were blue, most 77 were red,
350 engine have 8" skinny balancer, the 305 have 6.5" wide balncer, balance ris actually just a torsional dampner, balancers are found on SB400's and the 454's

centerbolt valve covers and heads began for 87 year

between the colr of engine and size of balancer you can narrow down an unknown engine's size and year pretty far, the old 307 and 283 and 327's had a skinnier balancer than even the 350 had

 

pre-'77 was Chevy red/orange.

'78-82 was blue.

'83+ was black.

 

why dont you just listen to the exhaust, or to the motor while your running it, you can tell the difference between a 350 and 305 by its sounds, a 305 sounds really "cluttered" up while a 350 give a more smooth rough sound to it, oh yeah and a lot of 305's are higher pitched than a 350 at high rpm's

 

smooth rough sound?? lol

I don't think you can tell the difference by the sound! Just check the casting #'s and your set