Hey Guys,

I searched for about 45 minutes and couldn't come up with an answer

Anyways, I am trying to figure out if my 1987 GTA is a 5.0 or 5.7.

Anyone have any helpful tips on how to tell the difference ? Can you tell by a VIN# ???

Any help would be great....

Thanks

 

Eighth VIN digit = Engine:

H = 5.0 LG4
F = 5.0 TPI
8 = 5.7 TPI

 

Excellent....

A MOD SHOULD STICKY THIS...haha...i really searched for forever...

appreciate the quick reponse
----------
another thing Willie

have you dynoed your TT 305 yet ??? any track times ? Don't see them in your sig...

 

That doesn't mean that what's in your car, I've seen so many thirdgen's ESPECIALLY TPI cars, that the owner's say It's got a 350. Only to be a 305 car. best way to tell is look on the passenger side head for the stamp or the driver side rear block stamp.

-Jim

 

I'm surprised. This gets asked at least 9 times a day.

 

A MOD SHOULD STICKY THIS...haha...i really searched for forever...

Well I could but won't quite yet. There used to be a VIN decoder on this website but it somehow disappeared. In its absence either Scott or I could post a sticky with this info....


another thing Willie, have you dynoed your TT 305 yet ??? any track times ? Don't see them in your sig...

It's been an extremely long project. Believe this or not, after two years I got the car running this weekend. It has been a very expensive process, which I would not do again had I known everything I know now. But, I will say it's one killer looking system. It has not been out of the garage yet as I still need to bleed the brakes -- this weekend it will see sunlight again!


That doesn't mean that what's in your car, I've seen so many thirdgen's ESPECIALLY TPI cars, that the owner's say It's got a 350. Only to be a 305 car. best way to tell is look on the passenger side head for the stamp or the driver side rear block stamp.

Jim is correct. I like to speak only of originality but because thirdgens are basically old nowadays, anything could have been done to them by any prior owner....

Willie

 

Don't the 305's have the air cond on the pass side and the alt on the driver side. The 350's are the opposite?

 

No

 

I would look at the stamp on the block and ignore the heads. Case-in-point, the 350 in my monte has l69(305) heads on it.

 

I think he's talking about the stamping pad in front of the head.

That works, as long as your block hasn't been decked. Casting numbers are more reliable.

 

Everything you wanted to know if the car is a 350 or 305:


1) Check the rear bumper for the 5.7 Tuned Port Injection decal (Camaros ONLY)
2) Check the VIN, IF the 8th diget is an "8" then it originally had a 350...
3) Do an inspection of all of the panels, look for the decals that have the VIN... its redundant HOWEVER if the panels have been replaced then you may suspect something, its not a bad idea anyways.
4) On the back of the Block, on the drivers side is casted with "5.7". 5.0 = 305.
5) Because the back of the block is often covered with some air tubes, you can remove the Altenator (in 87) or A/C pump (88-92) and there is a Hog on the passenger side of the block with some numbers stamped in it... You will find the last 8 digits of the VIN. IF the number is the same as the number on the car then you know its the original engine. HOWEVER if its not the same then it may have been swapped.
6) if it has a Manual trans then its NOT a 350 from the factory OR someone installed a Manual trans.
7) Anything BEFORE 1987 is not a true 350 car.

YEar for year there is no major distinguishable differences between a 305 and 350, since they are essentially the exact same except the Bore of the Piston. At a glance its impossible to tell.

John

Checking the rear of the

 

excellent, thanks for the help.

My VIN states that I have a 5.0 however, I have a 1987 GTA and my AC is on the Driver Side (not the passenger side)... Does that mean I have a 5.7 ?

Trying to figure out the easiest way possible without removing too much.

Thanks

 

1987 and earlier (or was it 88'?) have a standard v-belt arrangement with the AC on the driver side. Switching to a serpentine set-up, the AC compressor moved to the passenger side (88-up?) so it has no bearing on the 305/350 question, just a matter of factory design changes.

the for-sure way to tell is to check the block. rear, above the oil filter on the bell flange(driver side). everything else could have been changed. If that block reads '5.7l' then its a 350. It takes a little doing to read however, it is a tough spot.

before you get that far, check the VIN of the car VS the VIN pad on the front of the block, passenger side, under the alternator. If the numbers match, it will be whatever the VIN says it is.

 

Somebody should just make a sticky saying the ONE and ONLY true way to tell is to check the back of the block. Engines get swapped, heads get swapped, cars get re-badged, the AC thing is a load of crap, people lie, etc. Checking the block is the ONE AND ONLY WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE. At first I thought it was impossible to see, but its not. Get a flashlight, push stuff out of the way (remove air cleaner if its TBI) and get back there on the drivers side to take a look. You will be able to see it. There is a GM logo and a "5.7" or a "5.0" next to it.

 

Not on every block. 2 piece RMS blocks have only the casting numbers.