1995 TBI Interchange years

[Axxess]

Hey guys, ive used the search function and used the google to look for this answer.

Short version: Owned my 95 suburban 1500 4x4 LT 5.7 tbi for 15 years, 300k miles, Last 50k miles has been my plow truck up here in MN. Did an intake gasket 40K miles ago due to leaking coolant out back of intake. Shes been burning oil at idle and clouds anything past 2k rpm held. I did a compression test and all jugs are 135-150. oil cooler lines deleted 100k ago, still runs good, she's just tired and I want to swap it with a lower mileage motor vs head work etc. I dont want to do a vortec swap or anything, just straight TBI to TBi.

Exactly what years are interchangeable with my 95. Ive seen some say 92-95 and others say 88-95.

Hope this subject hasnt been beat to death and i just cant find the info.

Thanks in advance folx and have a great day!

image attached is revved to 2k then let idle back down. Spyhunter smoke screen!

 

[fancyTBI]

88-95 should be a direct swap. 87 was the first year for TBI in the squares, but I don’t know what is different on those, if anything! Use your TBI unit and your wiring harness. Can’t remember the year but at some point the TPS sensor changed the plug style. The early TBI trucks had an oil pressure switch mounted by the oil filter housing. You could plug that and use the existing machined hole in the block by the distributor. There are other members more versed in the earlier TBI differences. I’ve only had 92-95.

I wonder how many low mileage TBI engines are left these days. Over the past few years they nearly dried up at the local salvage yards.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

I did a compression test and all jugs are 135-150. oil cooler lines deleted 100k ago, still runs good, she's just tired and I want to swap it with a lower mileage motor vs head work etc. I dont want to do a vortec swap or anything, just straight TBI to TBi.

Have you thought about doing a leak down test 1st? Or, rebuild and get a 355 out of it.

88-95 should be a direct swap. 87 was the first year for TBI in the squares, but I don’t know what is different on those, if anything!

The only thing I know of is HD ones had 4 bolt mains and a little lower compression.

 

[Axxess]

Have you thought about doing a leak down test 1st? Or, rebuild and get a 355 out of it.


The only thing I know of is HD ones had 4 bolt mains and a little lower compression.

Ive thought about a rebuild but currently have a Olds Rocket 394 im rebuilding for my 60 Olds I pulled this spring. I dont have the time for another rebuild to get going.
The Sub hauls my sleds and plows during the winter.

88-95 should be a direct swap. 87 was the first year for TBI in the squares, but I don’t know what is different on those, if anything! Use your TBI unit and your wiring harness. Can’t remember the year but at some point the TPS sensor changed the plug style. The early TBI trucks had an oil pressure switch mounted by the oil filter housing. You could plug that and use the existing machined hole in the block by the distributor. There are other members more versed in the earlier TBI differences. I’ve only had 92-95.

I wonder how many low mileage TBI engines are left these days. Over the past few years they nearly dried up at the local salvage yards.

Ive found a couple under 100k which in my world is "low milegae" enough for this rig.

Appreciate the input guys.

 

[Schurkey]

With minor differences, '87--'95 VIN K from a truck should all be suitable replacements.

The prime candidate would be a 5.7L/350 from a '92--'93 Caprice/Roadmaster/Fleetwood Brougham. Some sources say '91--'93. Tiny boost in compression (9.6 vs. 9.25) due to flat-top pistons vs. dish pistons, plus a roller cam/lifter valvetrain. Otherwise a drop-in replacement with the same minor differences that don't really make any difference. Runs flawlessly on the stock tuning, but just like the stock engine it will benefit from a custom tune.

I ran the service-replacement "crate engine" for the Caprice/Roadmaster/Brougham in my '88 for nearly 18 years. I'd still be running it if the head gasket hadn't popped.

currently have a Olds Rocket 394 im rebuilding for my 60 Olds I pulled this spring.

I'd love to be there for that. "Big brother" of one of my best friends had a '60 Olds/394 in high-school.

Be sure to get the plugs on the cylinder block head-gasket surface installed properly so coolant goes where it's supposed to. Seems to be a common issue.

 

[someotherguy]

As said any year of the TBI - 87-95 will work, but you will find the external accessories vary depending on year and model. That means not only the accessory drive, but also the components on the intake. The TBI itself changed several times but most noticeably in 1991 with a change in TPS design and connector. The EGR valve setup, ESC control or lack thereof (now contained in the PCM), things like that change by year. So in short, use your accessories on whichever good condition long block you can obtain.

Richard

 

[fancyTBI]

The prime candidate would be a 5.7L/350 from a '92--'93 Caprice/Roadmaster/Fleetwood Brougham.

Best thing I ever did to my ‘92. I didn’t know they were roller cam until I opened the engine up. Had a chip burned for it and it was flawless. Now that engine is going in my ‘94 K2500.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Best thing I ever did to my ‘92. I didn’t know they were roller cam until I opened the engine up. Had a chip burned for it and it was flawless. Now that engine is going in my ‘94 K2500.

The cars also had an optional 305 which im sure was also roller, not sure its meaning much to anyone with a truck but if you could find a used one with the engine not yet plucked, they had the option for a 305. At least roadmaster did, I believe they dropped it when they went to the gen ii "LT1" with optispark ,then they were all 5.7

 

[Axxess]

Best thing I ever did to my ‘92. I didn’t know they were roller cam until I opened the engine up. Had a chip burned for it and it was flawless. Now that engine is going in my ‘94 K2500.

So a '92--'93 Caprice/Roadmaster/Fleetwood Brougham 5.7 will drop in a 95 Sub with no issues? I can expand my search a bit then if so.

 

[Schurkey]

So a '92--'93 Caprice/Roadmaster/Fleetwood Brougham 5.7 will drop in a 95 Sub with no issues? I can expand my search a bit then if so.

There are minor differences--not deal-breakers.

Example: The oil pan may have a bung for a low-oil-level sensor that the trucks didn't get. You'll need a plug--or the old sensor--to fill that hole.

I'm using that hole as an oil-return port for my aftermarket bypass oil filter.