I'm currently looking into buying my first trans am an 87, and the dealer is telling me it's engine is the 305 TPI. Is there any way to confirm this??? Like, is it stamped anywhere unser the hood or is it in the VIN # code??? The car has 78,000 miles on it, it's in good shape, just needs paint and exhuast, and he's asking $2600 without a new exhaust system, $2995 with. What do you guys think???? Also, can anyone tell me what kinda of horsepower it's putting out????

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Real Deal

 

The engine code (8th digit of the VIN) should be an F if its a 305TPI. If you are looking at the car and dont know what a TPI looks like, its like a silver spider looking thing sitting on the engine Do a search for something like "who has the best looking TPI" and that should yield a post with a whole mess of pics.
HP is either 190 or 215 depending on if its auto or stick.

 

don't get it with the exhaust, you'll want an aftermarket one anyways and $400 is a bit much for a stock exhaust, thats almost headers and catback (non emission headers at least)
Andrew