Chevy & GMC Vans

Well boys at times the best advise isn't necessarily the one you want to hear. My 1994 LT CPI hands down would have the Ole Yellar with only 50,000 miles on a fresh rebuild TBI for lunch everyday/any day.Gas mileage,power curve any of it.

What is convenient isn't what's the right way to go about things...........Ask about a certain member who was so old school had to have a carb that lived in Ohio.We all told him that was a mistake.And from the first day he got a tune on it he regretted not taking our advise.

Soooooooo you can do what you want.Take the advise I am giving and all those yrs I have to remind you of the experience I am offering or not.Doesn't really matter to me much.

I'm telling both of you that you are leaving alot on the table you could have had.

Oh.Gents,will never convince me that a TBI is the same thing or anywhere close to a TPI of any kind.Simple put it isn't.Them are the facts.

Well, I agree a more modern EFI is more efficient and will deliver more power. But with it comes complication. In my book, simplicity is important.

Personally, I'm a big fan of TBI. Nearly as simple and trouble-free as a carb, but with the drivability of EFI. While I don't want it on my '96 Safari, it is what I'm putting on my '74 Bronco... one of these days...

I like the way you think. To me if the fuel system was like totally 100% better in all aspects I might want to try it but everything I read about it was not impressive its a basic truck formatted system. I once had a 305 from an IROC camaro and I sold the TPI system and went with TBI for the same reasons. TPI looks real nice but it does not flow very good unless you have tons of cash to but better intake and such.

Mark.Sure does make it hard to make a good decision how to go about this swap when you don't know where your going to move to.But in general for emissions if you swap a later yr engine you have to have aleast what appears as the same emissions in place as the yr engine you swapped.That includes the induction system type.

Your somewhat right about OEM TPI's.They are not know for high RPM hp.But the bottom end they are very good for torque.The engine you got is such a advantage because I think it is in the yr range of L31 true Vortec's that had the highest output of the Vortec series with a SFI injection system.

5700

The Vortec 5700 L31 (Vin code 8th digit "R") is a V8 truck engine. Displacement is 5.7 L. It is the last production Generation I small-block from Chevrolet. The cylinder heads feature combustion chambers and intake ports very similar to those of the LT1 V8, but without the reverse-flow cooling. As such, the L31 head is compatible with all older small-blocks, and is a very popular upgrade. It offers the performance of more expensive heads, at a much lower cost. It does, however, require a specific intake manifold (a Vortec head has 8 bolts attaching the intake manifold as opposed to the traditional twelve bolts per head). The L31 was replaced by the 5.3 L 5300 LM7. The 2002 model year was the final year for the L31 5.7 L small block V-8 whose origins date back to 1955. The Vortec 5700 produces 255 hp (190 kW) to 350 hp (261 kW) at 4600 rpm and 330 lb·ft (447 N·m) to 350 lb·ft (475 N·m) of torque at 2800 rpm. It is currently being produced as a crate engine for marine applications and automotive hobbyists as the "ramjet 350" with minor modifications.


Here you see also you have to get/buy a Vortec spec intake to put any other manifold on it too.The TBI's are 12 bolt intakes at a different angle and the Vortec's are 8 bolt intakes.

The upgrade to OBD II has a much improved fuel curve to approach the ideal A/F ratio of 14.1 and a spark curve to match so more power stock and more gas mileage too.

Too bad you missed out on the 4L mainly because it's programed by the computer you didn't get to match up to the engine your swapping.The 4L is a greatly stronger trans then any 700R4 as well.Sure wish you would have pm'ed me before you let those things slip by you.To get a factory service manual for both and re-pin your harness I think you would have found very do-able.

Don't know if you know how lucky you are to have come across this yr engine.It is a prime find if done right.

Now about this B.S. of brow beating.Well there are very good reasons behind the advise I give as you can now SEE

I never said you were brow beating, as for the intake I am using the GMPP TBI for vortec intake with TBI. I have 5 or 6 TBI's in my shed , I have as many sets of injectors of different sizes. I have three 7747 ECM's in my shed. I even have a custom burned chip for a 305 V8 from a past project and my 700R4 is rebuilt with shift kit and corvette servo. I can't afford to throw all that away to upgrade to a fuel system and transmission just because its newer technology. The only thing I have to buy is the intake manifold. Anything else I have to buy for the swap I would still have to buy if I went the way your saying. Yet if I went the other way I would have to buy the trans, the harness,the PCM and some wire and the schematics. I live on a pension and I am not rich nor can I make extra money so this is the easiest & cheapest way to get my van back on the road.
Yeah sure I would love to have a better engine or trans hell I would love to have a 1969 Camaro but wishing does not fill the bank account. SO as much as I would like to do things other ways I am not in a position to do so. I appreciate any and all advice but as I said I can only do what I can do. Mark

Mark-depending on where you move,again,might steer you build plans with a induction system for emissions.No TBI's after the model yr engines of 1995.

Not trying to discourage you at all.This engine find is about as good as it gets.

I already have that taken care of , I have a former military friend that owns a shop in northern California we discussed the swap and he said not to worry. As long as I don't have headers, dual exhaust, a heavy polluter and tons of visible mods etc I am safe.

Gary, You mentioned having to buy a special manifold to install his TBI because of the new bolt pattern on Vortec heads?
if the "Special" manifold is expensive? It is just so cheap & easy to put a TBI adapter plate onto ANY 4bbl manifold, which I am sure are plentifull , even with the vortec pattern, and resonably cheap, even for "performance" brands, especially on Craiglist ! Why Worry?

Engine is in , should be running by end of week. Still need to install exhaust and coolant system. Update with pics soon I promise.

A sound clip would be Awesome !!!!
[youtube]Place it Here ! [/youtube]

yeah I should be able to do that I have a digital camera and I know my stepson (he's 11) knows how to do that.

markmitchinnh wrote:yeah I should be able to do that I have a digital camera and I know my stepson (he's 11) knows how to do that.

Yup , just ask your kids about the technological stuff, I can relate !! Lol...

I have a question for you, the 5.7 had approximately 130,000 miles on it when I got it and I replaced the following parts: oil pump,head bolts, oil pan gasket, head gaskets, oil filter adapter, intake and gaskets. the following parts are new too: belt, alternator, fuel injectors, coil, starter, and all tune up stuff. and the transmission was rebuilt recently with V8 parts and shift kit. would you drive this van across country? from NH to Ca?

Your asking me??!!
Jeeze I rarely get more than 40 Kilometers from home, and I drive beaters till they drop.
So, Ya, I'd be happy to drive that van anywhere, its gotta be better than what I'm driving !!
Lol...

lmao ok I guess maybe I should not have asked you lol