My 383 TBI project
- Thread starter Doober
- Start date
- Status
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
If/when I convert it I'm thinking of trying to make up my own setup that works similar to this... shortens shifts and will definitely get a few looks to boot 8)
The trans currently in the truck won't hold up forever, so I'm thinking of collecting the parts, and try to take it easy on the trans until I'm ready for the swap. Originally I was considering buying a core 4L60 & having it rebuilt to handle the extra power, but I'd much rather take the opportunity to swap in a 5-speed.
If/when I convert it I'm thinking of trying to make up my own setup that works similar to this... shortens shifts and will definitely get a few looks to boot 8)
The trans currently in the truck won't hold up forever, so I'm thinking of collecting the parts, and try to take it easy on the trans until I'm ready for the swap. Originally I was considering buying a core 4L60 & having it rebuilt to handle the extra power, but I'd much rather take the opportunity to swap in a 5-speed.
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
Took the block, it's getting cleaned & bores checked. Afterward if all's well I'll probably bring it back home and clean up the lifter valley like T-Bone did... then it's time to decide if I want hypereutectic or forged and get the required clearance work done on the block (if any). I can probably go ahead & at least order the intake... I still need to gather some other parts too :? Distributor, dipstick, gasket set, headers, etc.
Took the block, it's getting cleaned & bores checked. Afterward if all's well I'll probably bring it back home and clean up the lifter valley like T-Bone did... then it's time to decide if I want hypereutectic or forged and get the required clearance work done on the block (if any). I can probably go ahead & at least order the intake... I still need to gather some other parts too :? Distributor, dipstick, gasket set, headers, etc.
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
cool project Darren. Just a thought tho, maybe your NEXT project should come from AZ 😀 LOL I couldn't resist!
cool project Darren. Just a thought tho, maybe your NEXT project should come from AZ 😀 LOL I couldn't resist!
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
True, and it most likely will. I couldn't bring myself to sell this truck though, I've only had it a few years and I try not to go from car to car to car. If all goes as planned the rust will be all taken care of & I won't need to worry about it ever again.
True, and it most likely will. I couldn't bring myself to sell this truck though, I've only had it a few years and I try not to go from car to car to car. If all goes as planned the rust will be all taken care of & I won't need to worry about it ever again.
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
So what are you getting for a rotating assembly? I just found a Vortec 350 longblock for cheap money, guy says it needs a crank. Really considering it to build up for my rig. I'll just need a 1 piece main flywheel.
So what are you getting for a rotating assembly? I just found a Vortec 350 longblock for cheap money, guy says it needs a crank. Really considering it to build up for my rig. I'll just need a 1 piece main flywheel.
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
I'm looking at Scat with the entry level forged pistons (Keith Black)... if I ever hear back from the machine shop, they've had it for over a week now, supposed to be cleaned and checked
I'm looking at Scat with the entry level forged pistons (Keith Black)... if I ever hear back from the machine shop, they've had it for over a week now, supposed to be cleaned and checked
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
Oh dear, I haven't updated this in a while...
Decided to go with some 9.6:1 Speed Pros, the shop was able to get them in a .020" over. Block is going to be cleaned/bored (if it hasn't been already). I'm starting to think he stiffed me on the price with the shopping I've done on the rotating assembly, probably going to be a conversation subject next time we talk. Kind of at a standstill on the heads right now, my dad's making a tool to pull the stock studs and align a tap for screw-in studs, and I still have to order springs and retainers.
Some pics of the port work
I took this one so you could see the little bit of casting I left in place. I felt it would aid in keeping velocity up and promoting swirl as the air/fuel mix approached the ramp. I could be wrong, I guess we'll see after everything is together.
Proposed regulator setup (block-off plate installed in place of original regulator)
I'll likely be getting a stock Vortec pump, considering they're designed to run at 60-65psi and this setup probably won't break 25-30.
The additional ECM and EBL setup should be arriving sometime today, then I can get to work putting all that together.
I still have a lot of little things to do before this swap will be 100% ready.
Oh dear, I haven't updated this in a while...
Decided to go with some 9.6:1 Speed Pros, the shop was able to get them in a .020" over. Block is going to be cleaned/bored (if it hasn't been already). I'm starting to think he stiffed me on the price with the shopping I've done on the rotating assembly, probably going to be a conversation subject next time we talk. Kind of at a standstill on the heads right now, my dad's making a tool to pull the stock studs and align a tap for screw-in studs, and I still have to order springs and retainers.
Some pics of the port work
I took this one so you could see the little bit of casting I left in place. I felt it would aid in keeping velocity up and promoting swirl as the air/fuel mix approached the ramp. I could be wrong, I guess we'll see after everything is together.
Proposed regulator setup (block-off plate installed in place of original regulator)
I'll likely be getting a stock Vortec pump, considering they're designed to run at 60-65psi and this setup probably won't break 25-30.
The additional ECM and EBL setup should be arriving sometime today, then I can get to work putting all that together.
I still have a lot of little things to do before this swap will be 100% ready.
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
Well the EBL is pretty much ready. I just have to trim the top of the case via the instructions, bolt it together & it's ready to go. I have a USB-serial adapter cable on the way from Newegg, hopefully it'll be here Monday (shipped from California, arrived in Phoenix 12:40am yesterday). I'll most likely be putting it in Friday, it'll give me a little time to get everything set up/flashed on it. Long story short, if you're planning on doing this, GET A SMALL TORCH. The solder joints will be a pain in your butt if you don't have one, because it's dang near impossible to desolder them all evenly. I picked up a desoldering tool from Radio Shack due to another part, so it's possible that will work, but if it doesn't, just use the torch. I used one of these (it was pressurized, not the typical lighter-type):
Well the EBL is pretty much ready. I just have to trim the top of the case via the instructions, bolt it together & it's ready to go. I have a USB-serial adapter cable on the way from Newegg, hopefully it'll be here Monday (shipped from California, arrived in Phoenix 12:40am yesterday). I'll most likely be putting it in Friday, it'll give me a little time to get everything set up/flashed on it. Long story short, if you're planning on doing this, GET A SMALL TORCH. The solder joints will be a pain in your butt if you don't have one, because it's dang near impossible to desolder them all evenly. I picked up a desoldering tool from Radio Shack due to another part, so it's possible that will work, but if it doesn't, just use the torch. I used one of these (it was pressurized, not the typical lighter-type):
Re: My 383 TBI project (TB383I)
Wow I never updated this sucker...
In an nutshell, it's running 😉 The block was bored .020" over, and it got a set of Speed Pro pistons (~9.6:1 w/ 64cc head). The rotating assembly came from Scat and was balanced at the shop, which also supplied the rings. I had to file the rings for proper gap... this is where the blueprinting process can save your engine. I had a huge variance in gaps, and some were way below spec for even a stock engine. So those were filed to proper gap. I got a Comp 08-412-8 (XR264HR - 212º/218º @ .050", .487"/.495", 110º LSA) cam and went with stock roller cam parts. There was no way the throttle body I had would flow the air or fuel I needed, so I picked up a 454 throttle body, and wound up having to get a set of 80lb. injectors later because the ones in the throttle body were only about 45lbs. I also got an adjustable replacement FPR off ebay, which also is capable of being converted to vacuum reference. The TBI pump wasn't going to keep, so I went with a '96-'97 Vortec pump, which is a drop-in deal. I also got a wideband setup from http://www.dynamicefi.com which made tuning WORLDS easier. I passed emissions first time around back in January, and put about 10,000 miles on the engine before I picked up a set of Vortec heads. I did some mild porting on them (very little porting to be done on these heads as they flow excellent as-cast) and put them on with a GMPP intake. I've put 2-3,000 miles on it since and it pulls way harder than it did with the TBI heads, which are only good to 325hp at best. Remember me mentioning the vacuum reference part of the regulator? Well, with the pressure I was running the fuel at, idle was erratic because above 18psi or so (stock is 13-15psi) the high flow injectors can't control fuel that precisely while at idle because of the low pulse width... so I tapped the pre-drilled hole for a fitting and started to run vacuum reference. Now pressure is around 18psi at idle and rises to 23psi. This has made idle quality much better. It drives like a stock truck until you mash the go pedal. Unfortunately I've been biding my time with the original trans, so I have yet to really make a full throttle 0-60, the trans takes forever to pull the engine down into 2nd. I'd love to pick up a core trans and build one myself, but I don't really have the facilities (let alone $) to do it right now.
http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn11 ... ierra/383/
And this is basically all I did to the Vortecs, besides polishing the chambers (always a good move with ANY head):
I may put a slightly bigger cam in it one day, but right now it runs just fine with the 3.08s, pulls like a freight train from idle to 5k 🙂
Wow I never updated this sucker...
In an nutshell, it's running 😉 The block was bored .020" over, and it got a set of Speed Pro pistons (~9.6:1 w/ 64cc head). The rotating assembly came from Scat and was balanced at the shop, which also supplied the rings. I had to file the rings for proper gap... this is where the blueprinting process can save your engine. I had a huge variance in gaps, and some were way below spec for even a stock engine. So those were filed to proper gap. I got a Comp 08-412-8 (XR264HR - 212º/218º @ .050", .487"/.495", 110º LSA) cam and went with stock roller cam parts. There was no way the throttle body I had would flow the air or fuel I needed, so I picked up a 454 throttle body, and wound up having to get a set of 80lb. injectors later because the ones in the throttle body were only about 45lbs. I also got an adjustable replacement FPR off ebay, which also is capable of being converted to vacuum reference. The TBI pump wasn't going to keep, so I went with a '96-'97 Vortec pump, which is a drop-in deal. I also got a wideband setup from http://www.dynamicefi.com which made tuning WORLDS easier. I passed emissions first time around back in January, and put about 10,000 miles on the engine before I picked up a set of Vortec heads. I did some mild porting on them (very little porting to be done on these heads as they flow excellent as-cast) and put them on with a GMPP intake. I've put 2-3,000 miles on it since and it pulls way harder than it did with the TBI heads, which are only good to 325hp at best. Remember me mentioning the vacuum reference part of the regulator? Well, with the pressure I was running the fuel at, idle was erratic because above 18psi or so (stock is 13-15psi) the high flow injectors can't control fuel that precisely while at idle because of the low pulse width... so I tapped the pre-drilled hole for a fitting and started to run vacuum reference. Now pressure is around 18psi at idle and rises to 23psi. This has made idle quality much better. It drives like a stock truck until you mash the go pedal. Unfortunately I've been biding my time with the original trans, so I have yet to really make a full throttle 0-60, the trans takes forever to pull the engine down into 2nd. I'd love to pick up a core trans and build one myself, but I don't really have the facilities (let alone $) to do it right now.
http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn11 ... ierra/383/
And this is basically all I did to the Vortecs, besides polishing the chambers (always a good move with ANY head):
I may put a slightly bigger cam in it one day, but right now it runs just fine with the 3.08s, pulls like a freight train from idle to 5k 🙂
- Status
Similar threads
