throttle body spacer question

[WOTBandit88]

Hey guys. Have a stock 88 jimmy with a 350 and 3.08 gears. Its sort of a dog on the bottom end with those gears and I have to pull some grades to get into town. Its a fresh motor also. I was wondering if an injector spaced + throttle body spacer would do any good? I know I know "throw some gears in it" I just dont have the funds for that right now. So...Any tricks you guys can recommend for squeezin more bottom end out of this thing while keeping pretty much stock or better MPG? or is this a pipe dream.

 

[4X4HIGH]

The gears are what's killing you. If you have larger than stock tires that makes matters even worse. Get ready to either build a new tranny or replace it with another pretty soon. I don't know why GM ever used 3.08 gears. The minimum gearing for a truck IMHO should be 3.73's.

 

[dyeager535]

All I can say is, save your money towards something that will make a much bigger difference.

Gears or headers will do it.

Additionally: my '87 has 3.73's in it with 31's, and moves along quite nicely. Is it possible something else is wrong with your truck, like poor tune, or are you absolutely certain the gears are it? Really don't recommend you throwing money at the truck to make power, if something is already wrong with the system... I'm sure they were bad from the factory with that combo, but I haven't driven your truck, I don't know how poor acceleration really is. "Power" is subjective.

Not saying a spacer or whatever won't help, but the difference they make if the 3.08's are the true problem, isn't going to be enough to notice. Nowhere near what gears and/or headers will make.

 

[WOTBandit88]

I have 31's on it currently. What would be a good gear to use? this is My DD and sees casual wheeling nothing serious. And I would have to regear both the front and rear correct?

 

[WOTBandit88]

ya the motor has a fresh tune and only has 11k on it or so. Im not sayin it goes 45 up grades but Id like a little more pep up hill.

 

[dyeager535]

I'm pretty happy with my 3.73's.

If sticking with 10 bolts, I wouldn't waste my money/time regearing, just find a truck being parted out and buy the set. Shouldn't run you more than $300 total IMO, they are a dime a dozen.

 

[WOTBandit88]

ya I wouldnt have any problems using a set of used gears. 3.73's are pretty common in Junk yards?What were they most common in. What all would I have to pull from the donor truck to directly swap them into mine? (sorry for the noobness). Also If some lower gears is gonna prevent damage to the tranny and help it out. I really want to try and do it.

 

[dyeager535]

At least local to me, the axles are ridiculously overpriced in wrecking yards.

I'd scour craigslist.

If you get a cooperative seller, you could ask them to look at the RPO codes in the glove box. Search on here and you'll find which ones to look for, they start with "G" for gov-lock (G80 for instance) and all the gear ratio specific RPO's. Don't think it matters the vehicle, as long as it's a 1/2 ton 4WD truck/K5/'burb, etc. Worst case you make sure to have a drip pan handy, and take the diff covers off, which you should do when buying used axles regardless. Ring/pinion tooth count is stamped into all GM ring gears, you will want to verify that against the RPO to be sure.

Can't think of anything large you'd need, the brakes are interchangeable (e-brake cable setup changed about '84) but you'll need to figure out how to correct your speedometer.

Hubs could be auto or manual, but of little consequence other than the fact that auto hubs are junk. I don't wheel much at all, mine still failed to work the one time I needed them, and are no longer on my truck.

 

[Thunder]

With 308s and 31s i dont think gears should be your top priority. Unless you know how to properly set up an axle and have the right tools. Installing a set of gears yourself is not a good idea. Paying someone to do it is Expen$ive.
What do you have for exhaust? If it is stock dump it. Put on a high flow cat and a good performance muffler. The stock catalitic convertor sucks in the older chevy trucks. You wil gain a lot replacing it with a high flow cat.
Headers would be a great thing. But beings you live in smogville. You dont have much choices. The Edelbrock TES is a great exhaust system and its CARB aproved. It will greatly improve your low end but they cost over 400 bones. But will bolt directly to your existing exhaust(hopefullly with a high flow cat and better muff)
IMO the exhaust is the first thing you should work on. If your engine cant breathe you will never make power. No matter how many spacers you have or how tall gears are. it is the most bang for the buck you will get. + it sounds good.

 

[WOTBandit88]

ya im a total rookie and I dont think I could do the work myself. I have a ways to go before settin up f/r ends. Anyways when I bought the truck I looked under it and it has a brand spankin new high flow cat on it. WITH the stock exhaust. the two damn twigs stickin out the back. I was quoted at around 200 for an installed 40 series flow dumped before the rear, and 250 out the back in the stock location with like a 4 inch tip.

 

[dyeager535]

Don't waste your time on fancy looking parts, headers and gears will make all the difference in the world. I'm not sure how much the stock exhaust holds you back, likely not much loss on the bottom end where a truck needs power.

 

[Elroy303030]

If you have cats still on, I had the muffler cut off and just replaced with pipe. Gives the truck a louder sound like allmost like Flowmaster. But I dont have to go through any smog stuff here. Dont know how it will affect that.

 

[Thunder]

ya im a total rookie and I dont think I could do the work myself. I have a ways to go before settin up f/r ends. Anyways when I bought the truck I looked under it and it has a brand spankin new high flow cat on it. WITH the stock exhaust. the two damn twigs stickin out the back. I was quoted at around 200 for an installed 40 series flow dumped before the rear, and 250 out the back in the stock location with like a 4 inch tip.

That is way to much for a muffler. From your description. Do you have a single 3" in exhaust to a muffler with dual outlets that exit on the drivers back side ? is that right?
If so all you need is a single 3" in, dual outlet Flowmaster muff. Forget the 4" tip that is just ricer junk.
If that is the way you are set up. It is a simple matter to cut out your old muffler with a hack saw and install a flowmaster single in dual out or performance muff and clamp it in.
Re the spacers: If you get one get one on these:http://marine-performance-parts.com/cfmtechpowerplatefor435057gmtbiwsingleaircleanerstud.aspx
These will help you on the hills. Those other closed 2 hole type are worthless IMHO. Just rember if you put on a TB spacer and you have a 700R4 you will have to reset your TV cable or put some washers under the TV cable linkage and raise it up to keep the geomerty correct so your 700 shifts right and does not burn up..

 

[WOTBandit88]

Noted about the TV cable, My exhaust is bone stock with a high flo cat in place of the stock one. and bone stock with the 2 twigs exiting the rear passenger. I HATE how it looks with those 2 scrawny ass pipes stickin out right there. What im looking for is either dumped under the truck, or a nice single exit in the stock location.