hi guys I'm new to this forum i currently have a 88 firebird V6, but i'm goin to buy my first V8 camaro in a week or two. the one i plan on buying is a 88 IROC hard top. The guy i'm buying it from said it originally had a 305 in it but he had a shop swap in a 350. My question is are there any 350 TBI engines that fit in the 88 Camaros? because it obviously not TPI. Could it be carbed? I don't really know anything about V8's and this might sound stupid to you guys lol here's a picture of the engine. Any help would be great thanks guys i look forward to learning all i can from this forum. [ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

 

The picture you attached is of a tbi, without the block casting number, injector numbers memcal broadcast code its hard telling what small block that is, could be anything from a 265 to a 400 bottom end with center bolt heads.

 

so theres no tell tale signs between a TBI 350 and a 305? I'm inclined to trust the guy he's been really straight forward with everything so far but he admitted to me he doesn't know anything about cars and always had a shop do his work for him. I just don't want to buy the car then find out some time in the future its a 305 and not a 350.

 

Unless you have superman vision to see the bore and stroke or read the block casting or suffix a small block chevy in any displacement looks the same on the outside.

 

lol ok thanks for the insight man.

 

Thank super man for the insight

 

What type of filter is on the intake ? Paper or what ?
What ever it is its disgusting. Unless the photo is lying that the dirtiest filter I have ever seen.

 

i assume so he said it's all stock stuff after the swap

 

yea it is pretty gross if it is paper tho. he said the car has been sitting alot over the last couple years he's just been starting it once or twice a week.

 

Sorry man but if that dirt than that's total neglect. A paper filter is extremely easy to change or clean if its a K&N. Better check the oil and trans fluid to check the level and see what it looks like. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the engine but that's ridiculous.

 

Also If he had a shop put in a 350 than he should have a hand full of receipts showing it. Ask him strait out if he has them if not than ask what shop did the work. If he gives you the run around and cant produce either one than I would be very concerned if it was actually changed.

 

ok thank you for the advice

 

if i do end up buying it and it is a 350 how would i buy replacement parts for it? i.e. if the thermostat went or the water pump or alternator since it is not the stock engine. Are all the 305 accessories interchangeable with a 350?

 

All the accessory drive and reverse rotation water pump are the same from 305 tbi to 350 tpi 88-92. Since you now have identified this is a 350 you should verify the injector numbers and that the eprom in the ecm was changed other wise your car will be running lean and may over heat easly.

 

so i can use 350 TPI accessories in a 350 TBI? and why would would the car over heat with the wrong injectors?

 

the camaro never came with a tbi 350, the serpentine belt setup was used on 88-92 tbi 305 and tpi 305 and 350's. The stock 305 tbi injectors are rated at 40#hr a 350 depending on how built it is would require 55#hr to 65#hr or even higher with boost. If the prom in the computer has not been changed out and the injectors have been changed chances are the engine is running lean and may over heat and cause premature engine damage.