ok im having an arguement with my friends about my engine in my 88 firebird. they think my motor is a 305 tpi but im positive its a 350.it dont have a sticker under the hood saying what type of engine it is. they say just because its valve covers bolt down the center and its dip stick is on the passenger side its a 305 but i dont think it makes a difference. how do u tell if its a 305tpi or 1 350tpi.

 

Read this: https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=209426

That should clear up a few things. Also, try the VIN decoder here: https://www.thirdgen.org/vin

 

I would also like to know how you have the "5 speed auto" in your profile.

Did you swap in a newer Allison transmission? Or a typo?

 

Please use PMs

 

Let me add thread content because I hate screwing around with PM's...

HISTORICALLY, if you have a 5 speed manual, it came with a 305, not a 350. If you have a 700 r4, it could be either 305 or 350...and with the centerbolt heads, it is a v8 from 87-95.

Also, I believe that GM switched to the passenger side dipstick about 1980 for either 305 or 350 and that there was a crossover period until 1987, when all chevy v8's had pass side dipstick and centerbolt heads/valve covers.

 

Dipsticks, valve covers, all that is bullcrap high school talk. Get the casting numbers off the back of the engine on the flat pad behind the drivers side head. Post them here, you will find out what you have. Historically however, you cant have a 5-speed with a 350.

 

"Dipsticks, valve covers, all that is bullcrap high school talk."

Not really...in a used car, where anything could have been swapped out...it at least helps narrow it down to a certain era of parts.

Also, the block should have 5.7 cast into it if it is a 350. Check out www.mortec.com for casting number locations and decoding.

Good Luck!

 

If the 8th digit of the VIN (read from the left) is an 8, then you have a 350.

There should be no talk of a 350 with 5 speed. His profile said 5 speed auto. This is a big misconception when people think 4 speed auto with overdrive. They consider the car a 4 speed and the overdrive is 5th. Not true. A 700R4 has P, R, N, OD, D, 2, 1.

If the 8th digit of your VIN is not an 8, then you have the 305, unless the block was swapped out. Then the block stamping is all you have to go by.

 

A few things to check.... I'm sure most of you know this, but here it is again. (Not all will tell whats necassarily in the car, but at least show if it was a factory 305 or 350)

-- First, check the vin. The 8th digit will be F or 8.
-- Second, check the RPO sheet. L98 or LB9.
-- Third, check the casting if you can see the stamp behind the head.
-- Fourth, get the 3 digit casting number on either side of the block. I usually do a google.com search afterwards and type in the 3 digit number followed by "block casting". Worked well on 3 of my 3rdgens.
-- Fifth, for Camaros, look for proper badging, ie (all 350 Camaros) 5.7 TPI badges, as oppsed to badges just saying Tuned Port Injection (which meant 305).
-- Sixth, check the sticker under the hood. Most will have it right under the hood with the belt routing. It will say 5.0 or 5.7.

Those guidelines have served me well. I was told that my wife's 1990 IROC was a 350 car, but all the badging, VIN and block identification said 305. I knew all that before I bought it, but it didn't stop me from getting a good deal.

 

Yes, really. It doesnt matter what the valve covers are. Nor does it matter what side the dipstick is on. What does an era of parts matter? Thats ridiculous. They made 350's and 305's at the same time with the same dipsticks, valve covers, intakes, etc. It could have a 1980 350 block with a set of TPI heads from 90 with centerbolt covers on it. IT could be anything, that is the point. To assume that a car has the original equipment under the hood, especially when these cars are from 12-22 years old, is stupid. There is absolutely no way to tell what engine it is without the casting number, or pulling a head to see what the bore is. Tell your friends that they dont know thier *** from a hole in the ground.

 

demonguy420:

If you are correct in listing your car as a "1988 Pontiac Firebird", the only way to tell for sure, as already said, is by the block numbers, because your engine is a definate swap. A "Firebird" will not have a 350 nor be a TPI unless it has the Formula Package (has hood bulge for one).

 

ljnowell,

You are indeed missing the point...the visual clues are part of the process...note that I never said to rely on them exclusively. That is why I pointed demonguy420 to mortec.com.

Here is a simply process to follow:

1. Visual ID
2. Check casting #'s on Mortec.com
3. Argue about 1 & 2 on TGO.

Wait, scratch that...I am done discussing #3 now...

 

Im not the one missing the point at all, a visual ID is totally worthless. A SBC is a SBC. You cant visually ID a 305 from a 350. Give me one way. You cant. Thats why you get the casting numbers. You should quit arguing, cause you are wrong.

 

yes the only way to truly tell and stop the silly i have covette valve covers on here so its got to be an engine from a covette..LOL is to check the engine id number on the block that is the only true way to tell what engine you have and even then you need to check the heads to. and see what they came off of because as lj stated anything can be swapped into these cars .. especially heads engines intakes and so on ..LOL....but by just looking at the valve covers and telling someone they have a 305 or 350 is

 

ROFL...Does anyone actually read my posts?

This is analagous to tracking down an electrical problem without checking the fuses first.


"Thats why you get the casting numbers."

Really? I must have missed that when I mentioned it above...


"but by just looking at the valve covers and telling someone they have a 305 or 350 is "

Sorry thegeneral, but please read the WHOLE thread next time.

Thanks for playing...now back to our regularly scheduled programming

 

hey wait a second!
I thought you were done?!

 

You still didnt answer my question by the way. What good is knowing an "era" as you call it to determine a 305~350 debate?

 

"hey wait a second! I thought you were done?! "

You got me...I was almost done


You still didnt answer my question by the way. What good is knowing an "era" as you call it to determine a 305~350 debate?

Good question. When I was looking for my last car, I ran across an ad online for a stock 1989 "Stock" Z28. I emailed the guy and asked some pics. The engine had stock looking TPI and LH dipstick with perimeter valve covers. Seller had no idea what he had...but the visual basics were there for the earlier sbc.

Now if I had been more serious, I would have looked at the car, and glanced around the block (assuming centerbolt valve covers) for the 5.7 cast into it. I don't have casting #'s memorized, but the visuals allow me to come closer to a conclusion either way.

Also, it is pretty obvious that you can't tell a 305 or 350 apart from a 5 sec glance at the engine..but you know that That is why I never said that someone could. But if you can find the 5.7 cast into the block and it has centerbolt heads, it is a 87+ 350, AFAIK.

The funny thing is that you and I are on the same page on this issue...and have been through the whole thread...

 

Yes, we pretty well are. I was wrong above though. I said that a SBC is an SBC and you cant tell apart. But that isnt true, there is the certain 400 sbc's freeze plug issue.

 

I disagree that you were wrong

Although I have personally been through the 400 search and found both kinds, you can tell it isn't a 87+ engine by the driver's side dipstick

I am pretty sure that the main reason I go for the visual cues first because i am lazy.... ...

 

Not all Formula's had the bulge hood. Mine had a GTA type hood--less the rear 2 extractors. It was most certainly a TPI350 (L98). I find it funny how many different "tells" people have for the Small Block Chevy. Considering that the only way to accurately tell from the outside is the casting number on the block, there sure seems to be a lot of other ways out there. I'm not saying that the VIN won't be right or that the RPO is wrong, but people change stuff out. I looked at a 88 Vette a while ago and it had a Friggin TPI 305 in it. I busted the guy's ***** for it, and he said that he wanted the 350 for his Firebird, so he swapped them out. The only reason I even questioned the engine was it had iron heads on it. Run the numbers and shut those friends of yours up.

 

All Formulas came with the buldge hood, if you have a GTA hood it was swapped. I think the RPO for the 350 was B2L not L98 as well, but this may vary from year to year.

 

I should pose a question to make sure I am clear in my own mind about this:

Do all of the 87+ 350s have the "5.7" cast into the block in a few different spots? The ones that I have seen are near the front of the engine and back by the casting number.

Just curious to make sure I have it right.

 

1. not really ...LOL

2. exactly

3. yes you and many others have said this

4. i did read the whole thread thank you .

5. id prefer to change the channel if your going to be there...lol

 

You've got a Firebird S/E hood. All Formula's had the bulge hood. Check your RPO's to see if your car is actually a Formula. If it has the RPO code then your hood has been replaced.

 

There is another way...it's not foolproof since sometimes a block has been decked and you can't read it...but...

Look on the passenger side of the block, right below the ridge where the cylinder bolts too. Clean it off with some WD 40 and get the casting ID from there. That will tell you what the engine is and what it came in originally.


HTH

 

the 96 350 that we put into our 84z28 had 5.7 stamped into the rear of the engine by the casting numbers ... didnt see it anywhere else on the engine .....

thats another good reason to check the casting numbers you might just see the 5.7 stamping there it only takes a flashlight and a couple seconds to find ..

 

Seems like I read a post where someone had a 5.0 stamped on a 350 block, and a 5.7 stamped on a 305 block. I searched, but I couldnt find it. Anyone else ever hear of this?

 

Man, this is like telling someone not to touch "the shiny red button"!! One silly question, and all of this results? Just tell him to read the FAQ's!!!!

 

Oooo Ooooo Oooooo which button the shiny one Ooooo Ooooo!!!!!

 

Awful nice of you to stop in now and tell everyone, dont know what we would do without you!

 

well atleast he had a comment to make that was on .....well ....no......i guess it wasnt at all on topic was it ????????...hmmm oh well........LOL

 

L98 was the RPO for the 350. B2L was the RPO for the 350 package which included other options as part of the package.

 

If this is the case, either that dude's block was a one-off or mine is - mine has '5.7L' cast into the rear of the block on top of the bellhousing.

- 89_IROC

 

mine too!

 

my motor has never been swapped cause i know the original owner who baught it and he dont know what oil is much less get it switched out

 

 

What the hell, where did that come from?

 

That is what the hell I'd like to know.

 

.....but then again, looking at demonguy420's profile, it lists his birthday as September 29, 1989. Little Bubba won't even be 15 years old for 2 days. That would explain the that started this thread.

 

now it all falls together, the kid can't even drive the car but hes calling you names


riiiiiiiiiiiiight

 

dont you love kids ...LOL

 

Locking this. Sorry for those that cared, but this is outta hand at this point. Enjoy the rest of the day guys!

Demonguy, the above is unnecessary and you are now banned! When you grow up and can act like an adult, come back and see us.