Hey guys, I need some opinions...

I have a 1988 Firebird that came stock with the 2.8l MPFI motor, well I wanted to swap it for a carbed 350, so me and some friends went to the "you pull it" around here and found an 86 camaro, the badging was pulled so theres no telling if it was a Z28 or an Iroc, the vin said it was a 305, but from what im being told it's a 350, and from what I checked the only 4 barrel carbed 350's that were around or in the 86 camaros were in Iroc Z's, is that correct?, it came with a 4 barrel quadrajet carb, I know you can get the factory 350 upgrade and there is also the possibility that it was a home swap.

Well here comes the interesting part. I have a friend thats like a brother to me, hes the one who's going to be doing most of the swap since he knows alot about motors, he's a hardcore chevy fan, he claims it's a 350 and says it has a 4 bolt main, well I don't know for sure, im still learning about cars, anyway he told me it has a replaced 305 block. but says the parts are 350 parts, I have another friend who's a ford guy and claims there is no way it's a 350 and says that you can't use a 305 block with 350 parts, my chevy friend says that a 305 block with 350 parts makes it a 355?

What I want to ask from you guys is basically which one of my friends are right? I want it to be a 350 but i am hearing different things. my chevy friend tells me that a 350 block and a 305 block are almost the same. where as my ford friend is telling me that a 305 block wont work with 350 parts. plus my ford friend said it would be a bad idea to run a holley 750 carb, where as my chevy friend says it's fine because we wanted to run a cam for a 350 that has the stroke of a 400, and also run a bigger cam.

Sorry for rambling on, I just want to know whats really going on. thanks ahead of time guys.

 

Well i think everyones alittle wrong lol. First off theres no way to tell a 305 from a 350 just by looking at it you need to look at the suffix code or the casting numbers. Next 350 parts and 305 parts are almost all interchangeable with the exception of like pistons lol. Now there actually was no 350 option in 86. There were a few prototypes built but they were all destroyed and never sold to the public. It could be swapped in but again the casting numbers or the suffix code will tell you. Now you cant magically get a replaced 305 block with 350 parts and somehow make it 350 it just dosnt work like that. The 4 bolt mains are also probably unlikely as its probably the original motor. As for the carb it depends on your build and your build depends on the perpose. Find a 350 and then we can start to talk numbers and equipment. So go check the casting numbers and or the suffix code and youll have your answer.

 

Sounds like your Ford friend is the only "smart" one. Get casting numbers and come back.

I think you'll find that it's a 305 2-bolt main with a replaced carb.

 

i believe that the 350 was only sold in third gens was in tpi form. i believe the only carbed engines were the LG4 and the L69, both are 305s. as far as 4 bolt bearing caps, im not sure of this one. i would guess they have 2 bolt mains, 4 bolt mains are usually found in heavier duty applications like trucks. also i belive that the 305 is stamped 5.0 and a 350 5.7, on the back of the block behind the distrubutor. as far as bolting on 350 parts on a 305 block to make it a 350, im calling that bs. the only difference between a 350 and a 305 is the bore size. i also had someone who worked at an auto garage tell me you can have a 305 bored out to make it a 350. i called him out on that one, you cannot bore a 305 that much, YOU WILL run into the water jackets. anyone who tells you something like that doesnt know the 1st thing about small block chevy engines.