TBI vs Vortec

[kennythewelder]

I have owned both, and I prefer Vortec. Despite what skylark says, I have seen a lot of vortecs with well over 250,000 miles. Even saw one with over 400,000 miles. I just like the performance of the vortec better. I know that the TBI is an easier mod, but I still like vortec better, but hey thats just me.

 

[pro17]

TPI

 

[DerekTheGreat]

Anybody have any pics of the factory Vortec headed TBI set up? Until trolling this thread I never though to look at '96 van...

 

[90halfton]

Tbi guy here. 28 years and 140k on mine with zero issues (engine/ fuel related anyways) . 300 ft/lbs pulls anything the rest of the truck is rated for. 16 mpg I get is acceptable to me. And like has already been said, they're super simple to work on if need be. All the tbi work trucks I've had went well past 300k miles, and still ran when they got sold.

 

[c1500deathtrap]

If you're talking stock i'll take vortec all day. MPFI and better flowing heads? yes please. If you're talking modified, who cares its all Gen 1 smallblock most of the parts interchange and once you ditch factory injection its anyone's game. Honestly when i look at a gmt400 i expect to be building a motor for it very soon. Since they're 20+ years old now.

 

[superdave]

209k miles on my Vortec 5.7, and running like new. Original poppet injectors still doing fine.

 

[chipskittles]

TBI is so much simpler and easier to work on and has tons of low end torque for doing truck things. First motor made it to about 280K before a head cracked. Yes, even TBI heads will crack.

 

[Sparkysikes]

92 G20 hightop van. Picked it up at a auction cheap. As it needed a new fuel filter. Wow! Other than that tho I've had to replace door gaskets and a starter. That's it. Still low mileage 110k. But with 3.08:1 AR I get about 18 on freeway at 75. And only 16 mpg at 65... Sitting pretty at torque curve at 75. 80 mph gets me 15 lol

 

[chipskittles]

I hate the 3.08 gears that my 94 came with. Stupid EPA

 

[kennythewelder]

I hate the 3.08 gears that my 94 came with. Stupid EPA

I have 342s and OE rims, so its a lot better than 308s. A mechanic I worked with years ago swore by 410s. He would put those in every truck he had. He said that 410s will make a 6 cylinder run good with OE tires anyway, but you gas millage goes way down. 342S not so much.