Zap Racing

A buddy of mine has deceided he want s thirdgen. He wants a 91/92 so it will have the speed density intake. Question is:

Is there an E Z way to tell just by looking--without getting the block casting numbers. or without running a check on the VIN-- whether it's a 305 or 350?

I know on my 89 the engine code in the VIN is 8 (I think anyway), but he was a out looking at one and the guy kept telling him it was a 350, even though the ad the guy ran said 305, and when my buddy first showed up the guy said it was 305. Need less to say he did not trust him as far as what he was being told about whether it was a 305 or 350.

91RS5speed

e is for tbi 305 and f is for the tpi 305

If it has a 5 speed its a 305 they didnt come with a 350. I also think in thoughs years the 350 didnt have t-top but not positive on that. They also had the sd on the 90 cars.

Zap Racing

I'm assuming that is a "typo"

The f for 350?

Are U talking about the VIN?

1MeanZ

iTrader: (9)

NO. the 8th digit of the VIN is the engine code

E = TBI 305

F = TPI 305

8 = TPI 350

SkullLeader

Zap Racing

OOOOOPS......I misread your post. Sometimes I need a good swift kick in the butt and a wake up call!!!

SORRY!!!

Thanks for the clearification and my education

Appreciate the information. I will pass it along to my soon to be a thirdgenner buddy!

By the way, he is geting rid of a 4th gen (95 I think) just because he is tired of being one of the sheep where everybody had the same and just wants to be different, and likes doing restoration type projects. If I know him, in a couple years, he will have a thirdgen as nice as ANYBODY on this board. He paints cars for a living and has built several winning race cars (circle track) in the past. Now if I can just talk hm into the free paint job (yeah right) we talked about during a recent beer chugging session.

Again Thanks!

rock'n z

a quick easy and good sure way to tell if u have a 305 0r 350 look on the back of the block on the pass side down where the tranny bolts to the engine there will be a stamp on the block that says 5.0 or 5.7 it is the only sure way to tell but ull need a flash light to see it look straight down and ull see it

BigWhiteGTP

Is there a pic of an engine out of the car with that stamp? I tried looking, but I still don't know what I'm looking for.

Apeiron

Not all blocks have the actual displacement shown, but you can look in the same place for the casting numbers and then look up the bore size.

rock'n z

actully all oem blocks and gm crate engines have that stamped on the engine block my friend who works at gm told me to identify my block that way anf so far all blocks i have seen have had that on them

Silver_Panther

Isn't the 305 Oil dipstick on the passenger side and the 350 dipstick on the driver side?

BigWhiteGTP

The dipstick is on the passenger side for both motors.

Apeiron

The markings aren't stamped, they're cast in, and there are far more blocks that don't have it than do. Only the later blocks have it.

<img src="http://www.mortec.com/cast14.gif">

Apeiron

Dipstick location has nothing to do with displacement.

Zap Racing

I hope not, cause my dipstick is on the passenger side and it's "supposed" to be a 350. If not, I've got one of the best running 305's in the country!!!


One thing I have noticed, is that in the mid 80's production years, the alternator seems to be on the passenger side on the 305's, and on the drivers side on the 350's, but I'm not sure that is always 100% the case either. Maybe just the ones I have actually looked at. Regardless of if's that's true or not, I know many were done that way--WONDER WHY?

Apeiron

A 305 will have the same accessory mounting as a 350 of the same year in the same application.

The only way to tell the bore of the block is to take it apart and measure it, or to check the casting numbers.

SGT.ROCK

Doesnt the tach go orange color at 5000 rpm then red at 5500 rpm on a 350 car and the 305 turn orange at 5500 and go red at 6000? Just wondered

Apeiron

Different engine options had different tachs in different years. Checking the VIN would be more definitive, but you can't always be sure the engine hasn't been changed.