hey i got a "350 TPI" from a wrecking company. now, i saw the firebird it said formula 350 on the side. this guarantees me that its a 350 correct? just checking. it also says 350 tpi on all the receipts from when i bought it so if anything he's guaranteing it. i just wanna clarify thanks all.

 

No, especially not from a wrecker. Only the casting numbers on the block will tell you for certain it's a 350.

 

As Aperion stated the only definite way to know if it's a 350 and not a 305 is checking the casting numbers.But there are a few other things you could do first to know if she was an original 350 car.
1) She has to be an '87 or later car as the 350 wasn't consumer available prior to that year.
2) The VIN eighth digit will be a "8" for the 350 (a F will be a 305).
3) If the original SPID decal is in place in the console or rear compartment (you should verify the VIN matches the cars) check for codes B2L & L98.
4) Also if the block is original to the car the sequential part of the VIN will be stamped on the passenger front side of the block deck (provided the block hasn't been resurfaced)

 

Note: Formulas began production in 1987 - 92.

As stated, you can't go by stickers / numbers on the car, cuz anyone can replace an engine, go by the numbers on the block...

Raf

 

correct me if i am wrong,but i though the 305's had 5.0 cast onto the block back by the bellhousing behind the driverside head.

 

that's exactly what I was going to say. Since the block is already out of the car, look on the block just behind the drivers side cylinder head and it'll have a "5.0L" or "5.7L" cast into it. It's hard to confuse those!

 

whoooooooo man, lol.thats crazy i dont know why that slipped my mind, i just checked (since the block is just sitting out) and it was stamped 5.7L G something so i guess im good to go! complete 5.7 with tpi oil pan to intake for 700 bucks not bad i guess

and thank you ALL for that info lol.

 

Did you get the wire harness???

 

yupp, sure did i got everything, the formula got rear ended in the street by a drunk driver and totalled it, so everything in the front was good. i saw the whole car and everything. that thing really got plowed in tha rear! im sure the owner was pissed i know i would be.

 

I dont know....that seems a little steep for me.

 

well, for a long block and all wiring and ecu i dont think theres a lotta better deals. he also included a warranty for it soooooo. im sure the tpi intake is a hella lot more than the whole thing. i dunno do yall think i got ripped off

 

I don't know how it is out there, but around here it is hard to find any engine for less than $1000 unless you know someone selling one or get lucky in the classifieds. I went to a yard a couple years ago to get a rebuildable core (short block only) and they wanted over $500.

 

yea pretty much, this was about the only nice engine the guy had. although he had 2 3rd gen's sitting around, faded, tires with no air and i asked him whats up with that iroc z jus sittin there! hell ill take it, but he said it belongs to a guy that worked there and it runs, but he doesnt want to sell it, but it just sits there!!! i think i should make him an offer and bother him till he gives it up!

 

Seems like a good deal to me and a good score if it was on the street it may still be in decent running condition,but since its out I`d go ahead and have it reworked/upgraded.Sucks about the car though.I`d love to have a formula350 properly optioned.A friend of mine used to have a 91 or 92 and it was pretty impressive for a stock car to me at the time.Wa faster than my 87 305 tpi T/A wasAlso wouldnt mind having either of Okfozs` cars as long as the 305 tpi manual doesnt havr the peanut cam.Would be a mopar guy saying thats expensive.I guess you can go to the bone yard and grab on old hemi long block for a couple hundred.I guess it may seem expensive to someone who has no need for it.

 

That doesn't work for all years though. I forget what year they started stamping them..,

 

It's cast-in, not stamped, starting with the 1 piece RMS era.

 

what era was that? hmmm well im starting to have good thoughts about this engine. for one like it was mentioned about (and good thinking) it was being driven if it was rear ended on the street, the guy was telling me (the wrecker yard owner) how he told the victim of the accident to sell it to him since it was a total. when it was pulled there were these silver looking weld?? circles like on the back it didnt look factory and some guy was telling me that they usually put those on re built motors because if it over heats for any reason those things melt and it will let them know and the warranty will be voided. it also had a brand new shiny oil filter on it so im hoping that it really was taken care of! (cuz ill tell ya oil filter looked like A$$ on my 91 when i first got it!) oh the block and car were an 89 formula.


and if you thought it was a little to steep, then you must be on a budget..(no offense)

 

Not at all on a budget. Ive built some serious stuff. 10 second 63 Dart street car. with a N/A small block. I just know what the TPI engines and setups are worth. Out here in AZ, you cant give them away. Ive owned 12 thirdgens...I know what Im talking about. I guess if one doesnt have the knowledge or skill to build something from scratch, a complete package buy is about the only option (no offense)!

 

$700 for a complete roller cam engine with electrics sounds pretty good to me. I'd pull the spark plugs, if they look good it's probably ready to install and go.

 

sorry it just seems like you were on a budget since everyone seems to agree with a good find, just wanted to keep it original so i bought a 350tpi, no use of putting the tpi on a stock 305. even thought this board is about 3rd gen's and not mopars but its all good evey one has their own likes and im very skilled at engines and knowledgable im an engineman in the USN and ill i do is work on turbo diesels 2 stroke 4 stroke 8 cyl and 16 cyl some as big as small apartments so if you want to play who has the bigger d--k then there ya go theyre all the same ones internal combustion vs the otto cycle........no offense.

 

I guess,from scratch,he means he designs and builds his own intakes,carbs then grinds all his own cams......from scratch.

 

lol does he make his own spark plugs too? i mean if he does then thats fine. difference is i get paid to do what i do and i like it.

hmm in his avatar it says on probation, whats that mean?

 

I'm thinking this thread has been played out. If the questions haven't been answered, a new thread can be started.