How Do I Know What Engine Is In My Truck?

The 305 engine was pretty much gone out of GM's line up by 1988, as the throttle body EFI 350's were introduced. I have a 1988 Cheyenne 2500 4x4 & it came with a 350 EFI engine. In '98, the engine was either a V-6 or a 350 Vortec, as the Vortecs were introduced in '96. The intake runner should say "Vortec" right on it. Does your truck have an emissions decal under the hood anywhere? That will tell you what engine came in the truck from the factory, but I'm 99.9% sure it NEVER came with a 305. You can always get the casting #'s off the block & find out that way too.

just look at the engine code on the front of the engine under the passenger side head

In 98 they had a 5.0l V8 which is a 305 standard in the trucks, it was a vortec and produced 230 hp. There was also a vortec 5.7l (350)

the factory engine by the VIN # is the 8TH digit a 350 is a "R"

I stand corrected, but I've seen many of these trucks from the early to mid '90's, and NEVER seen a 305, they were either 350's or v-6's. Maybe here in MT, we never got any shipped this way.. Honestly, I've never even heard of one being used in a 90's vehicle & I know 3 GM mechanics. Maybe the 305 was an option & not a standard engine???

Sorry Quinton, for the mis-information! The 305 was in production until the early 2000's, just weren't any that I seen here in MT!

I got a 96 Cheyenne and its got a 5.0 305 V8

Weren't all vortec heads center bolted, and non-vortec perimeter bolted?

Hi guys hope you can help me I have 350 out of a 1988 can i use the short block from it and use heads and manifold off 350 vortec in 1996 pickup and it work okay??

Andrew answered it above sorry fidnt read all. Bolt holes would have to be drilled

The heads and intake will bolt onto the block just fine. the important part is to always have the matching heads and intake.

I have matching heads and manifold I see people talking about knock sensors do i have to mess with that and timing gears and different camshaft ??

The cam will be whimsy compared to the vortec one. Still use able just less power. I'm not sure about the knock sensor, now that I think about it they will probably be different

I was thinking just swap all sensors anyway will timing gears be ok or should i swap that also

They have different timing sets

Ok will swap it all thankyou

I have a question my truck has no motor and I don't know if it was a 350 vortec or if it was just regular 350 if I'm replacing the whole motor anyway does it matter what I put in it or would I have to replace brain to do so please help I'm new at this

96+ used the vortec motor. 86-95 used the tbi motor and anything older was just a carbed motor

take vin number to parts guy at dealer or just call them with it and they will tell you what motor came with your truck just from vin number. .

Question ? I have a 95 with the tbi.5.7 L. What do I have to change to throw a vortec 5.7L in it?

Fuel pump, the vortec pcm. The trans is tricky. The vortec pcm won't run the 95 4l60e well. You could take the newer transmission or keep the old pcm as well and use it for only the trans. The trans will bolt up, it's the electronics are different. If you have a manual ignore what I said

Question- have a 96 k1500, 350/5.7... looking at a c2500 parts truck. Will the 8th vin digit R be the only thing I need to know? Bolt right up? Does that change trans, etc..?

Make sure it's a 96+ as 95 and older won't work

Right, 96-99 is the "long block". Guess I'm asking if the k1500 vs c2500 changes anything (besides frame and 4x4) as far as just slapping it back together goes.. motor mounts, etc..? Need the (z71) to move ASAP!

Oil pan is different

I have a 95 gmc ext. cab. Vin 2GTEC19.K7S1587408. Could you tell what exact motor came with it? Also which others will fit? I would appreciate it as I am new to this and

it should tell you when you pop the hood right above the radiator. Should be a white sticker about a inch and a half square that has the motel size printed on it. But should be a 4.3 v6 or a 5.7 v8

Sticker is gone and it is v8 but does that mean its the vortec?

I bought the truck from a guy who was also clueless and the motor is really strong and I'm not a mechanic but seems its more than the usual is why im asking

No its not. It's tbi only, or it should be. I believe vortec didn't come out in the 1500 till 96. but it could have had some work done to it. but you could run the numbers next time you pull th e engine

Oh. I think we totally missed the question. He wants to know how to tell if the engine is a vortec or not. If it is a vortec 350 the head bolta to the intake will be straight up and down, and there should be 4. On a non vortec there will be 6 and they are angled. Also vortecs use the spider injector setup and older fuel injection used tbi

Andrew posted that a up th ere somewhere

Could you tell me what all v8 motors would fit in that specific truck?? That would be nice knowledge to know.

Anything with a carb or tbi. stay away from vortec heads And intake. but I thought you said it ran strong?

It does have a carburetor. Oh it runs strong Im just curious of all the possibilities the motor could be by asking you vehicle wizards. Im also considering buying a 93

To put the motor in( because of the body)...Will it fit the 93??

I had a blonde moment. Its tbi. Sits underneath air breather

Hi I'm Ryan i have an 88 k1500 with the efi 350 and a few of you have said you have never seen a 305 in these models but my freind has a 92 With a 305 from factory the only 100 percent way to tell what engine you have is to look on the back of the engine block

I have a 96 chevy k1500 with a 5.0 vortec the motor is knocking and I have a 5.7 out of a 95 gmc suburban can I put my heads and intake on that motor and put it in my truck or is there other things I would have to change

Is it possible to put a 96+ vortec engine in a 95 chevy silverado 1500 4x4? Is that a good idea rather than using the stock 95 350? I'm new to this

Good yes, you have to get a special intake to bolt on your tbi. It won't be just drop in and go but will be more powerful

I jus bout a 98 Silverado its got the 5.0 are they good motors

Hey guys i got a question. I have a 96 motor in my 97 body bc i swapped motors when i swapped trucks.. I have the vortec 350 for sure but my motor went bad. I could have another motor lined up but its out of a 95 chevy. Would i be able to put the 95 chevy motor in my truck with a faily direct bolt in?

The 95 motor will be a tbi and not a vortec. You could use your heads and intake but you would have vary high compression as the pistons in the vortec are dished more than the tbi. I'd suggest finding another motor

This question is for Andrew. "What are some quick tips or best practices you have found with these 5.7 litre350 motors

And to help guide the question. My example is..... for a dodge 4.7 if you ever swap the heads, Lets say out of the "junk yard" the cam gear wheel plate that the cam has that the cam sensor reads has to match the crank plate on the block because dodge produced two sets of these and if they are not the matching pair the sensors(both the crank and cam sensor) will not read the sam firing order and the truck wont start... (saves you lots of time and money if you would know this tip)so is there any tips like this dodge example that we should all know about with these 4th generation 350 chevys?!

i have a 97 c1500 vortec is it a 5.3 or a 5.7?

My VIN says 1GCEK19R3TE245034 in my 1996 chevy 1500 5.7 liter 350..when I decode the vin it says it is a 6 Li V8.....as far as we know the engine has never been changed....any info on how this is would be helpful..second question...we are changing it out...without tearing it all apart would we be looking for a 2 bolt or a 4 bolt???

Hey I have a 1992 Chevy truck with a 350 I'm wanting to put a 5.7 in it what all do I need to make the swap or is it even possible?

Your 350 is more than likely a 5.7 already.

Google it, GM vin number decoder, that's what I don't to my 92 Silverado

Google it, that's what I did to my 92 Silverado

My question is simple I have a 1998 chevy van with a 5.7 Vortech 145k very well treated highway miles. Van has been wrecked but drivable. What year models will this engine drop in with just plug and play. No hassles just plug and play

I have a 1993 Chevy truck 1500 ton 350 engine 5.7L I put new spark plugs wires with spark plugs and new fuel filter air cleaner and much more but my truck keeps burning gas like a mother fucker!!! I out fuel injection cleaner in there but still

Mine says Vortex on top of the engine

I owned a 1997 GMC Sierra SL 305 V8. Single Cab, Long Bed. Rwd. I owned it for 2.5 Years. The truck was amazing. I have YouTube videos of my truck

I have a 1990 Cheyenne stepside it came with a 4.3 l TBI. I pulled 5.0l 305CI TBI engine out of a 1988 Chevrolet Cheyenne lwb rwd. I checked engine numbers along Vin number to verify. I noticed the truck came with braided steel fuel lines. It may have been special order. My son bought from the original owner a farmer. He has past so not able to find out If order are factory.

I have a 87-91 5.0L would my intake from my 98 vortec 350 bolt straight on

i have a 1998 gmc with a 5.0 liter engine, supposedly. The 8th digit is an M however, everyone who opens the hood says that looks like a 5.7 liter and, if you look at the hanes or any other repair manual the engine looks just like the 5.7 in those books? Im a little perplexed and have always ordered stuff for a 5.0 however, getting ready to order a tranny and, want to make sure somehow.

I got a 1990 k1500 mines a 305 with a k&n filter on it its fuel injected

Personally i have a 1998 K1500 that has a 305 engine but my truck was built in Canada. My truck has a tbi as well

I have a 1998 Cheyenne 1500 with a Vortec 5.0 in it.

What a 1997 Chevy C 1500 motor 5.7 fit in a 1997 Chevy Tahoe

Basically, if it has a Throttle Body Injection (TBI) setup then it’s probably not a vortec 350, just remember that you can put the heads from a vortec 350 on the “standard” one. The vortec heads also give you between 30%-50% better airflow throughout the motor boosting your power out put