TBI to carb swap - will I get better mileage?

[Sunbelt56]

I have a 1994 Chevy K3500 w/454 and 4.56 gear ratio 4WD I want to use for towing and hauling tools in utility bed. Would I get more/less power and/or more/less gas mileage with a carb swap? I get about 10mpg highway now. Would it be worth the trouble?

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

You can get the PCM tuned and get better results than going to a carb. By data logging you can see where you can pull out or add some fuel and spark, you can add Hiway Lean Cruise too.

 

[97K1500Silverado]

Stick with current TBI or get new fuel injection. The newer fuel injection uses modern o2 sensors that can adjust mixture much more often and more efficiently than a carb or your old tbi.

But at the cost of $1k you will prob never recoup the cost in mpg savings. 10mpg for a 454 seems pretty good. I imagine The vortec 454 didn’t get much better mpg. Maybe 12?

 

[df2x4]

X2 on what PlayingWithTBI said. You can achieve much better fuel economy with the TBI than you can with a carb.

 

[L31MaxExpress]

I have a 1994 Chevy K3500 w/454 and 4.56 gear ratio 4WD I want to use for towing and hauling tools in utility bed. Would I get more/less power and/or more/less gas mileage with a carb swap? I get about 10mpg highway now. Would it be worth the trouble?

Not worth the trouble. Even if the mileage is the same driveability will tank.

 

[884x4310ci]

You have a 1 ton 454 truck and your wondering about millage?
no a carb will not get you better millage. A good carb and a recurved HEI will make it fun better. And if you are headers and duals. And better cam. More power can be had.

 

[Sunbelt56]

Thanks all!

 

[Jerryred94silvy]

I have a 94 C1500 with a carbureted 355. So far I’ve barely gotten 10mpgs out of it in the 3 or so tanks it’s emptied thus far. Granted, I haven’t tuned said carb yet so there may be more to be had. Even so, a carb can’t compete with FI for efficiency.