I have what I believe to be a 3.1L V6. I'd like to verify this and determine the year of manufacture so I can order parts.

There are some numbers stamped into a flat space on the top of the motor between the front cover and intake manifold. There are some numbers and symbols stamped into a flat spot just under the passenger side head. There are various other cast in and stamped in numbers on the engine. Which set of numbers ID the engine and what do they tell me?

The stamped in numbers that I described are,

Top: A91C505CDC (the "1" might be a forwar slash or 7)

Passenger side: 1M1122008 (the second "1" might be a forward slash or a 7, the 8 is actually a hour glass looking symbol)

Thanks!

 

if the engine is original from the factory, then you deffinately have a 2.8. if not then you still have a 2.8. the only difference between a 2.8 and a 3.1 is the crank shaft. i mean there are a few sensors that are different, but they are essentially the same block. try getting ahold of am91 for absolute positive confirmation on what engine you have in your should be factory stock 86 camaro 2.8L with a borg warner 5 speed.

 

The story is that the engine was replaced and the new engine is a 3.1L. The new engine has a knock sensor which is not part of the 2.8L set up. All the 2.8L FI stuff was swaped onto the engine but they left the knock sensor and it wasn't hooked up. I positive it is not the original engine.

 

get parts for the 3.1l camaro then. 91 92 style. 2.8's have the knock sensors on them. one on each cylinder bank. atleast mine does!

 

Interesting. The '86 MPFI system definitely does not have a knock sensor. I just rechecked the factory shop manual to be sure. This block only has a knock sensor on the passenger side. None on the drivers side.

 

strange indeed, guess mine was deffinately a oddball like i been thinking! i know the engine was stock factory, cause the numbers match the vin perfectly.

 

None of the 2.8's came with a knock sensor from the factory. Someone installed them at some point. There is no provision for them in the ECM programming. You might have them installed, but they don't work. Chances are that they are not knock sensors though. I think even the 3.1 that had the sensor only had 1 of them. Chances are that someone put them in to fill a hole in the side.

BTW, what color are the wires coming off of them?

 

learn something new every day!

 

My 1985 has "them" because of the 3.4 block under there.
Price around for a used running long block in good shape before ya order your parts. You'd be surprised as to how low in price is a good used running engine with low miles.
Recent score is a 59,000 3.4, complete for $650.
I know you can find them easy up Northern California.
If you visit Los Angleses area, I can set you up with a guy who has plenty of them for sale. Even for rebuilding as cores.

If it makes ya feel any better, yes, I can feel the Southern California earthquakes, but I'll bet nothing like your earthquakes!

 

off the top of my head the wires are green with a white stripe i think. i will check when i get off work.

 

All of my manuals state differently. Are you absolutely sure?

 

i am at work right now, and no i am not really sure that that is what color they were. i will check after work and post what i found tomm!

 

Knock sensors are definitely not shown as part of the MPFI system in '86. I'm referencing the Chevy factory manual for the '86 Camaro.

 

100% on the 2.8, about 90% on the 3.1. As far as i know, the 3.1 only had 1 sensor in it. All the wiring diagrams show a single sensor. The Helms manuals are crap for looking year specific stuff up. You have to get a GM service manual or something like All Data or Mitchell On Demand for good info.

 

The crank in my mystery engine has "3.1L" cast into one of the forward throws. I guess that boosts my confidence considerably that it is indeed a 3.1L.

Again, this block has a single knock sensor located on the passenger side. Not connected and in fact no where to connect it on the '86 MPFI system.

 

There you are...definitly a 3.1L motor. A single Sensor with a Dark Blue wire, but there's nowhere to hook it up. Congrats.

 

the one in the passenger side head (rear) is a fan switch to turn on the fan if the computer fails to... driver's side front should be a sending unit for the gauge... unless someone was goofing around and put a second fan switch in... (i.e. pass. head off another motor)

 

thanks man, the electrical stuff is why i hate working on new cars. i would rather work on a old carbeurated engine any day of the week that aint got none of this dam electric stuff in it!

 

i said that when i got my first 85... "the first FI problem comes up-i'm throwing a holley on it!" but then the first problem was small, and it just went on and on that way. and now i like FI, how 'bout that?