Mods for a Vortec with pre-96 TBI

[TriGuy]

Hey all, I'm interested in building my truck to be a bit quicker than it is. It's a 92 K1500 lifted 4" on 33s. Still want it to have the right power band and all for towing.
Most importantly, it's got a 96+ Vortec 350 crate motor, but it still uses the pre-96 TBI setup, made possible by a stupidly expensive Chevrolet Performance intake manifold. I'd like to keep it that way.
So basically, new intake is out of the question, and most computer tuning because I'm still OBD 1 with the full TBI setup. I suppose that leaves cams, maybe heads, and what else?
My goals: tire shredding torque monster is just about number 1 priority , 300 or more rwhp or whatever gets me from 0 to 60 in about 7-8? seconds. I'd love to see my truck be able to give my P71 a run for its money. Maybe it'll be cheap enough to go even quicker, maybe not.
Part numbers are very appreciated, but any suggestion is great. And maybe I just need to be directed to another thread or some other article of general information. Thanks all!

p.s. I'm not opposed to an intake manifold change if it's for a carb setup. Just absolutely won't go through the work of swapping over to 96+ injection with all the accompanying computer stuff.

 

[skylark]

Hey all, I'm interested in building my truck to be a bit quicker than it is. It's a 92 K1500 lifted 4" on 33s. Still want it to have the right power band and all for towing.
Most importantly, it's got a 96+ Vortec 350 crate motor, but it still uses the pre-96 TBI setup, made possible by a stupidly expensive Chevrolet Performance intake manifold. I'd like to keep it that way.
So basically, new intake is out of the question, and most computer tuning because I'm still OBD 1 with the full TBI setup. I suppose that leaves cams, maybe heads, and what else?
My goals: tire shredding torque monster is just about number 1 priority , 300 or more rwhp or whatever gets me from 0 to 60 in about 7-8? seconds. I'd love to see my truck be able to give my P71 a run for its money. Maybe it'll be cheap enough to go even quicker, maybe not.
Part numbers are very appreciated, but any suggestion is great. And maybe I just need to be directed to another thread or some other article of general information. Thanks all!

p.s. I'm not opposed to an intake manifold change if it's for a carb setup. Just absolutely won't go through the work of swapping over to 96+ injection with all the accompanying computer stuff.

Your screwed. You can bump the timing to 4 degrees and the fuel pressure to crutch a stock vortec but a modified one will never run decent without tuning.

 

[RichLo]

I would personally go with a stand alone fuel injection setup.

-4150 carb manifold, single or dual plane of your choice $100
-Stand alone fuel injection setup Fi-Tech is around $800-$1000 w/o ignition control
-GM HEI distributor $100 or less.
-High pressure replacement fuel pump $50-$100

That setup will handle any mods you do now and in the future and is completely self-learning.

 

[98 Nitro]

A 92 Big block 454 ss had 250hp and 405 tq so would that computer/Tbi and injectors work decent?

 

[TriGuy]

I would personally go with a stand alone fuel injection setup.

-4150 carb manifold, single or dual plane of your choice $100
-Stand alone fuel injection setup Fi-Tech is around $800-$1000 w/o ignition control
-GM HEI distributor $100 or less.
-High pressure replacement fuel pump $50-$100

That setup will handle any mods you do now and in the future and is completely self-learning.

I like this idea and something of that nature completely skipped my mind. Definitely some uncharted waters for me but it's pretty simple and like you said, self-learning. Thanks.

 

[Stokes1114]

You don't need any stand alone system at all. Go to gearheadefi.com and start reading everything. Tuning yourself is a learning process,but the factory pcms especially 93-95 models are great computers. I can pretty much tune any combo with them.

 

[Mule89]

I like this idea and something of that nature completely skipped my mind. Definitely some uncharted waters for me but it's pretty simple and like you said, self-learning. Thanks.

Or you can go with an EBLflash programmable computer uses the stock computer and gives you opportunity to tune like most modern computers. That will be the route I take for my setup.

 

[TriGuy]

Or you can go with an EBLflash programmable computer uses the stock computer and gives you opportunity to tune like most modern computers. That will be the route I take for my setup.

I actually looked into this in the past. Definitely seems like a cheap route to take compared to stand alone EFI.

 

[90halfton]

33's aren't going to move worth a s### without the right gears (unless you've already done this). That is where I would start. You're never going to get results out of any motor/setup unless you're geared right .

 

[TriGuy]

33's aren't going to move worth a s### without the right gears (unless you've already done this). That is where I would start. You're never going to get results out of any motor/setup unless you're geared right .

Got it covered