TBI vs Vortec

[Supercharged111]

Certainly the vortec makes more but from what i understand is that at low rpms, like idle to x amount it makes a bit more. I am pretty sure I read that in a sticky on this site.

Stock for stock TBI has a lot more off idle torque. With a tune the Vortec makes even more off idle than a TBI. TBI is held back a little stock, but nowhere near the extent of the Vortec. From a power perspective Vortec is superior in every way.

 

[Motorsports-X]

Stock for stock TBI has a lot more off idle torque. With a tune the Vortec makes even more off idle than a TBI. TBI is held back a little stock, but nowhere near the extent of the Vortec. From a power perspective Vortec is superior in every way.

Id bet that has everything to do with the airflow difference between the two. Vortecs on a dual plane with a carb come alive. Im completely convinced the first thing that should go in a stock vortec is the intake and spider. The tbi just has the advantage off idle. Even with sub par heads.

(And as stated.. the tune is garbage too)

 

[Iowan]

Do it I love my self learning Edelbrock tbi. Or go aftermarket port! Edelbrocks pro flo just dropped to 1600 bucks for the kit with timing control.

What kind of Intake manifold did you use? Single plane or dual plane?

 

[Supercharged111]

Id bet that has everything to do with the airflow difference between the two. Vortecs on a dual plane with a carb come alive. Im completely convinced the first thing that should go in a stock vortec is the intake and spider. The tbi just has the advantage off idle. Even with sub par heads.

(And as stated.. the tune is garbage too)

Intake's not bad, but the spider being internal is s holdup. Don't forget that, with a carb, the TM, PE delay, and a lot of other things that strangle these motors are suddenly null and void.

 

[Big D]

I honestly prefer a TBI short block with a Vortec set of heads and a good roller cam.

Ive had both, its hard to say which ones better as ive had 350 vortec and a 454 TBI. they both have different ups and downs in my opinion, I think the Air/fuel setup on both of them suck as there both very limiting. The wiring and sensors on the TBI can become super brittle, and it seems almost everyone deals with some sort of hard start on the vortecs if you own em long enough.

for me big difference is the interiors, Im not a fan of the interior on 88-94s, super brittle dash and the seats suck.

but I like Skylarks Idea as I plan to do a TBI block with Vortec heads and a roller cam when I buy my Uncles 95 truck.

 

[Dropped88]

Ive had both. And I'm gonna say LS family vortec is what works best in these trucks haha

 

[c1500deathtrap]

What kind of Intake manifold did you use? Single plane or dual plane?

Dual

 

[joep88cheyenne]

The only vortec setup I had was in a 97 tahoe 5.7. Itran well and reliably.. except the tranny choking on me at 22X,***. and the ac compressor locking up. It had a weak cylinder but still ran from Dallas to Chattanooga several times.

I now have a 88 4.3 /5 speed C1500 with 23X,*** TBI and it is going strong. easy to tune up..did a plug, wire, cap and rotor replacement and drove from Dallas to Bakersfield next day. that was 2 years ago and still running on same tune up.

I am a stock person basically because financially I can't justify the cost to personal pleasure. As long as they run reliably, I'm good.

 

[Aaron Westervelt]

From my perspective, TBI's seem to be more reliable, cheaper and easier to work on. However getting power gains from a TBI is a joke without changing a lot. From a vortec they are more powerful stock and accept mods to gain additional power easier but then you quickly run into reliability issues. I also prefer the TBI's simply due to the interior also. Less to go wrong the better for me. my 2 TBI's have well over 200k and have amazing compression still and don't burn a drop of oil.

Short story it depends on what you expect from the truck.

 

[Iowan]

Dual

And it runs well? Like no odd sounding idle? or laziness at lower RPMs? And what manifold did you use? Sorry for all the questions.