ok guys. i know that the only way to tell if your motor is a 350 and not a 305 is to check the casting. but on our camaros it's very hard to get back there and see. so does anyone have any tricks that i can use to help me see it besides pulling the whole dang motor?

 

See if there are 3 numbers cast on the side of the block ( either side )

Or check the block pad at front of pass side head for numbers

 

Castings.

Don't let people tell you otherwise when saying the alternator is on the left/right/etc.

Also, you can check your vin. How true that will be is anyone's guess, but depending on the year, you would check the 8th digit for an F or an 8 (I know this is true of Firebirds and T/A's).

 

Any engine could have been swapped into the car by now so VIN only tells you what engine it came with from the factory;
not what it has at present.

 

That's why I said it's anyone's guess.

Unless something happened to the original engine, I don't see why it would be pulled out. I can understand if the original (be it a 350 or w.e.) blew and the previous owner threw in another F-body V8 (a 305 or possibly a 350) which again is very possible, not arguing against it.

 

So VIN basically irrelevant?

You see it happening on here all the time.
Guys pulling engines for all sorts of reasons ( not only because engine is kaput )
For instance; they have several cars and one body is better than another
or they found something at the junkyard or their buddies place for a good price
or having to keep a DD running ,they are putting in a newer / older /bigger /smaller or even truck engine
depending on their circumstances and budget

 

Subscribing.

 

Get under the car, look up at the side of the block. The last three digits of the casting # are usually cast into the side of the block in large numbers.

 

If you have the chance, pull your valve covers too and get each head casting number. That way you will know for sure which heads you have too.

 

Still not a for sure way to find out tho. When I bought my Camaro and tore into the engine, it had a 4 bolt 350 block from an 85 truck (via casting numbers) and had the origional 305 H.O. heads (vin g 1984 z28) The only sure fire way is to look up casting numbers. Had I looked at the vin and pulled the valve cover, I would have thought for sure I had the origional 305 H.O. in my car.

 

uh,i know that. i said ALSO check heads to see whats on it. He may have a 350 block with 305 heads.lol

 

Yeah realized that after I posted it, didn't feel like editing it lol. Sorry