TBI Mods:Snake oil or worthwhile??? Updated 5/19/12 AFPR and Pod Spacer!!!

[smier]

You reset your TV cable for the trans right? The TBI spacer will throw it out of whack, and it made mine shift really hard until I reset the cable... If not set properly you can cook your transmission!!! I currently have my timing set at 0* with the EST wire disconnected just like it came from the factory. My timing was advanced too far, and was giving me issues under load. Once I get everything installed and tweaked, I'm going to play with advancing the timing a little bit, may 4* or 6*. I know it didn't like the 8* or 9* it was set at before...

 

[shady]

I didnt have to reset the tv cable. I took the bracket up an inch with the spacer in the same spot it was. (and yes I did check the adjustment to be sure before i drove it) I'm thinking timing. My old plugs were beautiful when they came out and were at .041ish gap. The truck ran good. I put a higher output coil and ignition module in. I've been told that you can usually open up your plug gap a little when you do that. But I put mine in with the .035 that the truck stated on the tag. I'm gonna try the .040 thing and see if it changes anything.

 

[smier]

Even though you moved the bracket up for the TV cable, doesn't it still need to be reset? I thought moving the bracket just improves the angle that the cable pulls thru the housing. I may very possibly be completely wrong on this, but I think you still have to go thru the procedure of setting the TV cable. WWW.tvmadeez.com has a good article with pictures if anyone else is interested. I had a another link to a different site, but I can't find it at the moment.
I can't help you much on the spark plug gap issue, with the exception of everything in this thread, my truck is basically stock. Did you drive it enough for the ECM to "relearn"? It can take around 20 minutes for the computer to readjust to the changes you made. Did you ever notice when you disconnect your battery, then reconnect it later in the day that it doesn't always run the same, but after a couple minutes everythings back to normal? You just reset the ECM, so it has to learn how to run again. That was one of the reasons I decided to install everything one item at a time, if something causes a problem I wanted to be able to easily identify the culprit.

 

[shady]

After I had it all put back together I ran through a check that my tranny guy explained just to be sure and the tv cable was perfect.

 

[smier]

After I had it all put back together I ran through a check that my tranny guy explained just to be sure and the tv cable was perfect.

Cool, I also figured it was a good time to put that info out there again for anyone else contemplating these mods. This thread is already getting pretty long, and usually a lot of new guys don't catch all the info. I'd hate to see anyone screw up a perfectly good transmission on my shade tree advice!!! Post up what you find out.

 

[shady]

mike, (my tranny guy), said 50' without the tv cable hooked up can smoke your trans

 

[shady]

I just got done with a tbi spacer, new ignition system, and salad bowl on my 88 burb and so far it seems that I made things worseIt pulls hard at around 3000 rpm but everything under that (like shift points) dogs out. I want more lower end which I thought I'd get. Guess its back to the drawing board. It does seem to cruise at 35 mph a lot better, but I havent had it on the highway yet. Pod spacer and adjustable regulator may be in the future (already have the pod spacer). Headers or rams horns might help too We'll see... i may grow to like what I've got. Still need to check timing and regap the plugs too.

OK, So... after driving for a day or so and finally taking it up the highway and interstate speeds.... I does have more power. I do have an off idle hesitation (timing) But I accomplished what I wanted. It dosent hunt in and out of converter lockup at speed any more. It just chuggs along with a sweet low pur. So far I've done most of the things this thread started out talking about and I'll have to say I'm happy.
I pulled the cat, changed the muffler, Tbi spacer, salad bowl, ignition module, moroso HO coil, and a normal tune up(wires n such)
No MPG info yet cause I cant afford to fill a 40 gallon tank But it runs down the road way better

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

Any updates on the upgrades and mileage yet? I have a salad bowl and pod spacer waiting for mine. Also would like to do the fuel pressure gauge to see where im at.

 

[smier]

I have a bit of an update, I haven't gotten around to installing the pod spacer or my adjustable fuel pressure regulator and guage yet. However, I did drive the blazer from Pennsylvania to New Orleans and back in July and I averaged 17.3 mpg with 3 adults, a months worth of gear, and running between 70 and 75 mph the whole way!!! The truck ran awesome, with the exception of losing a seal on the transmission and pumping all my fluid onto the highway in the middle of the night. I just haven't had time to play with the truck, it's been running so well that it has been on the back burner unfortunately. I still daily drive to work and back 40 miles a day, and I am really happy with all the mods so far. My only complaint is the exhaust is a bit too loud...

 

[shady]

I cant get mileage yet due to the lack of speedo correction or gps. but it doent seem too bad. on the only trip I've talen long enough to really gauge it I estimated 15-16 by the distance I know the trip to be and the amount of fuel used. but it could be off by 1-2 in either direction
I havent picked up the regulator yet so havent done the pod spacer either. Mines not real loud and has much more power. Love it all so far. contimplating true duals with an x pipe and headers. I will be trying the inline correction unit off my kids truck so we'll see about that too.

 

[y5mgisi]

What's an inline correction unit?

 

[shady]

little gear box that goes inbetween the speedo cable and tranny/t case to correct your speedo after tire size change.

 

[bigred88]

Great thread! I've done most of the mods on here, except for the adjustable fuel pressure regulator- always meant to, but never did. I might go ahead and make that the next mod to the truck now...

I also attempted to bore out my throttle body (I think it was on the thirdgen website that I got the idea from). Well, I bought a junkyard one, worked on it for a while, and then rebuilt it with a gasket/o-ring kit, pod spacer, and a throttle body spacer from cfm. Didn't get matched flow injectors, also still on my to do list... After boring it out, I got a noticable (on the butt dyno) increase in power, but also a distinctive lope. The idle is just much less smooth- could be because I used the junk yard injectors (I'm going to put on new ones before I call it a loss on the throttle body work). Also noticed a drop in mpg at the same time (was getting 14, 15 on a good day, now I run right about 12.5 all the time).
Haven't really decided what to do with all of it yet (it's not how I want it, just can't decide which direction to go and I'm in no rush). I've been running that setup now for a year and a half. I'm sure a cfm throttle body would be much better (though much more coin). Anyway, just thought I'd post that in case anyone was thinking about boring theirs out.

 

[blazinzuk]

question for you guys.

How much do you think all these mods would help in an off road only rig.

I do sand dunes sometimes. So power helps but the vast majority of Hortons ( thats mah rig) life is spent on the rocks or just trundling down a dirt road of sorts.

Mostly looking for an improvement in fuel economy. I have enough gears to overcome lack of power.

So what mods do you guys think would work best for me. I am sticking with the TBI motor till I can afford to do a 6.0 swap. Which may be a very long time

 

[smier]

Is "Horton" street legal? My build is primarily an emmissions legal daily driver, so it turns a ton of miles. I see an immediate mileage gain and the resulting savings at the pump. All the mods I have done so far, have more than paid for themselves. I'm not sure if a trail rig would see a great improvement in fuel mileage or not. I also have only done mods that I felt would support a mild 383 build I've been working on, so I figured it's a win win situation for me. I guess what I'm saying in a roundabout way is if your definately not sticking with TBI, and your truck only sees occasional use, why not put the money towards the swap instead?

 

[shady]

question for you guys.

How much do you think all these mods would help in an off road only rig.

I do sand dunes sometimes. So power helps but the vast majority of Hortons ( thats mah rig) life is spent on the rocks or just trundling down a dirt road of sorts.

Mostly looking for an improvement in fuel economy. I have enough gears to overcome lack of power.

So what mods do you guys think would work best for me. I am sticking with the TBI motor till I can afford to do a 6.0 swap. Which may be a very long time

you askin for the jimmy? if so I would say the best three I did was the tbi spacer, salad bowl and opening the exhaust. You can go alot farther but those alone dont require a boost in fuel pressure. I have heard it said that the adjustable regulator is the best of all but , I havent done it yet.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

His Jimmy is a diesel. He's asking for Horton, his truggy.

 

[shady]

oh, even for horton them three are cheap and simple though

 

[shady]

After getting the speedo corrected I came up with an average of 12.4 mpg so far. 3.73's and 33's

 

[smier]

12.4 mpg with the 3.73's on 33" tires... What type of driving? Is that Stop and go, or highway? I consistently break 16+ mpg with a mix of both city and highway. I was hoping to put 33's on next, but I'm afraid to if it may drop my mileage too much. I could handle 15 mpg, but I have to DD this pig 40+ miles a day...