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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

OT: motor swap 88 suburban

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iceman

09-12-2003 14:08:23




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My truck needs a motor
It's a 350 "K" motor, throtle body F.I.
I would like to use a "crate" motor and a dual port intake manifold, and holly vacuum secondery carberator.
will the computer allow this?
how would this be done??




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tortmort

09-13-2003 07:17:30




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 Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-12-2003 14:08:23  
Scoggins Dicky has TBI crate motors. You could go with Vortec heads, Chip, K&N air system and headers/exhust and get way more power. Check out SDPC2000.com



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iceman

09-13-2003 06:31:54




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 Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-12-2003 14:08:23  
Thanks for all the comments. This system has had numerous driveability issues. Numererous techs (including Mr. goodwrench)have failed to get it right. Currently the low end power is poor, but when it hits 2800-to 3000 RPM it comes on real strong.
When cold it pops through the intake. With 160,000 miles on it I would like to squeeze a little more from it. The timing chain shows no sign of slop, but it acts like a timing issue.
The only thing I haven't changed is the computer.
I hate to throw parts at a problem.
Thanks again....mike

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Super A Man

09-14-2003 18:54:05




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 Re: Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-13-2003 06:31:54  
How does it run at idle? On a friend's 90 GMC he trew about all the replacement sensors, egr, etc. at it until he found a metering spring in the throttle body was broken. I can't remember what it's called, but that fixed the problem. They seem to be universal, cause we borrowed on from a blazer v-6 throttle body to fix it. His engine also had poor low end power, but it idled horribly. Just about had to keep pressue on the gas pedal to keep it running. If you are determined to switch engines. I agree with the others stay with FI if it's a daily driver. Otherwise you will have to disconnect all the computer stuff and run it with 1970's technology. Change distributor to HEI with vaccum advance, and no computer lead. It will work, but TBI is better for everyday use, and you don't have to buy as many parts to make the change. One word of warning, if you do get a crate engine or replacement engine from what ever source, and stay with TBI, make absolutely sure it is an 1987 or newer engine, or at least the heads are 1987 and up. The older blocks are generally the same, except for the two piece rear main seal on the old ones and 1 piece on the new. But if you've got an 85 or older heads, intake bolts in the center are angled different, and an 88 TBI manifold will not bolt up. also in 1987 they changed to the center bolt valve cover rather than the ones with 4 bolts on the edges. Sorry for the long post, just trying to give some good info. I'm not an expert, but I've worked on switched out, etc. a lot of small block Chevy engines, and ran into a few things here and there. If I can give you any other help, email me.

Kevin

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Kevin

09-14-2003 12:02:30




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 Re: Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-13-2003 06:31:54  
Have you checked for Distributor shaft slop? Otherwise sounds like camshaft to me also.



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Jailkeeper

09-13-2003 17:10:42




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 Re: Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-13-2003 06:31:54  
I've seen a lot of smallblocks pop back thru the intake due to bad camshafts. This could be your problem, but surely the GM mechanics would have picked up on that.

I bought a reman. engine for my 89 GMC P/U from Powersource Engines about 2 years ago. They delivered it to my house in less than a week for $1194 + a $500 core charge, which was refunded after they picked up my old engine. I was really impressed with the price and quality. It had a 3 yr./100,000 mile warranty.

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Hal/WA

09-12-2003 20:13:28




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 Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-12-2003 14:08:23  
That 350 Chevy is about the cheapest engine to get a rebuild on and I always thought the TBI worked really good on the Chevys I have driven. Decent power and very reliable--a relatively simple computerized system.

Of course it would be possible to put in a carbuerated engine and make it work, but I bet it would cost a lot more than sticking with the TBI. I think I have read about crate motors that are designed to work with TBI and give more power and still pass emissions examination. I doubt that anything you did would allow a carbuerated engine pass the sniffer test, much less a visual exam. You might end up with a Suburban that you could not drive on the road.....

It is possible to put almost any engine in almost any chassis if you work hard enough and want to spend the time and money. But lots of swaps are not very practical. In my opinion, with the relatively late model vehicles, it is not a good idea to mess with them very much if they will ever need to go through emission inspection.

Carbs don't always work right either and new ones have really gotten expensive. Over the years I have rebuilt many carbs and also have worked on fuel injected vehicles. I have about decided that the EFI systems are the way to go--and the GM TBI is about the simplest system around.

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Kevin

09-12-2003 16:48:12




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 Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-12-2003 14:08:23  
If you are giving up on FI, then you need to give up the computer also. You will not pass emissions without the FI anyway. THe Distributor would have to be changed to an earlier style or aftermarket along with the carb switch. Most people boost their HP by retaining the FI, but putting a larger mass air flow/throttle body and a hyper chip in them with a KN air snorkle. Good for 25-30 HP and will pass emissions, but pricey.

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Jailkeeper

09-12-2003 14:37:49




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 Re: OT: motor swap 88 suburban in reply to iceman, 09-12-2003 14:08:23  
Just my opinion but going from fuel inj. to a carburetor is like trading tractors for horses isn't it?

I think your fuel mileage will suffer with a carb setup.

As for the computer, it has to function in a "closed loop" or it will not perform 100%. Meaning the exhaust oxygen sensor sends a signal to the computer, which compensates timing and fuel delivery. If the fuel injection is no longer present, the comp. will be constantly trying to do something with the timing.

I'm sure it's probably been done before but I sure don't see any benefit to it. If power is what you're looking for, there are many ways of boosting HP on these trucks.

You can check out GMTrucks.com, they have a forum with lots of good info there, but you do have to register with a user name. It doesn't take very long though and it's a great site, just like this one.

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