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tbi performance tips

R

runninfromthelaw

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Ok guys just looking to see what most have done. I'm going to trash the smog stuff and looking to put a set of headers on. What are you guys doing with the computer also is the intake worth upgrading? The motor in my rig only has 40k on it so its not bad on power just would like a bit more.

Thanks for the ideas
 
IMO investments in little things to help power on a TBI motor don't make much sense.

You should probably live with the power it makes.

If you can't handle that, start saving for a better platform (LS etc)
 
38377k5 said:
IMO investments in little things to help power on a TBI motor don't make much sense.

You should probably live with the power it makes.

If you can't handle that, start saving for a better platform (LS etc)
Click to expand...

I second that motion
 
air in air out big problem with tbi.

crappy intake for mass air flow. 4 barrel intake with adaptor plate to tbi easy swap.

vary wimpy stock cam. at .050 its 174/179 and .350/.354 thats it. tiny cam.

vary restrictive exaust system. set of headers or shorty headers for 88-up trucks with tiny little bit of frame rail lip removed on driverside.

fix these 3 and bam much better.

lots of guys swap in stock lt1 350 full roller cams. huge diffrence in power. 205/207 and .447/.449 much much better. and all you have to do is lt1 cam lifters spider and lifter bars. thay drop in the truck tbi engines if true 87-up. then timing chain setup for roller cam and the thrust plate to bolt to the front of the block for the cam. these cam/lifters/lifter bars/spider can be found for around 100 bucks off used sale sections like www.thirdgen.org lots of guys upgrade and sell the stockers cheep.
 
38377k5 said:
IMO investments in little things to help power on a TBI motor don't make much sense.

You should probably live with the power it makes.

If you can't handle that, start saving for a better platform (LS etc)
Click to expand...

Why? It's no different than doing minor improvements to a regular old carbed 350.


1. Bump timing to 8-10 degrees advanced
2. Remove smog pump, if equipped and no testing
3. Injector pod spacer, it's only $20
4. Headers and duals

Then If you're still not happy, get into the high dollar stuff.
 
Thanks for the info guys. I happen to have a lt1 I pulled from another project. The problem I wanted to know is with the mods like the cam, intake, and headers will the computer choke the power?
 
get an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. then tune it with the o2 sensor. keep the single exhaust. tbi engines like it. shorty headers and get an aftermarket y pipe. the stock y sucks.
for the intake side. bored out tb unit, injector and tb spacer. and a better tbi compatible camshaft.
this will pump the power up, but dont expect a race car. these are good reliable truck engines.
if you want 454 power or somthing that makes higher rpm power. look at an ls swap, which are getting cheaper by the day.
 
sweetk30 said:
air in air out big problem with tbi.

crappy intake for mass air flow. 4 barrel intake with adaptor plate to tbi easy swap.

vary wimpy stock cam. at .050 its 174/179 and .350/.354 thats it. tiny cam.

vary restrictive exaust system. set of headers or shorty headers for 88-up trucks with tiny little bit of frame rail lip removed on driverside.

fix these 3 and bam much better.

lots of guys swap in stock lt1 350 full roller cams. huge diffrence in power. 205/207 and .447/.449 much much better. and all you have to do is lt1 cam lifters spider and lifter bars. thay drop in the truck tbi engines if true 87-up. then timing chain setup for roller cam and the thrust plate to bolt to the front of the block for the cam. these cam/lifters/lifter bars/spider can be found for around 100 bucks off used sale sections like www.thirdgen.org lots of guys upgrade and sell the stockers cheep.
Click to expand...

Not all 87 and later small blocks are roller blocks. I had a 350 longblock out of a 91 that had the fuel pump mounting pad with no hole drilled, that was not a roller block, had none of the mounting pads for the spider or the tops of the lifter bosses machined flat. I have a 350 short block out of my 89 LD 2500 that is a roller block though.

would the later cam designed for use with the thrust plate work in a non roller block?
 
I'm not looking to make it a race car thats the other project. I just have an itch to upgrade the performance a bit on the k5. Plus a few mods like exhaust and intake stuff make it run better. Just like to get a few ideas to see how others have done it.
 
Well I recently added the Edelbrock TBI cam and intake to my 89 K5 and topped it off with a new Msd coil and am very happy with my gains. I also run long tube Hedman headers with the 3 wire O2 and true dual 2 1/2" exhaust, Msd 8mm wires, and K&N drop in air filter. I'm happy with the power now, just gotta work on the suspension.
 
shovelbill80 said:
hey Beatk5....you runnin Baisley rollers in that Pan of yours? Super B mebe?
Click to expand...


i dunnno. my ol' man built this one about 12 years ago and it still runs strong. real strong. i only got to ride it twice this year due to electrical and clutch issues.

hijack off. sorry
 
Man thanks for the third gen site tip. I didnt know it was that easy to burn chips. I happen to have the cables needed for it from my lt1 camaro, they sent the cable with both ends. So since I went with a 6.0l in the camaro all the lt1 parts can now go into the K5.
 
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