Finding engine year off engine code?

[Ken B]

I have a motor that is not original to the vehicle. My issue is trying to decode the engine block to get parts. almost everyplace wants year make and model....all i have is the engine stamping...it narrows it down but still not specific...any ideas?

 

[DanMcG]

the number on the block behind the alternator will give ya what ya need.
the last three letter suffix is what ya need to know. then look it up here.

73-87 Pickup Engine Identification

 

[Ken B]

thanks I will give that a try...

 

[Bextreme04]

thanks I will give that a try...

That link will only work if the engine came out of a truck. Is it a big block or a small block? Pics? Here is a link to the Lime Book, which will have suffix codes for almost any GM engine made from 1955 on. http://www.camaros.org/pdf/LimeBook.pdf

 

[Ken B]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Ken B]

the highlighted is the motor code on the back of the motor . I am pulling it out of an 85 k 10 but it is not original...

 

[Ken B]

FBM is my 3 letter suffix. which lime book says 1987 350 170hp manual trans,,,,out of a truck if i am reading the headings correctly.

 

[Bextreme04]

FBM is my 3 letter suffix. which lime book says 1987 350 170hp manual trans,,,,out of a truck if i am reading the headings correctly.

Yep, so that will be a TBI 350 from a truck. 1 piece rear main seal, which is nice... but TBI heads, which is not nice.

 

[Ken B]

so this has a carb on it.....i know it says tbi....but i already replaced the carb.

 

[Ken B]

i will just be happy to know 87 chevy 350 C10 motor, for ordering parts

 

[Bextreme04]

so this has a carb on it.....i know it says tbi....but i already replaced the carb.

Right, but it is still a TBI engine. Most likely the PO took the motor out of a truck in the junkyard, swapped the accessories and intake/carb over from the old motor, and stuck it into your truck. A 350 is a 350 for the most part, you run into a few minor differences in some years with intake bolt pattern issues or which side the oil dipstick is on, but mostly they are all interchangeable. You'll need year of the motor for oil pan gaskets and rear main seal, you'll need year of the truck(maybe.. still no pics to confirm) for anything on the intake/distributor/accessory drive.

 

[Ken B]

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Ken B]

heres a couple pics.

 

[Bextreme04]

heres a couple pics.

Interesting... so the old accessory drive stuff on the front and it looks like NOT TBI heads. So maybe only the short block was used from the donor. It might be worthwhile to look for a casting mark on the front of the head or pull a valve cover and get the cylinder head casting number to confirm what was used. What are you trying to do here? Is the motor toast or are you just trying to freshen it up a bit?

 

[Ken B]

just freshen , i am upgrading from my original straight six. i pulled the 350 out and it was running.