Thread: What crate engine do I have???

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Hey guys,
I'm back with my usual dumb questions. If you remember me,you remember I gave up on all of this and drove my firebird into a tree. Well, I'm back with another F body. My kids got me a 79 Camero for Father's day (this one's in a lot better shape than the Bird was). It has a fairly new crate in it now, but I can't tell what it is. I know it's a 350 or 305 GM. I can't really tear it down to get to the casting numbers because it's the only car I have to get to work in. Is there any way to tell the difference without having to tear it apart?
Thanks in advance.
It's god to be back, hopefully I learned enough the last time to do better this go around.
I'll get pics of the new ride up later.

Welcome back, you can tell from casting numbers on the back of the block, right above the bell housing then decifer them at mortec.com or moretech.com. Edit your hot rod in your profile to 1979 Camero cause that Firebird's long been gone. Take a pic of the engine and the car to show us what u got. It's probably a 350. To get the numbers without removing the engine, you may be able to get some clay and push it onto the casting numbers, then hold it to a mirror and right them down.

Originally posted by eboy
My kids got me a 79 Camero for Father's day (this one's in a lot better shape than the Bird was).

A Camaro .............. your kids have good taste in automobiles. Any way to get documentation from the previous owner ????

Yeah PRO,
This time I have a title and everything. I can't wait to get picks of it up. I'll try tomorrow.
Thanks for the tip Matt, I'll try the clay thing.
I'll try not to bug you guys with as many stupid questions as I did last time..
This car doesn't need as much work as the Bird had. The frame is solid and the motor is ready for a shot of juice I think. I just need to beef up the supension a little, and some light body work. Wish me luck on this one, I can't just drive a Father's day present into a tree.... I'm stuck with this one.....

Originally posted by eboy
Hey guys,
I'm back with my usual dumb questions. If you remember me,you remember I gave up on all of this and drove my firebird into a tree. Well, I'm back with another F body. My kids got me a 79 Camero for Father's day (this one's in a lot better shape than the Bird was). It has a fairly new crate in it now, but I can't tell what it is. I know it's a 350 or 305 GM. I can't really tear it down to get to the casting numbers because it's the only car I have to get to work in. Is there any way to tell the difference without having to tear it apart?
Thanks in advance.
It's god to be back, hopefully I learned enough the last time to do better this go around.
I'll get pics of the new ride up later.

http://www.mortec.com. Once you know where to look for your numbers clean the surface areas well. You can use carbon paper, lumber crayons and such but I've found good access and lots of light at my age allows me to see well enough. CE engines probably won't have the suffix codes you need so the front stamped pad my not help. You can also try this site as well:

http://www.nastyz28.com/sbcmenu.html.