I have a '91 Camaro that I bought off of someone that didn't know ****. He got a shop to put a new motor in it and I don't know if it's a 305 or 350. I know were the engine code is on SBC's but the ****ing wiring harness is in the way on mine. Any ideas. I pulled the plugs and they are different plugs then what a 305 takes, but maybe they just changed the heads on the 305. I have no ****ing clue.

Mitchell de Moor

 

you are one of those people who go to a doctor and say "im sick what is wrong with me?" and not let him examine you.
if you want to really know what it is you HAVE TO HAVE THE NUMBERS!
or you can call the shop and ask them. they probably have the information you want.
but its time to get dirty - get the block numbers and run them on the net. and hope they did not put a pre86 350 into your 91.

 

Well I called the shop and they don't know ****. I live in the Middle East were is gets up to 50 degrees and I am worried that if I move the wiring harness I may break the black out side plastic due to the heat. I don't really want to but anouther one of those as I am rebuilding my other Camaro at the moment. I just thought maybe there aould be an easier way but If not I will have to move the wiring harness.

 

Don't have anything to look at, but I think they say 305 or 350 somewhere on the block.
But to know the compression and the cam, you will need the numbers off the block like was already said. Even so, that does not mean the cam has not been changed or the engine rebuilt.
Right now it's cool, do it in the evening or morning.
Being in the summer heat and as old as it is, the harness in the car probably isn't in the best shape anyway. Just be careful

 

Thanks man I know it has a big ****ing cam in it right now. Do you know were exactly it would say 305 or 350?

Mitchell de Moor

 

Look at the flange where the bellhousing bolts onto the block, on the flat part of the flange, directly behind the drivers side cylinder head. There will be two separate marks cast into it - one will be a long number, which is the block casting number.

If you can get the last 3 digits of that number(the number reads from the outside of the motor inward towards the middle), we can tell you what block it is - 305, 350, etc.

Also near that casting number, usually above it, is a separate number cast into the block, denoting what size the original engine configuration of that block was. If it says '50LG' its a 305 block (5.0L), and if it says '57LG' then its a 350 block (5.7L). This only applies to newer blocks though... I think around 1980+ or so.

These are the only two sure-fire ways to find out what you have without removing the cylinder head(s).