I know you can't use a regular sbc carb intake on a TBI, what i was wondering was is the carb vortec intake the same??, and what was first year GM switched to the TBI style heads that won't work with a regular intake?

 

Here you go.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/...oductId=745125

 

You can actually use a adapter plate.

 

so there are three different intakes?? what is the riff raff i read about for drilling different intakes to fit differebt heads, im pretty confused

 

regarding the heads, sbc cylinder heads for lack of a better description were all the same up until around 1990 I believe. Prior to 1990, you could refer to them as traditional, or old-style, sbc cylinder heads. The main thing was they would all bolt onto a chevy 350 block and had a 12-bolt pattern for mounting an intake manifold.
When the vortec cylinder heads came out in 1990 or whenever the year was, along with the vortec engine line which were entirely new engines, the new vortec heads which are known now as late-model sbc heads, would also bolt onto all of the older 350 engine blocks. This was great as an aftermarket upgrade, however the vortec heads require a different intake manifold. The vortec cylinder heads have an 8-bolt pattern for intake manifold mounting.

So when buying an intake manifold for a 350sbc, you need to specify whether you have late-model vortec heads and need an 8-bolt pattern intake manifold, or have old-style heads and need the old-style 12-bolt pattern intake.
What has been done is you can drill out the vortec heads and make it accept an old style 12-bolt intake manifold. But just because it has or can be done doesn't mean it's a good idea. Performance-wise the vortec heads are superior to the old style heads, and so are the vortec intakes compared to the old style intakes.
Once you get the cylinder head & intake manifold combo figured out, then it's usually never a problem mounting a carb or TBI onto the intake.

You mentioned TBI style heads not working with a regular intake,
I believe you mean vortec heads. The TBI (throttle body injection) is mounted onto the intake like a carb, so it does not care what kind of cylinder heads you have, and shouldn't care what intake manifold either but i'm sure there are intakes designed for accepting TBI setups. You can usually find an adapter plate to mount any carb, or TBI, onto any intake manifold. What you do need to be careful of are things like overall height of the setup so it fits under the hood, throttle bracket mounting and emission related stuff.

 

Vortec heads actually came out in 1996 the issue with 1988-1995 is the throttle body injection intakes and heads are different then have vertical bolts from the intake to the head were as old style was at an angle.I am currently putting a 350 out of a 92 gmc into a 71 chevy truck. you can keep the throttle body injection if you change over the computer. (its a headache) but it is possible.
the most time and cost effectuate way would be to go with a intake that will let you put a carb on it. plus you can tune it right and just about get the same fuel mileage

 

Your first post in a tech section and it is a thread from 2010? Lol

Welcome to ls1tech.

 

This intake allows for both traditional old school style heads and the TBI cyl heads . There are inserts that come with this intake that fit into the center 4 holes that accommodate the difference in the angle between the two styles

http://www.jegs.com/i/Professional-P...ductId=1924911

this intake will give you room to grow when you change the heads, please for the love of god change the heads. the TBI heads are the worst cylinder heads the chevrolet ever produced. they will never make any power .......... EVER.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Professional-P...ductId=2861379

^^^^^^^^^ I highly recommend this intake ^^^^^^^^^

 

Call Jegs or Summit Racing, I'm sure they can help you get the right manifold.

 

Another old thread dig up?? This thread died 8 years ago

 

It still matters man, it still fng matters!!!!!

 

it will never not matter!!

 

what kind of adapter plate

 

They make adapter plates allowing you to run a TBI unit on a 4-barrel intake.