Aren't you doing an EFI set up? Does it not handle the timing?
CK5
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'89 R3500 Crew Cab 2wd to 4wd conversion & beyond
- Thread starter mrk5
- Start date
Started out with 2wd TBI350 with SM465 to current 4wd with 454, 700r4, NP241
Aren't you doing an EFI set up? Does it not handle the timing?
Added another sticker to celebrate the triumph.
Yea it does I just got to figure it out a little better.
454Sub
5/8 ton status
You have to give it to a TBI engine, regardless of the PO, they will refuse to be towed. So long as there is gas and spark, and enough computer left to activate limp mode, you can chug it home no matter what. The LS for example really intrigues me, and would be a neat swap, or an 8.1, but I have never trusted anything like I trust a TBI injected engine.
That being said, that had to run like complete poop at sea level, I couldnt imagine it at 8,000ft or higher.
That being said, that had to run like complete poop at sea level, I couldnt imagine it at 8,000ft or higher.
That's exactly what I was thinking. Kinda amazing it still ran passably we'll. Heck we've made 2 trips to Moab with it. Course it struggled like hell to make the passes, but still.
Thanks!
My bro (jtk26) didn't have an O2 sensor on his TBI for at lease over a year from what I remember, and it still ran great. He said it ran a little rich from what he could tell after pulling an O2 back in, but I thought it was funny that without any info the the ECM of what the levels were, it still purred like a kitten
I think it's funny nowadays with the LS craze that people have started to knock on the TBI's. It's about the most simple reliable fuel injection motor out there. Still makes ok power for people like us who do just trail wheeling, and you can replace every sensor on the whole thing in a saturday for a couple hundred bucks!
My bro (jtk26) didn't have an O2 sensor on his TBI for at lease over a year from what I remember, and it still ran great. He said it ran a little rich from what he could tell after pulling an O2 back in, but I thought it was funny that without any info the the ECM of what the levels were, it still purred like a kitten
I think it's funny nowadays with the LS craze that people have started to knock on the TBI's. It's about the most simple reliable fuel injection motor out there. Still makes ok power for people like us who do just trail wheeling, and you can replace every sensor on the whole thing in a saturday for a couple hundred bucks!
Unless you get a TBI based aftermarket set up
y5mgisi
1 ton status
Just my experience, but, I have found the ls stuff to be even more reliable than the tbi stuff. I have just seen countless ghost problems with tbi that never get resolved. The ls stuff seems to be the next most reliable thing to a 12v Cummins.
Give the LS's as long as the TBI's have been around, and we will be saying the exact same thing about them...just saying
y5mgisi
1 ton status
You know it's interesting that you mention that cause it got me thinking, the ls motors have now been in production fir longer than tbi was in production.
454Sub
5/8 ton status
Well, one must consider the fact that even when the LS motors hit 20 years old, they were still built with tech, and even better parts down to the wires themselves, that were just much more advanced and built better in most respects.
There is no doubt that the LS's are a better overall platform and built motor, I am not arguing that. Just saying nothing lasts forever in the automotive world. Whenever GM comes out with another motor that blows the socks off the typical LS's, and once the LS's start getting the electrical problems like all electrical gets after time, we will be saying the same thing. Just trying to enlighten people that the TBI motors are still a great motor that with a little TLC can still perform great...for pretty darn cheap.
end hijack
I will say that after this weekend camping pulling the little HF trailer it has definitely woken the motor up but still not thinking it has the power we want. Ultimately hope to tow a 5000lb camper with it.
Gonna replace the O2 sensor this weekend and see if that makes an improvement too.
Gonna replace the O2 sensor this weekend and see if that makes an improvement too.
Me thinks a 5000 lb trailer a crew cab and a small block combo won't be super happy. I think you could mod it to work pretty alright though.
Honestly it is tempting to rebuild the TBI and trick it out only because it is so simple. This was my first time tearing into one and at least the throttle body portion is super simple. Much easier to rebuild than a carb. That simplicity really appeals to me.
The idea of putting a more modern 5.3L in the truck is also really appealing for both the power and the cool factor. But I would need to learn a new setup.
Really the cost between a rebuild and 5.3L swap are pretty close to a wash. I will have to do a lot more thinking about it.
The idea of putting a more modern 5.3L in the truck is also really appealing for both the power and the cool factor. But I would need to learn a new setup.
Really the cost between a rebuild and 5.3L swap are pretty close to a wash. I will have to do a lot more thinking about it.
On a truck that heavy towing a trailer. I would really think you'd do better to start with a 6.0 or 8.1.
With that much weight plus altitude you would benefit from the torque curve of displacement.
I don't know about where you are at Scott, but here in SLC the difference in cost between a 5.3 and a 6.0 was only $3-400, easily worth the upgrade to me. The only issue was that I had to wait for a 6.0 to come in while there were 5.3's "in stock".
...Maybe you should buy one here in SLC and I can bring it to BB with me.
...Maybe you should buy one here in SLC and I can bring it to BB with me.
y5mgisi
1 ton status
The price between a rebuilt tbi 350 and a ls swap may be similar, but the 100+ hp gained in the swap is a big difference.
I don't know about where you are at Scott, but here in SLC the difference in cost between a 5.3 and a 6.0 was only $3-400, easily worth the upgrade to me. The only issue was that I had to wait for a 6.0 to come in while there were 5.3's "in stock".
...Maybe you should buy one here in SLC and I can bring it to BB with me.
We would have to do the swap at BB otherwise I don't have room to haul it home. With everyone there it should be a quick swap....
