C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

So I put new pins and bushings in my 1990 C1500 short bed. When my buddy and I started talking about the motor.

When I bought the truck the owner said it was a 305. The sticker on the fan shroud says 305. The Vin (8th digit) calls out K (5.7 350). RPO calls out (L05 5.7 350)

Engine casting code (kind of hard to read) located on back side of motor ,drivers side. *see picture * 1st picture

Engine serial number ,front of motor ,behind A/C compressor,passengers side *see picture*

This is driving me crazy trying to figure this out.
What do you guys think?

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

14102058=305

pnh- 305, mt

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

That's what I was afraid of... Looks like it's time to look for a 350.

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

If it runs and drives good, why would you switch it?

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

Just be glad it's not a V-6 :lol:


I used to have a 1977 C-10 Suburban with a small block and 2 barrel carb. I always thought it was a 350 but then I ran across something to the effect of only 305 had 2 barrel and all 350 were q-jet? Anyway I sure as heck never noticed any lack of power. We towed a very heavily loaded U-Haul trailer from CO to MT and it did just fine.

Of course now it's long since traded away so I can't confirm which engine it had. Sometimes I kick myself for letting it go since even though it was rusted and needed rear end work, it had a good engine and SM465. My C-20 could use that engine right now.

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

The 90 c1500 i have has a v6 seems to have enough power for such a light small pickup.

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

I agree with “If it runs and drives good, why mess with it” . I don’t have access to a lift and the transmission front seal is leaking and will need replaced. I will probably have to pull the motor to do this. Since I am going to have the motor out, I might as well put the 350 in and get more ponies and the proper engine per vin code(even though it won’t be numbers matching. This is going to be an early fall, winter project.

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

Yeah, I was just giving him a hard time :lol:

Still, I never met anyone with a V-8 Chevy pickup that wished he had a V-6 - well, excluding the old GMC V-6 ;)

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

Yeah its when you start using them as trucks that the problem shows. Try towing 6000lbs and see if you still like the V6 lol
As for engine swaps, if your going to change it don't go with a boring 350. Do something cooler. 327. 383. 400.

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

Thats true,but as you filling your tank up i would still pass you by honking :lol:
but as to start using them as trucks my generation put weight in the bed as trucks were made for,now there used as highway queens pulling the weight :lol:
Hard to go wrong with the 327,the best chevy small block,

Re: C1500 engine 305 or 350???
 

Not many sources bother with the later model suffix codes. Too new to be interesting.
Look in the GMT400 parts books I posted.

Engine stamping code... K1218PNH

K=St Catherines, ONT
12=December
18=18th day of the month
PNH=1988 VIN H L03 5.0L