I finally scrubbed the block a little and pressure washed it while in the car to get the cn. The previous owner said he put a 350 in it, I got the number 14088551.

According to:
http://www.73-87.com/chevy_ids/blockid.htm

1986-92 14088551 305

I have the contract for the vehicle, and the cl ad saved on my computer. Now I wonder how I should go about this... Hmm. I don't like people who lie to me. Really pissed right now, I want to punch him through the teeth. Considering legal action.

 

You're on shaky footing. Did he specify that the 350 was still in the car? He could've put it in years ago, then swapped it back recently.
And did you really choose this car just because you thought it still had a 350? If so, that's really dumb, because he might have used parts or techniques that he shouldn't have.
And the time to check the numbers is before the sale, not after. Sellers claiming 305s are 350s is the oldest scam in the third gen world, and everyone knows it. When a seller of any third-gen claims a decent engine, we all assume it's a lie. Didn't you?

 

The original CL ad.
http://rfiles.com/files/_camaro/1992...ed%20price.htm

I bought the car because I seen it as having a lot of potential, and verified with him that it was a 350ci. Guy seemed he was being honest. Sorry I didn't know everything about third gens before buying it. That is part of the learning process, don't be so rude.
I had him write out a contract that stated the car is sold as posted on CraigsList, so I figured why would he lie if he is legally binding himself in a contract that he would be obviously lying then.
The day I went to see it, it was raining a lot, and the engine was a bit dirty, so I couldn't necessarily get the vin.
Point is, guy lied. Don't go pointing fingers at me.

 

VIN means little on a old car; any number of engines could have been in engine bay before you bought it.
Maybe the seller was like you and thought he had a 350?

 

Should've clarified. If you read the CL ad, which the contract we wrote clearly points to, it says he got the car as a non-runner, it now has a 350 engine.

 

I apologize IF you felt attacked. I do have a rather blunt style of telling it like I learned it, usually the hard way. Back in my 20s, I was a trusting fool who got ripped off many times.
Not having a 350 doesn't reduce the potential of the car. Only the engine.
At this point, it would be good to make public the guy's identity and dishonesty, but you really don't want whatever 350 he would give you if a judge ordered him to. He'd angrily give you the worst 350 on the planet. It'd be already 60 over, it'd be a non-roller-lifter style, it'd be cracked, and so on.
But saying it was too dirty to get the numbers? That is a really lame excuse. If nothing else, remove one of your socks, turn it wrong side out, and use that to wipe the junk off so you can read the numbers.
It's a lesson learned the hard way, mostly because you didn't ask us for any advice before committing to the car. Many others do. Even non-enthusiasts know to have an independent mechanic check a used car out before committing to it.
Maybe what I've typed is finger-pointing in your book, but if so, well, you really didn't do this buy wisely. Like so many of us, you got all caught up in your desire, and made an impulse buy, fearing someone else might get the one you wanted, perhaps.
I do the same, but I do so knowing the risks. That way, if something turns out bad, I'm neither surprised nor disappointed or upset. All used speed parts are always a gamble, and that includes entire Camaros.
Sue the seller if you must, but in my book that's makes you seem very petty and immature and just as irresponsible as him. I say irresponsible because whatever your local laws say, it was still ultimately on you to verify everything before committing.
I'm not here to bash you, I'm here because I help people make the most of what they have.

 

Does not change the fact someone lied under a legal binding contract. There's the line of responsibility. Saying it was my responsibility to do a backtrace of the engine code with my sock in pouring down rain does not sound ideal compared to logically seeing that since the guy wrote a contract, it would hurt him to lie against it.
With those sort of views is why many people do this kinda **** and still get away with it. If it were up to me I would just shoot everyone in the foot who lies about things like this. It is like we have no morals.

 

To play devil's advocate. "I got this car as a non running car,, has 80's 350 700R4 carburated transplant,," It doesn't say that he transplanted the motor. It says it wasn't running when he got it. It could be that he was told it was a 350 and believed it.

 

He told me in person he received the car with no engine. No engine = non running / roller. It says "has a 80's 350". Implying it does have it, writing it on the piece of paper and signing on it. If he received the car as a 305, why would he state he replaced it with a 350 specifically? Either way it is completely lying.

 

Car looks clean for the money - given it's a northern car, if it's not a rustbucket under the carpet, you got a good deal. 305 or 350 I'd say you got your money's worth for sure. I understand your frustration with the lie, but honestly the seller probably didn't even know it was a 305 - most folks (like yourself) don't go through the trouble to verify. I'd think it would be more of a hassle than it's worth. In the end, if extremely lucky, you might end up getting a refund, and then would be back on the hunt for a car, and like I said, if this one's not a rustbucket, youd have a hard time replacing this one for the same money. I'd consider myself lucky that I got a clean, running V8 3rd gen for that money.

But - Id be concerned about the transmission. The ad mentions it slips, and the "kickdown" cable having not been attached. That's a major issue! Does it slip? Have you physically verified that the cable is now connected and adjusted properly?

There is no "kickdown" cable on a 700R4, it's a TV cable. It's function is way more crucial to tranny life than the old "kickdown cables" were. And a wrongly adjusted TV cable can kill a 700R4 tranny quick! Does it have a TV geometry corrector on the carb linkage? Does it have a nice beefy sturdy bracket to hold the TV cable that doesn't bend or flex with throttle pressure?

If the car is as clean as it looks, I'd let the seller know he was wrong in a nice way at least at first to see what his reaction is - just because it would make me feel better, consider it a good deal, and enjoy the car if you wanted a good 3rd gen.

Oh - also verify that he actually threw out the plastic T-tops. Did he swap the old locks to the new tops? Do you have a key that fits the new tops? If not, you can probably get a key made - it's nice to lock them as added security - folks will steal anything these days!

 

Get on e-bay, find one of those chinese-built Master-Power T70 turbos, they're surprisingly good ( both compatibility and quality) for mild 305s, and put most 383s to shame. It's still a SBC V8. How can you prove to a judge that the seller "knew" it was a 305, not a 350? And if a man strike you on the one cheek, turn the other cheek.
It's okay to get angry, but every second you spend feeling bad about what you don't have, is a second you lost the enjoyment of what you do have. Do you really wanna dwell on a past lie? Or do you want to get right to enjoying the V8 Camaro? Do a rear-turbo setup yourself, you'll be flying for cheap in no time. And shame on you for checking out a car in the rain. Again, you did the whole deal unwisely. But we're only human, so we try to pass the blame. Move on. I am.

 

I would be pissed off too but Attila is right it is the "oldest trick" in the book with SBC. Guess how I know that?

In the end it is your fault for not checking. People lie and cheat when it comes to money, its in our reptilian nature.

Either way if you think you have a case take the guy to small claims court. For all you know though someone may have lied to him when he got the "350", it's a tricky situation.

 

this is the best answer that I have read I know that it pissed you off I was upset when it happened to me and I have alot more work to do on mine but at the same time it was my fault that I did not check it out properly. I bought mine for $600 and I had to shrug my shoulders pop the hood and go to work. come to find out there is not as much work to do as I thought. and I am loving every minute of it. besides I went out and bought a nice 350 bottom end and I hope to be working on building it to over 300hp and yes with the help of Atilla and the TGO crew I will have this done by Christmas or not long after. I know your P.Oed but calm done and enjoy it.