I just bought a 76 camaro LT. last owner has no clue on the motor other than is has 15k on it and it's a replacement motor. The heads appear to be vortec, 4 bolts center of the valve covers. i cannot find any numbers visable on the block. How do i know if it's a vortec motor or just the heads, intake has 6 bolts on each side, which from what i found out is not a vortec motor the two center bolts are flat and not slanted, the two on each corner have a slight slant. HELP.

 

Hello and welcome to the forums.
I also have a 76. Theres something about them where only 1 in 1000 have the stock engine. lol
After you hit 3 post, you can add pictures.


You probably have a crate sbc350.

 

The vortec will have 8 bolts holding the intake down 4 on each side. The 906 heads will have one half moon and the 062 heads will have 3 pointed saw tooth pattern. If the head has one square it a 305 head and it of NO use for anything except a 305. You can check under the valve cover for the casting number of the head and that will get you close to what motor you have. 305 or 350 IF the heads are matching the block. You can also get the casting number of the 86 and up block by looking on the side of the block. Their will be a casting number of 638 for the 86-95 350 block and 880 for the 96 and up vortec block. Their might be one other casting for the early 350 but let us know what the casting number is.

 

Here is what I found on back of motot by bell housing. Druvers side L138, 57Lg sgt. Passengers side14093638.

 

It a 5.7L motor or 350 cubic inches. The block is from the 86-95 run of motors used in truck and cars. If it is a early block it will not be drilled or set up for a roller cam, if it is a late version it might be a roller motor if it was in a cop car but not in a truck. The truck motors all had flat tappet cams. If the head are original they are great for what they were designed for (low end torque and city driving) if it only has 15 clicks on it then a set of vortec heads and a cam change would really wake it up.

 

L138 is the casting date code.
L=December (A-L=Jan-Dec), 13=the day of week, 8=1988 (the only "8" that falls between that 1987-95 casting).

 

third post, can I post pics now?

 

Should be able to.

 

it has a 750 holley on it sitting on a street dominator intake, mild cam. Car runs great but seems to be a little sluggish till it hits 3000rpm then she runs like a rapped ape. exhaust smells like fuel. adjusted out the floats and that helped some. think it needs smaller jets. prior to float adjustmen it did not run well till about 4000rpm. Been trying to figure out the HP of this car, from what i get it's 255 but sure the hell feels like 300-350. Thanks for all the info!!! gonna try and post a pic.

 

How the hell do i post pics in the reply????