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to all those running megasquirt

iwaxmyjimmy

iwaxmyjimmy

College web wheeler
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I've recently gotten some vortec heads, vortec timing cover, stock vortec roller cam set up for my 350 TBI motor. I've been looking at the MS3X to run sequential fuel injectors and have been reading up as much as I can about using LS coils and a TPI intake. My k5 has been on the back burner for a while now its just collecting dust/rain at a storage unit till I get some time to take leave and work on it again. Right now I've thought about using an LS computer instead, but I'm just fascinated with the MS system. I know I'll need to pick up a vortec distributor and get one of them fancy flat covers, to make it into a CMP sensor. I was looking at using EFIconnection.com 24x reluctor wheel for the crank trigger. I feel like the TPI intake will hold the engine back lack crazy. Ive looked at milling the heads to get me around 9.75:1 compression using the stock shortblock. I have really only been doing nothing but bench racing these ideas. I love LS engines and I really am torn between swapping in a 5.3 or shelling out alot more money to get these vortec heads/MS sequential setup going. Can yall kinda help me weigh the pros and cons of the two. I need someone else to shed some light on this matter because I will be way to bias of my opinion. I'm not looking for a top end screamer, so I really like the idea of the TPI/MS setup for the low end torque. I'm just curious to how efficient this setup would be though.
 
The money you are going to sink into the injection on the sbc could pay for the 5.3 or even a 6.0 swap well over. Its one thing to start doing that kind of stuff to a BBC to make power but we live in a world where GM updated, improved, and replaced the SBC for a damn good reason and they did a damn good job.

I would waste your time on the SBC unless you REALLY get a kick out of tinkering with it.
 
Stomis said:
The money you are going to sink into the injection on the sbc could pay for the 5.3 or even a 6.0 swap well over. Its one thing to start doing that kind of stuff to a BBC to make power but we live in a world where GM updated, improved, and replaced the SBC for a damn good reason and they did a damn good job.

I would waste your time on the SBC unless you REALLY get a kick out of tinkering with it.
Click to expand...

I agree! The LS series engine is AWESOME!!! Wish I had 3 more...
 
Yep. Having gone down the SBC/Vortec head/TPI route myself, had the LSx swaps been more popular when I started, I would have/should have gone that route. (or diesel, since I love MPG)

As mentioned, the cost for going TPI on a vortec headed motor alone is ridiculously expensive (Still $500 for the Vortec TPI base?) let alone going with the different ignition setup.

Kind of like the 305 to a 350 IMO...whatever you do to the 305, if done to a 350 will make more power. On an LSx motor, GM already did all the upgrades for you, and there is no way a SBC will ever equal the potential of the LSx series, because the fundamentals of the engine (bore, stroke, etc) have all been changed and optimized to improve upon the SBC.
 
On a good note, I can get a 5.3 for cheap lol I need to call my buddy and get more info on it though.
 
Well I've realized I don't really have the time to build/modify a factory harness so I have been looking into getting one of those standalone harnesses with the 411 pcm. It will be a couple hundred cheaper than a MS3X setup, but then I have to buy tuning software. Granted if I buy HPtuners then I can actually practice and possibly make money off of it. See this place helps me because once I see my thought process in text I realize "shyt, thats a much better idea". lol Thanks guys, I look into buying some of this stuff here soon hopefully will start the swap around july next year.
 
I've read over that site a few times. I'm going to look around for a 5.3 harness here in Cali, but I really hate this overpriced/overtaxed state and refuse to buy anything here. Most people I have read about said it took 8-10 hrs, but with you saying 3-4 it looks much better. still torn as of right now.
 
I'm sticking with the 465 so I'll read some more and might get myself a harness to start building in my barracks room.... The next room inspection is going to be funny as hell seeing a box with a wiring harness in it. Lucky for me my squadleader is a gear head to so he will keep the 1SG off my back.
 
Watch this 4 part youtube series about modifiyng the harness and got to LT1swap.com. That should be just about all you need to know about how to.

 
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With my truck being a TBI truck originally can I reuse my factory fuel lines, and just swap out the pump in the tank? One day I will get around to replacing them with some good braided from the tank to the fuel rails. Also If my donor engine has a return-less system can I just cap off my return line and just use a corvette regulator like everyone else with carb'd trucks?
 
Pretty much. You will need to swap the pump for a different one. I used the ep381 on my tbi to ls swap. For fuel lines, yes you can use your old stuff for the most part. They aren't long enough and the ends are wrong at the fuel rails so you have to do something about that. Several options there. As for the vette filter, pretty much you just re do your fuel lines from the tank on up. You cab do it right and do it cheap if you plan it out.
 
Yeah, right now I'm trying to figure everything out before I jump into it. I've got the flywheel covered, I just bought a brand new radiator a couple months ago. Lucky for me I can just get some 5.3 truck radiator hoses. I'm sure I can find some used LS1 Fbody manifolds at local performance shops, I plan on using a 97-98 vortec truck pump (need a new sending unit to because mine doesn't read correctly under 1/4 tank). Motor mount plates; I was looking at dirty dingo ones to use my factory cross-member but still I can just drill new holes and move my trans/t-case up a little bit using some non-adjustable mounts. I have a factory rear drive-shaft that should be the right length because I swapped in a 14 bolt. Wiring harness, I'm going to man up and mod it myself. Will the factory inline fuel filter for a TBI truck be sufficient enough for an LS engine? Also if I end up getting a return-less donor engine I can just route my return line to the fuel filter and be done with it. I'm tracking on the factory fuel lines to the LS fuel lines.


edit: Also as far as the alternator and power steering pump. Will the factory lines to the power steering pump bolt up? (re-editing I found out if you put the fitting from my pump onto the new power steering pump it bolts up). Would I be better to get the factory under hood fuse block for the alternator too? I don't plan on using the AC and will remove all that from my K5, and thats just unbolting it and not using that belt.
 
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i reused truck manifolds and down pipe stubbs cut just before cat's .

factory style filter was used in tpi engines also so yes i can do the psi safe.

if motor is a return less system the corvete filter is the regulator so it returns the fuel to the tank from it.

p/s lines should pop in place same metric threads .

most people use a 4-6 fuse block for stand alone fuse block under the hood. i got my 6 fuse semi water profe with cap off a ford 97-up truck at local junk yard.
 
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