Vortec Head swap on my '92 TBI 350. Tuning questions.

[dave w]

I'll look around! And if I can't find it, Jegs has a few different styles of adapters I can use.

Based on personal experience, I could not give positive feedback, or recommend using the TBI adapter plate available here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-TBI-FU...cea44c&vxp=mtr

If it was made from aluminum, then I would think it would be a good product.

dave w

[jdyates]

Based on personal experience, I could not give positive feedback, or recommend using the TBI adapter plate available here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-TBI-FU...cea44c&vxp=mtr

If it was made from aluminum, then I would think it would be a good product.

dave w

Understood. So basically, make sure I get one made of aluminum or steel? Or the other way around? (Edit: reread, now i get you. Stay away from composite.)

also, what exactly is involved in the tuning of this beast? I mean what exactly needs to be done to maximize performance with what I have?

Spoke to Brian Harris at TBI chips, and he recommended I upgrade the fuel pump and regulator spring as well, totaling something like $300. My regulator spring is actually adjustable, shouldn't i be able to bump up pressure and call it good?

[EagleMark]

Spoke to Brian Harris at TBI chips,

There's your first mistake. We end up with many people who have dealt with him. Here's a few examples of his tunes and yes we can fix them:

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...ble-truck-soon

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...-proram-issues

http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...LMs-every-time!

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/g...chips-com.html

You'll end up with all the right advice here. If you want to learn to tune you'll find that here as well. If you don't have desire or time you can find someone to calibrate a chip for you to start with and data to fine tune it.

There's not much in a stock chip to help once you change to Vortec heads let alone a cam. Here's a primer on changes needed:
http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...odified-engine

[EagleMark]

Understood. So basically, make sure I get one made of aluminum or steel? Or the other way around? (Edit: reread, now i get you. Stay away from composite.)

I've never had a steel one work, they all have vacuum leaks and need gasket sealer on all sides! What a mess. Spend a couple dollars more and get a good aluminum adapter, never had any issues with any that Holley makes.

Dave W has already suggested more fuel pressure in first post to your thread. As far as how much? Depends on the engine build. A stock pump can get to about 15, after that you need to change pump to a TPI, early Vortec or aftermarket. They all look identical and bolt in place of stock TBI pump in tank.

[devind]

Spoke to Brian Harris at TBIchips, and he recommended I upgrade the fuel pump and regulator spring as well, totaling something like $300. My regulator spring is actually adjustable, shouldn't i be able to bump up pressure and call it good?

Please stay clear of TBIchips. I am speaking from experience. I wasted $300 going through him.

After having the issues with TBIchips I started searching the web and found this site.
In the end Dave w got me fixed up and I could not be more satisfied with his tuning and hours he has spent helping me understand the process.
I highly recommend you get with ether Dave or Mark they will take care of you. I assure you they will do you right and steer you in the right direction. If you hang around here long enough and ask some questions you can learn to do it yourself or at least be part of the process.

In 7 seven months I have gone from not even considering tuning a chip and being completely ignorant of the whole process to now being able to make minor changes and burning my own chips.

Again talk with Dave or Mark ether way I know they will do you right.

[jdyates]

Please stay clear of TBIchips. I am speaking from experience. I wasted $300 going through him.

After having the issues with TBIchips I started searching the web and found this site.
In the end Dave w got me fixed up and I could not be more satisfied with his tuning and hours he has spent helping me understand the process.
I highly recommend you get with ether Dave or Mark they will take care of you. I assure you they will do you right and steer you in the right direction. If you hang around here long enough and ask some questions you can learn to do it yourself or at least be part of the process.

In 7 seven months I have gone from not even considering tuning a chip and being completely ignorant of the whole process to now being able to make minor changes and burning my own chips.

Again talk with Dave or Mark ether way I know they will do you right.

Good to know, guys! This is going to be a very mild build. Just the heads, intake, and mild cam. I just figured it'd be best to have a chip made rather than trying to make the stock chip handle the changes.

[jdyates]

Update! Got the heads. Casting #062. Rebuilt, ported, polished, and painted black. All i need now is small stuff. Mainly the gasket set, carb to TBI adapter (about to be ordered), and new spark plugs.

Which brings me to my final question, what needs to be done as far as tuning to get her running 100%?

[jdyates]

PICS!





Recieved them already painted black. Thinking about doing my Valve covers red to match the scheme of my truck. Thoughts?



Preeeeeeetty!






Aaaaaand the Vortec "Sawtooth" casting mark.

[woody80z28]

I did this a couple of years ago. Spark & AE are the main things that need work. VE & PE also, but spark & AE will get it driveable. I'm running 20psi with a new regulator spring and TPI pump. I'm using the 1/4" steel adapter from TransDapt that I studded so the TBI bolts wouldn't bottom out on the intake pad. Have you decided on cam? I went LT1 roller for low end torque.

[dave w]

Which brings me to my final question, what needs to be done as far as tuning to get her running 100%?

Enough fuel flow / pressure. (I'm thinking 70 lbs / Hr @ 15 ~ 18 PSI)
Accurate BPW in the .bin file!!!! (Something close to stock +/- 5%, depends on injector flow)
Vortec Timing table ~ as a starting point (maybe more / maybe less)
TONS of AE & PE!
DATA LOG ~ Tune
DATA LOG ~ Tune
DATA LOG ~ Tune until your done

dave w

[1project2many]

just stay out of WOT and high RPM, there will not be enough fuel and it will be lean.

That'll be tough, but will do! Haha.

The first time it starts bucking and snorting from lack of fuel you'll decide it's easier than you think. ;).

[devind]

Based on personal experience, I could not give positive feedback, or recommend using the TBI adapter plate available here. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-TBI-FU...cea44c&vxp=mtr

If it was made from aluminum, then I would think it would be a good product.

dave w

I agree with you Dave,
I bought one of these and was not happy with it. It is made of a soft plastic and every time I checked the TBI bolt they were loose. The problem seemed to be as the plastic heated it softened allowing the thread inserts to move and losing.

[Greg300roller]

How do I put TBI heads on a Vortec short block

[Greg300roller]

I don't care about O2 sensor placement I need to know about the heads and timing and what not

[dave w]

I don't care about O2 sensor placement I need to know about the heads and timing and what not

I would use the TBI Timing Table and tune from there. I simply do not understand or know how to answer "what not".

dave w