Hello,

I just bought a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro that originally had a V6 but now has a TPI motor in it... The guy say it's a 5.7L and I wan't to verify that. Where on the engine can I find the number? Someone have any pics with an arrow or something?

Thanks!

 

back of the engine block by the fire wall.. where the engine mounts to the tranny

http://www.mortec.com/castnum.htm

 

Can I see it without removing anything? Driver side, passenger side or in the middle in the back where you don't see anything lol?

 

drivers side and you may need to use a mirror to see it,

 

if it has air and an auto you are prety much out of luck. me and a member of my carclub verified mine by removing the air tubes when we installed my headers (thanks Twilightoptics). it took us like 20 minutes. we "forgot" to put them back on though. oops.

depending on the date and series of engine there might be different stampings in different places. there is a website MorTec, Chevy V-8 Engine Block and Head Casting Number Locations that gives info on where to look based on which engine you have.

there realy is no substitute for having somone who has found it before point to it and say "see, there it is, 5.7". i had all the descriptions and pictures with arrows in the world and could not locate it.

good luck

 

aren't the harmonic balancers different on teh 350 and 305?

 

Look on the sides of the block
In big numbers upside down are "627" that would be a 305
"638" that would be a 350 (these are roller blocks)
Any other numbers....it would be hard to tell without seeing the other numbers on the back of the block as shown.
If you were real lucky you would find an "880" that would be a'96-'00 Vortec 350 roller block.

 

The guy told me it was from a 89 IROC-Z engine... I'll go look at the car today and I'll come here If I can find the number.

 

Right front corner of block where the head comes together, there is a three letter code called the "Engine Suffix Code". You may need a long screwdriver to hold "stuff" out of the way and carb cleaner to clean block surface. Probably the easiest location.

Mine is CMB

check this web site: http://www.nastyz28.com/spmenu.html
using mine as an example go to "CE - CMJ"

looks like possibly AWA or AWK
I'm surprised to find it there, but yours may also.

 

On my block it was located in the same position that Zepher has cirlced, and it clearly said 5.7L.

 

mine came from Quebec too, told it was a 5.7, so dirty and the wiring is so hacked up i can't get back there so i pulled a valve cover instead. If i got a 5.7, then it's got 305 heads on it...

 

I still haven't found anything... The engine is too dirty maybe? Oh well...

 

My 305 block has 638 on it. On the passenger side it says 627. I wouldn't trust that way either.

The only way is by looking at the rear of the engine on the shoulder or removing a head and measuring.

 

Have you checked for your "suffix code" yet?

 

I'll have to clean the engine first I think, it's so dirty in there.

 

Another guy mentioned the harmonic balancers, and yes they are different. The 305 balancer is smaller in diameter and thicker. It's about 2 to 2 1/2" thick. The 350 balancer is roughly between 1 to 1 1/2" thick. A 305 balancer is roughly 6" in diameter, maybe a little smaller. A 350 balancer is closer to 7". If you can actually see the pad on the back driver's side of the engine block, they clearly say either 5.7LG or 5.0LG as well.

 

I put some fender covers on the fender and the engine and climbed up in there with light. There is no way on a 91 L98 you are going to see the casting # for the engine size. Not without some kind of dissassembly. I would imagine the same for the 5.0's. But, by moving the wiring loom a little and spraying some carb cleaner, you can easily read the date code and suffix code. With that suffix code, you can go to this web site:

Chevy Engine Codes Menu

and look up the suffix code. It also explains the date code.

Example: AWA 1989 350 L98, a/t vin code 8 225 HP TPI Firebird/Omega (for some reason Camaro's are left out)

 

There is no way you have a 305 with "638" on it, that is part of the part # on the back they mentioned.
14093627 305...87-91...2...Roller or flat tappet cam, one-piece rear seal
14093638...350...87-95...2 or 4...Roller or flat tappet cam, one-piece rear seal