How to identify a 94-95 348 engine

Please dont buy that engine in those pics Roberto.

 

The plastic covers were an "update" from the aluminum ones. It looks like the engine in your pics is an '89 or '90 - it only has one throttle position sensor, making it a from a Motronic 2.5 (early) 348.

 

The later engine has higher plenum ridges on it.

 

You dont have to look hard to see that everything but the throttle-bodies are left open to atmosphere. Imagine how much dust/dirt/crap has gone into that engine while sitting there?

Especially the pipe that goes into the engine for dry sump oil system.

It may be new, but probably has 10 yrs taken off its life by sitting there open like that.

Ive seen reco/exchange engines sit for a few years too open like that and when we pull them down to inspect, there is plenty of dirt chunks in there, dust, surface rust, spiders and spider webs.

And these engines were sitting in shops too. Not out in the yard by the looks of that engine.

 

Ok, cool.

If you DID decide to buy it, I would pull it apart and have it inspected and cleaned man. It doesnt take long to get **** in there that could cause engine failure or shorten the life of the engine.

Who knows how long it has been rebuilt and sitting there like that?

 

Sweet man!! Thats the way to go.

I hope they have it sealed up as best they can?

 

see Roberto
Pap is back and helpful as always

 

I second everything he said...Thats an older engine. Sucks that they changed from aluminum to plastic but true. Understanding and accepting Pap's comments, I might like the older engine. They are virtually identical except the aluminum covers and motronic 2.7s that you can transplant from your engine. I'd rather have the aluminum.

 

Others have stated before (I think Ernie) that aluminum timing covers came in the very early 348s. The later cars have been downgraded to plastic. How much is the asking price for a good clean used 348 motor?

 

The early cars did have aluminum cam belt covers.

The engine is a '89 -> early '90 for sure. The two dead give aways are the single throttle position sensor, and the alternator support bracket for a Delco alternator. The other thing that engine is missing is the idle air control valves on both sides of the plenum. If you look on the back side of the heads you will see the casting year inside a little circle. On my heads it says (90) so that's the year heads were made. You can look under the rear intake cam sensor, or on the other head just under the rear cam seals.

 

Hi,

You should verify the engine´s type and number, they are located near the oilfilter.
For a 300 hp 1993 engine the type should be "119G" and the number should be above 33000, the type of the 1994 320 hp version should read "119H".

Regards, Georg

 

The "H" engines have a 10.8:1 compression ratio as compared to the normal 10.4:1 in the "G" engines.

Again the engine in question here is NOT an "H" block.

 

Hmm...I learned something.

I was not aware of a compression change in the newer engines. I thought the HP increase was due to an exhaust change.

 

Correct, the engine at the picture seems to be a Motronic 2.5 version, so it is the "F 119D" type. All M2.5 and early M2.7 348 engines are "D" types. Later M2.7 engines are "G" types and the last 320 hp versions are "H" types. Both engine type and number are stamped on the block near the oilfilter, very easy to verify.

Regards, Georg

 

Find an H engine and see if you can buy the aluminum covers off the one pictured - now that would be the way to go!

 

Just to add to George's comments the 320 "H" was not used in the '93-95 US cars, also the intake plenum was larger and had a different rib/fin design than the earlier plenum. The US cars came with the "G" engines in '93-'95(312 HP).

 

"H" spec engine was only euro. was not homolgated for usa.

Regards, Jim

 

+1

 

That's the tell-tale that I usually also look for....