Older SBC in TBI truck - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Stubnosebrock · 03-21-2013, 12:48 PM

Hey guys. Im sure this has been done before, but im just curious as to exactly what it entails. Im looking to replace my TBI 305 with something else soon.I have been eyeballing the GM 260 horse crate 350. This is an older Gen 1 small block engine. 2 piece seal. From what I can tell I would run a 4 barrel intake, and use a carb to TBI adapter. The only other thing I can think of is my flywheel may differ from my present 1 piece seal block, to a 2 piece. The truck is a 94 RCSB. TBI 305, Nv3500. 4 wheel drive. Im not looking to go carbed, just to have a good fresh engine with a bit more power, and not spend a ton. Brandon

TennesseeZ · 03-21-2013, 02:02 PM

I'd look at something like this, brand new GM TBI engine for $1800. If you've got a couple hundred left, put a small Crane, Edelbrock or other cam & lifters in it. Or, Summit makes cam/lifter packages now, give them a call for recommendations.

Stubnosebrock · 03-21-2013, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the input. It would be a more plug and play deal, but its more money. The 260 horse engine is about $200.00 cheaper. The 260 horse engine is about 50 horse better than the TBI 350 also. If I crack into that TBI engine for a cam swap, I have now voided my warranty. Summit and Jegs also offer free shipping on these quite frequently which also saves some cash. I could get the 260 horse engine and swap a cam and be around 290-300 horse for the same cash as the TBI engine, if I wanted to go that route. Brandon

sntrym95 · 03-21-2013, 03:17 PM

The TBI computers are very finicky with cams. You can only go so far before causing issues with starting, running, etc. I'd stick with stock, or find a TBI compatible cam to put in there. The cam in 260HP engine is not TBI compatible.

Stubnosebrock · 03-21-2013, 08:19 PM

Hey Mike, thats some good info. I knew you couldnt run too much cam with EFI without alot of tuning. That certainly isnt a big cam in the 260 horse engine, so what makes it not TBI compatible? I have also tickled the idea of a GM Vortec 350, and using the GM TBI intake for Vortec heads. Brandon

sntrym95 · 03-21-2013, 09:42 PM

For those engines the duration of the cam is the issue I believe. The lift is similar but the duration messes with the computer. You can get a chip that will adjust here: http://tbichips.com. You could just scrap the computer and carb it, or you can go even further and go higher in the cubic inch department to a 383 with a chip and bigger injectors: http://tbichips.com/tbimods.htm.

The bottom line is that there are a lot of options to repower these trucks but if you're going to go with something other than stock, it's tough to get it to drop in and run without spending some extra money.

sntrym95 · 03-21-2013, 09:49 PM

This seems a little cheap but would work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-350-EN...item2ec7085ee6. You might need a chip though.

Nitschke · 03-21-2013, 11:11 PM

On my Dads 91 350 rebuild with a Lunati Voodoo # 20700 cam/lifters and valve springs with out modified chip runs great only other mod is open air cleaner.
Posted via Mobile Device

BatteryMedicJoe · 03-22-2013, 06:04 PM

I am going the Vortec route, with the GM intake, Como Cams makes a cam just for this application (12-388-4) you do need to use the 5.7 ecm

Stubnosebrock · 03-22-2013, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the input everyone. Maybe I should stick to a TBI crate engine. Its a 4x4, so im not really looking to hot rod it. I have a 70 Buick GS for when I want to go fast. Just looking for ease of installation and a bit more power. So a new 350 TBI, with headers and good exhaust and maybe the ultimate TBI mods, should feel alot better than my bone stock 305. Brandon

03-21-2013, 12:48 PM	#1
Stubnosebrock Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 102	Older SBC in TBI truck Hey guys. Im sure this has been done before, but im just curious as to exactly what it entails. Im looking to replace my TBI 305 with something else soon.I have been eyeballing the GM 260 horse crate 350. This is an older Gen 1 small block engine. 2 piece seal. From what I can tell I would run a 4 barrel intake, and use a carb to TBI adapter. The only other thing I can think of is my flywheel may differ from my present 1 piece seal block, to a 2 piece. The truck is a 94 RCSB. TBI 305, Nv3500. 4 wheel drive. Im not looking to go carbed, just to have a good fresh engine with a bit more power, and not spend a ton. Brandon

03-21-2013, 02:02 PM	#2
TennesseeZ Countdown Survivor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bean Station, East Tennessee Posts: 9,676	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck I'd look at something like this, brand new GM TBI engine for $1800. If you've got a couple hundred left, put a small Crane, Edelbrock or other cam & lifters in it. Or, Summit makes cam/lifter packages now, give them a call for recommendations. __________________ 93 Yukon 89 Silverado Z71 SWB Sport 91 K 2500 Silverado "Lobuk-Worktruk" A MAN OF HONOR DOES NOT LIE, CHEAT, OR STEAL, NOR TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO. Gettin' old ain't for sissies. Last edited by TennesseeZ; 03-21-2013 at 02:12 PM.

03-21-2013, 02:23 PM	#3
Stubnosebrock Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 102	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck Thanks for the input. It would be a more plug and play deal, but its more money. The 260 horse engine is about $200.00 cheaper. The 260 horse engine is about 50 horse better than the TBI 350 also. If I crack into that TBI engine for a cam swap, I have now voided my warranty. Summit and Jegs also offer free shipping on these quite frequently which also saves some cash. I could get the 260 horse engine and swap a cam and be around 290-300 horse for the same cash as the TBI engine, if I wanted to go that route. Brandon

03-21-2013, 03:17 PM	#4
sntrym95 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Big Pine Key, FL Posts: 758	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck The TBI computers are very finicky with cams. You can only go so far before causing issues with starting, running, etc. I'd stick with stock, or find a TBI compatible cam to put in there. The cam in 260HP engine is not TBI compatible. __________________ Mike

03-21-2013, 08:19 PM	#5
Stubnosebrock Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 102	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck Hey Mike, thats some good info. I knew you couldnt run too much cam with EFI without alot of tuning. That certainly isnt a big cam in the 260 horse engine, so what makes it not TBI compatible? I have also tickled the idea of a GM Vortec 350, and using the GM TBI intake for Vortec heads. Brandon

03-21-2013, 09:42 PM	#6
sntrym95 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Big Pine Key, FL Posts: 758	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck For those engines the duration of the cam is the issue I believe. The lift is similar but the duration messes with the computer. You can get a chip that will adjust here: http://tbichips.com. You could just scrap the computer and carb it, or you can go even further and go higher in the cubic inch department to a 383 with a chip and bigger injectors: http://tbichips.com/tbimods.htm. The bottom line is that there are a lot of options to repower these trucks but if you're going to go with something other than stock, it's tough to get it to drop in and run without spending some extra money. __________________ Mike

03-21-2013, 09:49 PM	#7
sntrym95 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Big Pine Key, FL Posts: 758	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck This seems a little cheap but would work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-350-EN...item2ec7085ee6. You might need a chip though. __________________ Mike

03-21-2013, 11:11 PM	#8
Nitschke Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 53	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck On my Dads 91 350 rebuild with a Lunati Voodoo # 20700 cam/lifters and valve springs with out modified chip runs great only other mod is open air cleaner. Posted via Mobile Device __________________ ~72 Chevy Truck~ Motor: LY6 6.0 Liter Trans: 6L80E Still under construction Last edited by Nitschke; 03-21-2013 at 11:19 PM.

03-22-2013, 06:04 PM	#9
BatteryMedicJoe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 21	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck I am going the Vortec route, with the GM intake, Como Cams makes a cam just for this application (12-388-4) you do need to use the 5.7 ecm __________________ "We always have parts left over on a job this size" 1971 GMC 3/4 572 big block 1988 GMC 88,000 miles

03-22-2013, 06:09 PM	#10
Stubnosebrock Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 102	Re: Older SBC in TBI truck Thanks for the input everyone. Maybe I should stick to a TBI crate engine. Its a 4x4, so im not really looking to hot rod it. I have a 70 Buick GS for when I want to go fast. Just looking for ease of installation and a bit more power. So a new 350 TBI, with headers and good exhaust and maybe the ultimate TBI mods, should feel alot better than my bone stock 305. Brandon



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.