I just purchased a 1989 IROC Z today. The car was advertised as having a 350 engine. Upon getting the car home and checking the VIN's 8th digit it is an F which indicates a 305. This is a lady friend of mine who bought the car in 1990 and was told it had a 350. I notice the data tag attached to the hood has 5.0 liter on it also. I would like to verify the block itself. Can someone tell me the location of the VIN and engine displacement stamp. I will admit I'm a 30year Mopar guy who wants to work on a different kind of project. Thanks in advance.

 

This link should prove helpful. Welcome to the thirdgen board!

V8Rumble

 

Thanks very much V8Rumble. I'm sure I will be visiting often and asking questions. Thanks for the info.

 

Any time, happy to help.

 

Hopefully this new 89 IROC is in good shape and treats you well. Congrats mopar guy! Welcome aboard!

 

Thanks AutoRoc. The car is pretty cool. I drove the car home from Indy to my place in Northen IN and had no problems. Runs really nice. Needs a little TLC around the rear wheel area on both sides but there are no holes. Its bright red with black int. never been repainted or anything. Its got 164,000 on it. My friend bought it with 24,000 on the OD. I feel sorry for her though cause I have a feeling shes going to be upset when she finds out that it only has a 305. She thought it had a hipo 350. Least thats what someone told her when she bought it back in 1990.

 

Same old story, seller says it a 350 when its a 305 (no visible differenc). Just Check the Vin Number to see what GM installed in the car, Period. Or on the rare chance it was swapped look and ask for the paperwork that the motor was changed.

 

The only real way to tell is on the block itself. It will say 5.0L or 5.7L stamped on the block on the drivers side rearmost part of the block behind the driver's side cylinder head along with the block casting number. You will have to use a flashlight and look good and hard, but that is the only way to tell.

 

http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/show...hreadid=328449

 

Thanks for all the good info. I do need to figure out what I have here. Heres what I know today.

1.)The 8th digit of the VIN is an F. VIN is 1G1FP21F8KL then the seq# whihc I believe means this car came with a 305.

2.)There is a sticker on the RH underside of the hood thats an emmissions thing that says 5.0 liter.

3.) I called my friend last night and she said there is an emblem on the LH rear bumper of the car that says 5.7 Liter Twinportinjection. Shes correct, there is. When she bought the car at an Ill dealership they said it was a 5.7 liter. She also has had the same insurance co since 1990 and has been paying a 25% surcharge because of the 5.7 liter. Sounds like some people taking advantage of a lady here is possible unless the engine was swapped in 1990 when the car had very low mileage.

I just need to locate that # on the engine as suggested here. Can anyone decode this VIN or lead me to a site that can? Thanks much !

 

You must verify that the motor in the car is a 350 or 305. Someone could have swapped motors. The vin number only tells you what is supposed to be in there, not what's actually in there.

 

The sequential portion of the VIN will be stamped in the block in the pics I supplied above. If they match, the block is original to the car. It's impossible to bore a 305 block (3.74" bore) to make it a 350 (4.00" bore) so if the stamped number matches, it must be a 305 block.

The other info above is true also. At the rear of the block on the driver's side, there will be two lines of text. The top line will indicate 5.0 or 5.7LG. The bottom line will have a three letter code which is the engine code. The 1989 350's code is either AWA or AWK. Shoot me an e-mail and I'll send you a pic of this -- this website does not allow posting pics.

Willie
tplsz87@***.net

 

After all your looking for block numbers and etc, you will find that you have a 305. 99 44/100% of all sellers will claim its a 350 until they are proven wrong. But most dumb buyers will belive what they are told and not what on the Vin.

 

Mystery solved. Not much of a mystery though. It is a 305. Thanks everyone for the info. My lady friend in Indy is the one that is out in this situation. She was told by the dealership she had a 350. They must have slapped on a 5.7 liter twinportinjection emblem on the back for good measure. As I mentioned before, she has been paying a 25% surcgarge on her insurance too the past 14 years.

 

Tim,

That would be "5.7 TUNED PORT INJECTION".

Willie