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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: 1981 ss chevy on December 26, 2009, 10:35:56 am

Title: 305 or 350?
Post by: 1981 ss chevy on December 26, 2009, 10:35:56 am: I have an 81 stepside chevy 2wd and when I bought the truck the lady didnt know what it had how would I check? Run the VIN? Get the serial number off the back of the block?? Or what?
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: zieg85 on December 26, 2009, 10:47:19 am: If the engine is original to the truck your VIN # will tell you what engine you have. The letter before the X in the VIN would be either G,H or L. Both G & H are 305 while the L is a 350.
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: 1981 ss chevy on December 26, 2009, 10:54:42 am: ok thanks zieg, and ya its original
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: zieg85 on December 26, 2009, 10:55:35 am: NP have a great weekend
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: 1981 ss chevy on December 26, 2009, 11:09:14 am: ok i ran the VIN online on a few different site and one says 350 and one says 305 how is that possible??
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: zieg85 on December 26, 2009, 11:15:48 am: I guess anything is possible however I only trust this sites info. Chris has done an outstanding job.

http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/VIN.htm

You can also run the engine # which is on the block pad under the alternator.
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: 1981 ss chevy on December 26, 2009, 11:20:28 am: ok i trust this site it says 305 stupid internet VIN readers thanks again lol hope you had a good xmas and happy new year zieg
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: VileZambonie on December 26, 2009, 07:08:38 pm: Best to go off the casting # on the block to be sure
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: Captkaos on December 28, 2009, 10:21:11 am: 48 state 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive trucks from 81-86 were not offered with a 350, so if you want it to be original you want it to be a 305.
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: frito-bandito on February 01, 2010, 12:29:01 pm: Quote from: Captkaos on December 28, 2009, 10:21:11 am
48 state 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive trucks from 81-86 were not offered with a 350, so if you want it to be original you want it to be a 305.

Are you sure about that? A 350 wasn't an option?
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: 4x4HighSierra on February 01, 2010, 12:54:34 pm: you could just look at the harmonic balancer to see if it is a 305 or 350. A 350 has a fat balancer while a 305 has a slim balancer of around 1.5 inches wide i think its been a while since i have looked at a 305 balancer.
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: Captkaos on February 01, 2010, 02:52:36 pm: Quote from: emctx chevygmc on February 01, 2010, 12:29:01 pm
Are you sure about that? A 350 wasn't an option?

Yeah, 100%.
Title: Re: 305 or 350?
Post by: frito-bandito on February 01, 2010, 07:14:35 pm: Wow, I didn't know that. I guess that's the reason for this site, to teach us something new about the best trucks ever!