Chevy small block??

I have just started automotive classes in my local tech school and our first project is to dismantle a motor. well my buddies and I picked out the only V-8 in the motor room, but we cant figure out what kind of motor it is. It seems to be pretty old due to the massive amounts of crud still on it. we managed to find 5L cast into it the side of the block, it had a 2 barral carb, there is whats left of an egr system, so were are thinking 80ish?? The firing order was cast into the intake, which I do not have. Are there any other markings that I can look for to tell what what kind of motor this is and where might chevy have cast gm or any other markings into the block.

There is usually a GM cast next to the displacement, [GM 5.0, or GM 5.7] behind the driver side head, on the bell housing. I don't think the early small blocks those kind of identifing marks, I believe that didn't start till the mid 70's, which is when the wonderful EGR systems came about. Post some pics if you can Dude, that would be a little more helpful.

is the distributor mount in the front or the rear of the motor? ford is front, gm is rear, they both made a 5.0

The first egr valve motors came out in 1973.

well we got the motor cleaned up and it is a gm 5.0L. were not exactly sure of the year now. Above the timing cover on the block GM 5.0L G was cast into the block. Is the G a part of the VIN code or is it just a motor code?? I will try to take some pictures of the motor tomorow. One other thing that my GM buddy thought was strrange was the exhaust manifolds hugged the block. I dont know if this can help id the motor any better.

Just to ask a perhaps dumb question....can't anyone in the class (including the instructor) identify the motor? No offense, but a Chevy small block and a Ford small block are American icons...

I am no expert but I think it's a 305" Chevy.

The thing is I am not a chevy motor buff, I am into ford trucks so this is new to me. And the teacher will not tell us what kind of motor it is because he wants us to find out on our own.

ya that's what all teachers say lol. i just had to sorry