Hi, I just bought an '84 Trans Am and just realized the original engine is no longer there...the numbers on the engine don't match the VIN. So I wonder if anyone out there has any charts to look this up in. It has the later style water pump boss on it, but don't know if it's a 2 or 1 piece rear seal. engine codes:

V1214CDJ
1FN119857
car was originally an L69 but it pulls too hard on the freeway which is why I started to wonder. If anyone could help I'd appreciate it. BTW it is now carbureted. Thanks

 

The second batch of numbers is the VIN string from the car it came in. It says it was a 85 model car built in Norwood. The only kinds of cars they built in Norwood in 85 AFAIK were F bodies. The only V8 motors that came in F cars that year were the LG4, L69, and LB9. So it's definitely a 305. If it came from a LB9 the long block is the same as a L69.

L69s run pretty good, better than 85 LB9s (all of which were automatics); also don't forget your car has 3.73 gears unless somebody changed those too. If you've never had a properly-working L69 before don't be so quick to assume that your motor can't be one because it runs too good.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

 

 

Sounds right...the thing had an E4ME carb on it, which is now an edelbrock intake and an edelbrock carb...it pulls like a bear but I figured it had 3.42's or 3.73's due to the freeway speed...I was told it was an L69 but I guess it's an LG4, so that would mean the restriction is in the heads right now...I'm not too worried about it because it's a daily driver, but how do the heads differ between the LG4 and L69? If I have an LG4 and the car came with an L69, does that mean the heads suck? Just trying to gather info. Thanks for your help

I'll go out later and pull a valve cover to get the casting number's off the heads. I kinda figured it was a 2 piece '80+ block due to the rear main seal leak and the water pump boss. Funny thing is, the thing holds 40# of oil pressure when warm. The engine was also painted. hmmm....

 

Does it also have a vacuum advance distributor since you are running a non CC carb?


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"Rice burners are like tampons...Every pu$$y has to have one"
'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat, just switched to 180* b/c of winter coming and going to college in the mts.
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite

 

One of the things that isn't different between the LG4 and L69 is the heads: they're both 416 castings. Identical in every way. Of course, there's no guarantee that those are what's on it now.

A likely thing somebody might have changed is the cam. The LG4 cam sucks, especially on the highway.

OBTW - if your car was originally a L69 car (8th digit of the VIN would be G, LG4 would have H) then it probably has 3.73 gears.

------------------
"So many Mustangs, so little time..."
ICON Motorsports

[This message has been edited by RB83L69 (edited October 19, 2001).]

 

The distributor was changed to a non-computer controlled one since it no longer uses computer controls...even the trans is locked up differently(hydraulically). So the LB9, L69 and LG4 heads are identical? All 305 heads. Wonderful. Oh well, it still pulls pretty damn good on the freeway. The cam doesn't quite sound like a peanut since I had one in my '86 IROC's LB9 before I blew the engine. Although it does have a flowmaster and hollowed cat on it.

The vin does say it was a 'G' code motor so it was definitely an L69 originally...but it now looks as if it's an LG4 like it makes a difference. Either way, it's getting freshened up abit with a Comp cams 262 and a little porting when I get my IROC up and running...in the meantime I'll just enjoy it. Thanks for your help guys!

 

If you're putting a new cam in it and porting it, it probably doesn't matter that it's an LG4... you'll practically have an L69... with those mods.

Edit: if the VIN says it was an L69, and you've got a manual tranny, then you're guaranteed 3.73's because that was the only option in '84 for that configuration...

[This message has been edited by ChillPhatCat (edited October 20, 2001).]

 

Didn't L69's have slightly larger valves in them?

 

Naw, it's a 700-R4. I'm kinda wondering if it's a 27 spline or a 30 spline, I haven't checked the julian date on the tranny yet. I finally got rid of my other built 27 spline tranny and don't want to make THAT mistake again (not knowing what it was and having a shop do all the work). It looks as if I may have a head gasket going south, but if so, that's a perfect excuse for a set of headers, head porting, a Comp 262HR cam, and matching to the existing edelbrock intake and carb. enough to match the flowmaster and hollowed cat and I'll add about 2000 stall.

I've been considering going to 3.23's since my highway cruise RPM kinda sucks though . We'll see how they work as is with a rebuilt posi since the existing one is pretty much shot.

 

Naw, it's a 700-R4. I'm kinda wondering if it's a 27 spline or a 30 spline, I haven't checked the julian date on the tranny yet. I finally got rid of my other built 27 spline tranny and don't want to make THAT mistake again (not knowing what it was and having a shop do all the work). It looks as if I may have a head gasket going south, but if so, that's a perfect excuse for a set of headers, head porting, a Comp 262HR cam, and matching to the existing edelbrock intake and carb. enough to match the flowmaster and hollowed cat and I'll add about 2000 stall.

I've been considering going to 3.23's since my highway cruise RPM kinda sucks though . We'll see how they work as is with a rebuilt posi since the existing one is pretty much shot.