90 suburban donor for my 67? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bloodybigblock · 11-13-2012, 02:25 AM

Okay guys. I have a 67 lwb I'm working on. I have plans for a nice swb street truck by the time it's done. The truck is only a full body and a frame. The rest was stripped out before purchase. So as you can tell I need a lot of parts. I'm thinking of buying a 90ish model suburban and using it as a donor. They are cheap and I need the brakes and motor and a few other things. Will I run into problems making it a carb motor or keeping it tbi? If I kept the tbi would I be able to make a little power? This is gonna be a driver,not a weekend show piece. A suburban gonna be the cheapest/ most reliable route? Any advise would be appreciated.
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Andy4639 · 11-13-2012, 03:34 AM

The TBI can be good are bad depending on the amount of horse power you want. For a good driving D/D I would leave it a lone and build back stock. Put the 700-R4 behind it and you are set man. Order a wiring harness and forget about the stock one unless u just want to do it your self.
I put the stock HO 305 TPI in mine with a 700-R4 and love it.
Cold mornings and one turn of the key and it's cranked. No grinding the starter.

bloodybigblock · 11-13-2012, 04:10 AM

I had an 89 pickup and it was a beast. Only thing I'd like to do is exhaust,headers,and aftermarket intake. Those suburban motors have 210hp from what I read. Any other simple mods on those motors? All I know is carb. My rear gears are 373 so I know it'll be semi quick. Thanks for the reply mam, let me know.
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MARKDTN · 11-13-2012, 08:30 AM

The TBI motors are very reliable. If you do get a 90 'Burb, the front end will sell to square body guys wanting those headlights so that may help offset some cost. I would stay TBI and the 700R4 that is behind it. The hardest part of the swap is the fuel tank and lines. You can use a Blazer tank (either big or little) with internal pump-or leave it behind the seat and get an external pump if you have a return line. The fuel injection wiring is almost self-contained in a harness. You just need a good Shop manual to figure out which wires to hook up for battery power, ground, fuel pump, and ignition.

bloodybigblock · 11-13-2012, 08:45 AM

Is there a place that does your wire harness for you? ive seen those on the ls motors but never heard of a shop doing a harness for an old tbi motor. And good call on the front end, i didnt even think about that!

MARKDTN · 11-13-2012, 11:08 AM

If you want to buy a harness, I would buy a Howell or Street and Performance (not a Painless). You should not need a PROM unless you want to get rid of EGR. I would keep canister purge. There is no VATS in a TBI. The Stock GM TBI harness is almost plug and play. The ones in the vans are even better because they are long to put the ECM under the drivers seat. It should be pretty easy to use a stock harness and do a 4-wire hookup. That will place the ECM behind the glove box and take up a big chunk of space, particularly with a/c. If you did go with (long) aftermarket or van you could put the ecm under/behind the seat or in a console. You will probably want to use original manifolds and add an O2 sensor bung rather than try to use the later manifolds.

bloodybigblock · 11-13-2012, 12:14 PM

What can I do for a little more power? I'm sure there is a how to on modifying this harness. Thanks again
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GASoline71 · 11-13-2012, 12:34 PM

The TBI will be very limited on producing more power. As they were designed for maximum fuel efficiency for the power they do produce. There are after market intake manifolds, air intake systems, exhaust systems, etc. But after all is said and done, the power gain will be barely noticed. If you thought your 350 TBI in an '89 was a "beast", there are way more options out there that will outperform a stock (or even "warmed over") TBI.

The TBI will be a great system for light duty hauling and towing, and reliable enough to keep your truck running for a long timke without major issues. If you stay realistic in the power output of this very limited system, you'll be happy with it.

Gary

bloodybigblock · 11-13-2012, 08:50 PM

Well the way things are now, I think mpg are the most important lol. When I said "beast" I meant bulletproof, not fast lol. I'm not trying to race anyone,just want a reliable truck with some passing power.nothing fancy. Thanks for the reply gas.
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67c10rustbuket · 11-13-2012, 09:26 PM

I bought a wrecked 97 Tahoe for my donor. couldn't use the brakes etc but the drivetrain was in great shape, just sitting in the garage in pieces now

. Anyway I sold many parts off of the Tahoe and scrapped the rest and ended up making a few hundred in the end with a nice free drivetrain for my project. A tbi would be a nice reliable setup I have had a few of those trucks and never managed to kill one

Andy4639 · 11-13-2012, 09:51 PM

I used a Street & Performance wiring harness. I did mine 20 some years ago and it's never gave me a problem. I installed a 93 40 gallon suburban tank in the bed with internal pump. Did the return line and gas install myself. That was fun! It was the hardest part of the whole swap.I want say I was the first on here with a TPI swap in my truck but I bet I was one of the top 5 or so back in 1990 when I did it.

JohnT71 · 11-13-2012, 10:10 PM

Put motor, trans, and rear end in my 68 from a 98 vortec truck. Used the wiring harness from the 98 just adapted it to the 68 ignition. Street and Performance reflashed my pcm to remove the vats. If you have the entire donor vehicle it is not to difficult to swap.

bloodybigblock · 11-14-2012, 01:20 AM

Thanks guys. Sounds like it'd be a great choice. I'm sure I could sell extra parts and scrap the rest and come out ahead. Now I'm curious on how to use the suburban rear end too. I'll look for a thread so you guys don't have to answer a separate question lol
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11-13-2012, 02:25 AM	#1
bloodybigblock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: hanceville alabama Posts: 268	90 suburban donor for my 67? Okay guys. I have a 67 lwb I'm working on. I have plans for a nice swb street truck by the time it's done. The truck is only a full body and a frame. The rest was stripped out before purchase. So as you can tell I need a lot of parts. I'm thinking of buying a 90ish model suburban and using it as a donor. They are cheap and I need the brakes and motor and a few other things. Will I run into problems making it a carb motor or keeping it tbi? If I kept the tbi would I be able to make a little power? This is gonna be a driver,not a weekend show piece. A suburban gonna be the cheapest/ most reliable route? Any advise would be appreciated. Posted via Mobile Device

11-13-2012, 03:34 AM	#2
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? The TBI can be good are bad depending on the amount of horse power you want. For a good driving D/D I would leave it a lone and build back stock. Put the 700-R4 behind it and you are set man. Order a wiring harness and forget about the stock one unless u just want to do it your self. I put the stock HO 305 TPI in mine with a 700-R4 and love it. Cold mornings and one turn of the key and it's cranked. No grinding the starter. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

11-13-2012, 04:10 AM	#3
bloodybigblock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: hanceville alabama Posts: 268	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? I had an 89 pickup and it was a beast. Only thing I'd like to do is exhaust,headers,and aftermarket intake. Those suburban motors have 210hp from what I read. Any other simple mods on those motors? All I know is carb. My rear gears are 373 so I know it'll be semi quick. Thanks for the reply mam, let me know. Posted via Mobile Device

11-13-2012, 08:30 AM	#4
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,145	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? The TBI motors are very reliable. If you do get a 90 'Burb, the front end will sell to square body guys wanting those headlights so that may help offset some cost. I would stay TBI and the 700R4 that is behind it. The hardest part of the swap is the fuel tank and lines. You can use a Blazer tank (either big or little) with internal pump-or leave it behind the seat and get an external pump if you have a return line. The fuel injection wiring is almost self-contained in a harness. You just need a good Shop manual to figure out which wires to hook up for battery power, ground, fuel pump, and ignition. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

11-13-2012, 08:45 AM	#5
bloodybigblock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: hanceville alabama Posts: 268	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? Is there a place that does your wire harness for you? ive seen those on the ls motors but never heard of a shop doing a harness for an old tbi motor. And good call on the front end, i didnt even think about that!

11-13-2012, 11:08 AM	#6
MARKDTN Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 2,145	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? If you want to buy a harness, I would buy a Howell or Street and Performance (not a Painless). You should not need a PROM unless you want to get rid of EGR. I would keep canister purge. There is no VATS in a TBI. The Stock GM TBI harness is almost plug and play. The ones in the vans are even better because they are long to put the ECM under the drivers seat. It should be pretty easy to use a stock harness and do a 4-wire hookup. That will place the ECM behind the glove box and take up a big chunk of space, particularly with a/c. If you did go with (long) aftermarket or van you could put the ecm under/behind the seat or in a console. You will probably want to use original manifolds and add an O2 sensor bung rather than try to use the later manifolds. __________________ '83 K20-TPI '73 C10 '79 C10-ex-diesel(SOLD) '07 Tahoe(Son driving) '14 Suburban-DD '71 C10-current project

11-13-2012, 12:14 PM	#7
bloodybigblock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: hanceville alabama Posts: 268	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? What can I do for a little more power? I'm sure there is a how to on modifying this harness. Thanks again Posted via Mobile Device

11-13-2012, 08:50 PM	#9
bloodybigblock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: hanceville alabama Posts: 268	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? Well the way things are now, I think mpg are the most important lol. When I said "beast" I meant bulletproof, not fast lol. I'm not trying to race anyone,just want a reliable truck with some passing power.nothing fancy. Thanks for the reply gas. Posted via Mobile Device

11-13-2012, 09:26 PM	#10
67c10rustbuket Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Mustang, Oklahoma Posts: 2,806	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? I bought a wrecked 97 Tahoe for my donor. couldn't use the brakes etc but the drivetrain was in great shape, just sitting in the garage in pieces now . Anyway I sold many parts off of the Tahoe and scrapped the rest and ended up making a few hundred in the end with a nice free drivetrain for my project. A tbi would be a nice reliable setup I have had a few of those trucks and never managed to kill one __________________ Dan <---(my name) 67 SWB C10 project "GEORGIA"-59 Brookwood 2dr wag...Next project-03 Tahoe 4x4 5.3 family ride-07 Hondur Accord, commuter car

11-13-2012, 09:51 PM	#11
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,936	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? I used a Street & Performance wiring harness. I did mine 20 some years ago and it's never gave me a problem. I installed a 93 40 gallon suburban tank in the bed with internal pump. Did the return line and gas install myself. That was fun! It was the hardest part of the whole swap.I want say I was the first on here with a TPI swap in my truck but I bet I was one of the top 5 or so back in 1990 when I did it. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

11-13-2012, 10:10 PM	#12
JohnT71 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Plainview Ar Posts: 82	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? Put motor, trans, and rear end in my 68 from a 98 vortec truck. Used the wiring harness from the 98 just adapted it to the 68 ignition. Street and Performance reflashed my pcm to remove the vats. If you have the entire donor vehicle it is not to difficult to swap. Attached Images __________________ "There's a force in the universe that makes things happen; all you have to do is get in touch with it. Stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball." -Ty Webb

11-14-2012, 01:20 AM	#13
bloodybigblock Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: hanceville alabama Posts: 268	Re: 90 suburban donor for my 67? Thanks guys. Sounds like it'd be a great choice. I'm sure I could sell extra parts and scrap the rest and come out ahead. Now I'm curious on how to use the suburban rear end too. I'll look for a thread so you guys don't have to answer a separate question lol Posted via Mobile Device



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