I bought a 89 RS LO3 about 2 months ago. The intake and valve covers are black but the block & heads are blue. I thought they should be black, Is this a newer longblock?,also where is the engine ID # and how do you find out what it really is? the only # I see is on the rear driver side of block, it's LO87, Please help me figure out what I've got.

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89 RS 305 TBI/Hooker catback

 

Hi,

L087 is the casting date (December 8, 1987):

L=December
08=8th day of the month
7=is the last digit of model year, probably 1987.

I'm guessing it's a rebuilt one that somebody sprayed old Chevy blue. I believe all GM replacement blocks are black now days.

The engine ID is located in the front of the passenger side head on the stamp pad.

Hope I helped.

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1997 Chevrolet Camaro SS # 379
1992 Pontiac Firebird Formula
1973 Chevrolet Camaro RS/Z28
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS 350

I miss seeing the sun shine down on the black #3 car.

I'm old enough to know better, but still too young to care!--Wade Hayes

 

that does help, while looking for the casting # I found something on the left rear, it says GM 5.0L LG ,so now I know it's a 305, But I'm still wondering,are the stock engines all black?

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89 RS 305 TBI/Hooker catback

 

Mine is certainly black. Everyone I've ever seen is black. I wonder why the previous owner wanted to paint the heads Ford blue

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1991 Chevy Camaro RS TBI w/auto
Mods:
Edelbrock TES Headers, REALLY high flow cat, 2 1/2 in catback flowmaster, 160 stat, hypertech chip, MSD ignition (rotor, cap, superconduct. wires), Bosch quad4 plugs, open air filter, all TBI mods, no smog stuff, no EGR, lots of suspention and alignment upgrades, and a big Chevy bowtie sticker on the back.

Fastest e.t.:
15.64 @ 87.8mph

[This message has been edited by My305camaro (edited July 30, 2001).]

 

Stock engines are black, and have been for a while, I *think* some time in the early '80's they went to black.

Prior to going to black, SBC engines were Chevy Blue, and before they were blue, as most people know, they were Chevy Orange.

 

Thanks for the input, And it's GM blue not ford blue[not like theres much difference]