TBI to carb engine swap questions..
TBI to carb engine swap questions.. hey guys, I have an 88 chevy 4x4 w/350 auto. The piece of crap TBI 350 is on it's last legs and I was thinking of dropping in a crate motor, but a 4-barrel crate motor. what would I be looking at to drop this into the truck?
1.What can I do about the fuel system, it has an electric in-tank pump now.
2.Accesories, I need a lot of help here.
3.Did the computer have anything to do with the tranny or running gear in 88?
4.anything else you can tell me would be appreciated.
-William
1.What can I do about the fuel system, it has an electric in-tank pump now.
2.Accesories, I need a lot of help here.
3.Did the computer have anything to do with the tranny or running gear in 88?
4.anything else you can tell me would be appreciated.
-William
Originally Posted by wbw2
hey guys, I have an 88 chevy 4x4 w/350 auto. The piece of crap TBI 350 is on it's last legs and I was thinking of dropping in a crate motor, but a 4-barrel crate motor. what would I be looking at to drop this into the truck?
1.What can I do about the fuel system, it has an electric in-tank pump now.
2.Accesories, I need a lot of help here.
3.Did the computer have anything to do with the tranny or running gear in 88?
4.anything else you can tell me would be appreciated.
-William
1.What can I do about the fuel system, it has an electric in-tank pump now.
2.Accesories, I need a lot of help here.
3.Did the computer have anything to do with the tranny or running gear in 88?
4.anything else you can tell me would be appreciated.
-William
Last edited by DynoDR; Nov 25, 2004 at 06:05 AM.
i acutally did this exact same swap..i had an 88 tbi equipped truck.
i installed a holley red electric fuel pump in the place of the fuel filter.. (didnt pull the tank,,just pull through the existing pump with the electric holley)i just bought some fuel hose and pushed it over the hard line barbs. i bought a older model hei distributor with the coil in cap and used that..one of the wires that go to your existing coil is a swithced 12volts..test with a meter and find right one.. i cut all of the existing wires that went to all my sensors except the ground wires and the harness for the AC.. since the tbi uses a return style fuel system i capped off the return line right below the cab with a cap (where it turns form hard line to braided line) you will have to go with a aftermarket tranny lockup system..i used a tci 700r4 lockup kit..it has a vaccum switch that runs from the carb and will lock the tranny with the right vaccum and is adjustable.i alos mounted a swithc so i could manually lock it,,if you leave all your grounds your gauges will all work and everything will be peachy..you shouldnt have to worry about accessories..i kept mine all the way they wre pre-carb and all is well. need any help give me a shout
matt
i installed a holley red electric fuel pump in the place of the fuel filter.. (didnt pull the tank,,just pull through the existing pump with the electric holley)i just bought some fuel hose and pushed it over the hard line barbs. i bought a older model hei distributor with the coil in cap and used that..one of the wires that go to your existing coil is a swithced 12volts..test with a meter and find right one.. i cut all of the existing wires that went to all my sensors except the ground wires and the harness for the AC.. since the tbi uses a return style fuel system i capped off the return line right below the cab with a cap (where it turns form hard line to braided line) you will have to go with a aftermarket tranny lockup system..i used a tci 700r4 lockup kit..it has a vaccum switch that runs from the carb and will lock the tranny with the right vaccum and is adjustable.i alos mounted a swithc so i could manually lock it,,if you leave all your grounds your gauges will all work and everything will be peachy..you shouldnt have to worry about accessories..i kept mine all the way they wre pre-carb and all is well. need any help give me a shout
matt
alright, now were gettin' somewhere. First off, I want to get rid of the TBI engine for a simpler 350 carb setup. I am older and more familiar with older engines and stuff(the carb crate motors are generally cheaper also). Secondly, I don't understand what you are talking about when you say "make my tranny lock"?? what is it you are controlling with the switch or whatever, torque converter lockup?
Also, thanks for the fuel and accesory info. Will the large front accesory bracket from my TBI motor fit the new carb crate motor?
Also, thanks for the fuel and accesory info. Will the large front accesory bracket from my TBI motor fit the new carb crate motor?
Originally Posted by wbw2
alright, now were gettin' somewhere. First off, I want to get rid of the TBI engine for a simpler 350 carb setup. I am older and more familiar with older engines and stuff(the carb crate motors are generally cheaper also). Secondly, I don't understand what you are talking about when you say "make my tranny lock"?? what is it you are controlling with the switch or whatever, torque converter lockup?
Also, thanks for the fuel and accesory info. Will the large front accesory bracket from my TBI motor fit the new carb crate motor?
Also, thanks for the fuel and accesory info. Will the large front accesory bracket from my TBI motor fit the new carb crate motor?
Deranged Rat Fink
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,495
Likes: 1
From: Right here at my laptop, DUH!
I used a '77 block with a '92 TPI heads /intake . The bracket bolted up fine. The TBI computer is mainly associated with the fuel injection/ engine emmissions. I did have to remove a screw in plug on the engine right above the oil filter for the sending unit for the oil pressure gauge. Also , I had to block off the fitting behind the intake manifold for the older sending unit for the 77 oil pressure gauge. Other than than every thing else was fairly straight forward and simple.
i just did this on a buddy's 91 camaro, dont try and pull through the stock pump thats asking for trouble. mallory makes a fuel pressure regulator for a return style fuel system that is adjustable to 12 psi, it costs $75. u just wire a oil pressure safety switch inline to the in tank fuel pump's existing relay. on my buds car his fuel lines came up the drivers side so i had to run new lines over to the passenger side from the tank. accesories will bolt right up no problem. just make sure that u have the right balancer and flexplate on the engine. the only wires i saved was the ones for the gauges and the trans wires.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by fast98
i just did this on a buddy's 91 camaro, dont try and pull through the stock pump thats asking for trouble. mallory makes a fuel pressure regulator for a return style fuel system that is adjustable to 12 psi, it costs $75. u just wire a oil pressure safety switch inline to the in tank fuel pump's existing relay. on my buds car his fuel lines came up the drivers side so i had to run new lines over to the passenger side from the tank. accesories will bolt right up no problem. just make sure that u have the right balancer and flexplate on the engine. the only wires i saved was the ones for the gauges and the trans wires.
On my 94 SWB chevy truck, I just dropped my tank once, took off the in tank pump, extended the pickup tube and jb welded another sock type filter onto it. I then bolted a holley red fuel pump to the inside of the frame, right before the filter.
Originally Posted by CrimeSScene
On my 94 SWB chevy truck, I just dropped my tank once, took off the in tank pump, extended the pickup tube and jb welded another sock type filter onto it. I then bolted a holley red fuel pump to the inside of the frame, right before the filter.
Originally Posted by CrimeSScene
On my 94 SWB chevy truck, I just dropped my tank once, took off the in tank pump, extended the pickup tube and jb welded another sock type filter onto it. I then bolted a holley red fuel pump to the inside of the frame, right before the filter.
this is a good revival as i just sent out my 455 pontiac block to get bored out and im gonna throw that in my 95 sub. im thinking carbed 600ft-lbs of torque out of a slow turning motor will get me better gas milage out of my tbi 350
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Sorry to bring up a old thread, but good info.
1987 Chevy 4x4 - factory V6 TBI to 350 Carb conversion.
Q: what about going from a 4.3 V6 TBI to a 350 carb in my 87'' Chevy 4x4. I have a complete 350 block with HEI distributor all ready to drop in.
I know about the fuel system using a manual pump to take the PSI down lower to 6PSI and Im going to be running all autometer gauges for my oil, temp and volt gauges so thats not a problem with them working, just gotta wire them correctly.
1. What about all of un-used electrical wiring? any sorta fuses or relays which will cause problems of the truck running right or not? 2. Motor mounts, are they different or not, doesnt really seem that chevy would make different mounts for the same frame but just checking?
Anything else that I might be missing?
Thanks
1987 Chevy 4x4 - factory V6 TBI to 350 Carb conversion.
Q: what about going from a 4.3 V6 TBI to a 350 carb in my 87'' Chevy 4x4. I have a complete 350 block with HEI distributor all ready to drop in.
I know about the fuel system using a manual pump to take the PSI down lower to 6PSI and Im going to be running all autometer gauges for my oil, temp and volt gauges so thats not a problem with them working, just gotta wire them correctly.
1. What about all of un-used electrical wiring? any sorta fuses or relays which will cause problems of the truck running right or not? 2. Motor mounts, are they different or not, doesnt really seem that chevy would make different mounts for the same frame but just checking?
Anything else that I might be missing?
Thanks