Vortec Swap Help

[YoungMoneyVII]

Im considering swapping in the vortec I have into the K5 instead of giving up on the truck it would be a shame. What im asking in this thread is will I have to upgrade the tbi injectors if so to what psi. Can I use the stock TBI unit or do I have to buy the holley one on summit. Will the stock fuel lines clear the intake? I know ill have to buy the $400 intake for Vortec TBI on summit. The vortec is already retrofit for a SBC with harmonic balancer and I have moates tuning chips. Im guessing ill have to swap the rubber trans mount out for a poly if I do this because the vortec eats rubber mounts for breakfast.

 

[y5mgisi]

You can likely get away with just upping the fuel pressure. But, as others will tell you, a proper tune in the chip is going to be the only way to get it to really run right.

 

[dyeager535]

Stock injectors can feed a Vortec build (the Vortec cam was pretty mild) if the fuel pump can keep pressure up. IME the TBI pumps are good for 14, 15PSI if you are lucky.

I'd forget buying a crazy expensive TBI intake if you can, instead going with a Vortec carb intake, with a TBI adapter. That should be maybe $2-300 total?

If making the swap a BBC TBI unit can be used, but you'd have to look at the power numbers of a Vortec to see if that is even needed...I suspect the SBC throttle body flows enough to support the low-end range that the Vortec cam is designed around.

 

[paratrooper307]

Stock injectors can feed a Vortec build (the Vortec cam was pretty mild) if the fuel pump can keep pressure up. IME the TBI pumps are good for 14, 15PSI if you are lucky.

I'd forget buying a crazy expensive TBI intake if you can, instead going with a Vortec carb intake, with a TBI adapter. That should be maybe $2-300 total?

If making the swap a BBC TBI unit can be used, but you'd have to look at the power numbers of a Vortec to see if that is even needed...I suspect the SBC throttle body flows enough to support the low-end range that the Vortec cam is designed around.

Scoggin-Dickey sells the Edelbrock Vortec intake for about 170, with a TBI adapter that should put you right around 200 give or take. Now keep in mind it's a non-EGR intake, so if emissions is a concern you'll want something else. You may want to take that savings and put it toward a better fuel pump if needed. The stock pump, especially if it's old, becomes marginal at pressures over stock.