Norton850
Newbie
Posts: 3
Reg: 07-02-22
|
07-02-22 01:39 PM - Post#2843725
I just bought a car the old owner said had a 350. The engine has TBI. It is not the original engine as the car is a 63 Impala. Previous owner had very little real knowledge of the engine. The date code on the block is H178 so it looks like it is a 1988 engine. Block casting number is covered by the Powerglide kickdown bracket. Engine code is V0823TPN which does not exist in any of the Chevy engine code web sites I have visited. I want to put a new intake manifold on the engine but want to positively ID the engine before I order the manifold. I can pull the bracket and get the block casing number but that would be a big pain, as there is not much room behind the engine. Does anyone know of any other way I can verify the engine I have?
|
|
Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2205
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
|
07-02-22 03:54 PM - Post#2843735
In response to Norton850
The casting number will give you more information. Assuming it is a 1988 block, it could be a 305 or 350. I would NEVER go by what someone "says" because it can be incorrect.
If it is a 1978 casting, then it could be several small block engines.
Remove that bracket and take a pic of the casting number.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
|
Norton850
Newbie
Posts: 3
Reg: 07-02-22
|
07-04-22 07:36 AM - Post#2843810
In response to Tony1963
Thanks. I will remove the bracket to get the info.
|
Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2205
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
|
07-04-22 11:38 AM - Post#2843826
In response to Norton850
Several years ago, I helped a friend who was going to buy a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro. He asked me to look it over. I noticed that the engine was red/orange, not blue, like it should have been.
The guy selling the vehicle insisted that it was a 350 out of a 1970 Camaro and was a 4-bolt main. I questioned the 2-bbl carburetor, an old Rochester 2GC and he insisted that he put the intake on for better mileage.
So, here stands a guy lying through his teeth insisting that it is a 350. I got my light and phone behind the engine and photographed the casting number.
Turns out that it was a 307 engine from the early 70s. Definitely not a 350 even though my friend was assured that it was.
Believe nothing.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
|
Norton850
Newbie
Posts: 3
Reg: 07-02-22
|
07-05-22 01:35 PM - Post#2843915
In response to Tony1963
I finally found a source that list the engine suffix code. It is the "Lime Book" by Ed McComas. The Engine code is V0823TPN which translates to:
V = Flint Engine Plant
08 = August
23 - 23rd
TPN = 1989, 350 CI, 210 HP, Manual Transmission, TBI, Truck
The engine block cast date is H178 which translates to August 17, 1988. So it looks like the block was cast 6 days before engine assembly. I view the 1989 in the engine suffix code as the model year of the vehicle, not the assembly date.
|
Tony1963
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2205
Loc: Orlando Florida
Reg: 07-09-18
|
07-05-22 02:25 PM - Post#2843917
In response to Norton850
Glad you were able to decode the engine.
| People fear change because it threatens what they know, or what they claim to know. |
|
elcamino
Dedicated Member
Posts: 5599
Loc: Lake Superior-Michigan US...
Reg: 03-30-00
|
07-13-22 04:54 AM - Post#2844278
In response to Norton850
Correct, 1989 was the model year vehicle engine was built for. Any 3 digit suffix code that starts with a 'T' is a truck engine. 'C' would denote passenger car.
Source-Chevrolet parts catalog of the era...
Mike
2021 GMC 4WD Sierra Denali Ultimate 6.2L/10-sp
2022 Polaris RZR XP 1000 Ride Command
2017 John Deere X738 |
|
 wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15784
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
|
08-03-22 10:01 AM - Post#2845386
In response to elcamino
I once bought a 1975 Monte Carlo just to get the 350 out of it to rebuild for my 1976 Malibu that had a 305 in it. I could also get the car emissions exempted with that motor. Anyway, I built it and put it in the car and was trying to verify the year of the motor for emissions but I couldn’t find the code anywhere. I knew it was a 350, now .030 over. I went to a GM dealer for them to look it up. Turns out I had a 1974 Police Only block. They must have had blocks left over and put them in the 1975 cars. That block had thicker main bearing webs and thicker walls around the water jackets from what I understand.
Glad you got your identified. To be clear though, all first gen small blocks are pretty much the same when it comes to external parts like the manifold. There are some changes in water pumps and things like having a road draft tube or an oil filler in them. But essentially they are all the same.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
|
Gain extra benefits by becoming a Supporting Member 
