My son just bought a 96 350 Vortec engine. He wants to put it in his 89 Chev 4x4 with a throttle body injection. Does someone make a manifold to run a throttle body injection on a Vortec engine. Or are there any stock parts such as a marine carb manifold for the Vortec that a throttle body would fit on? Thanks Brian
I don't know but I have a good 88 throttle body engine you can hear run that I'll take $500 for. Chad
Not an expert, but I would not think there would be an application for this. GM does make manifolds for a carb conversion from GM Performance. I suppose he wants to keep his current wiring, ecu, etc. That would be the easiest way of course, just not sure anyone would bother to accomodate in the aftermarket..... Good luck though.
GM performance does offer a manifold for this,last time i checked it was around 300 bones.Something I always wanted to do though,lol.
You can find the marine manifolds on ebay sometimes, but the GMPP Vortec - > TBI manifold is the easiest to just bolt-up and go. They're pricey, (here's one at Summit for $350, ouch), but they're literally bolt-ons and supposedly work well. Been contemplating the same swap for my 95 GMC as it should break the 275k mileage mark on the way home today...on the stock motor and tranny. Keep in mind the TBI computer is a simple creature, and may not be able to keep up the pace with the much better Vortec motor - might want to budget in a chip of some sort. Or, since your truck is an 88 and doesn't have a computer controlled tranny, a carb swap is very simple. I don't have that luxury since I have the 4l60E, or I'd be putting in a carbed 400. If the truck was originally a 305, it will need the bigger injectors from a 350 or even 454 TBI. Since I'm a newb, I'll take this chance to whore out a pic of my truck: Can't figure out if I should freshen up the drivetrain and keep it, or sell it and build something cooler. I really want a 69-72 Chebby with a Cad500.
As has been said, GM performance parts sells an intake to go from vortec heads to a TPI setup. Will work like a charm.
I know a guy who had an adapter to use tbi on a $100 weiand, 1/2" plate steel, use the gasket for each end as a template, counter sink holes for allen head bolts, cut out the center, done. If you have access to a mill, even easier!
GM part # 12496821 It says this manifold is designed for TBI to fit Vortec heads. I just happen to have a GM performance parts catalogue on my desk. I hope this helps.
that GM manifold is the way to go if you're trying to keep it cheap and simple. another thing to look at while you're in there is try to use the vortec exh manifolds, unless your state's smog laws won't let you...then just get some smog legal summit headers for $150. the hypertech powercharger, dubbed the 'soup bowl' actually does make a considerable airflow improvement in the throttle body. the way the chevy TBI is setup it really makes the airflow restrictive. another thing you'll want is a chip. I like the Jet SixPack chip, it gives you six different, selectable 'chip' programs to run...lets you select between economy, towing, Stage 1 and Stage 2 performance, valet mode, and security. sounds like maybe more than you want to spend but for $1k you can get Edelbrock's TBI to MPFI conversion, I've used a couple and for a stock replacement application it works really good. It uses the throttle blades from the TBI unit for the throttle/air valve and has 8 individual, electronic injectors. even though it's a bank-bank EFI, it's still way more efficient than the TBI style of streaming fuel onto the throttle blades. starts nice, runs GREAT and gets better power and mileage. I've used this setup on a stock vortec engine and I've used it on a set of AFR heads/comp roller cam in a '95 truck(this one required a custom computer tune) but it worked great.
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