[Gmecm] SBC TBI intake to 86 and earlier ???

[Mike]

I haven't come across a TBI intake which will bolt on to 86 and earlier 
engines without modification.
Tried Edelbrocks website no luck any idea where to find one? P/N
Are 87-91 heads a direct fit to the 80-86 engine?  or do I have to machine 
or change out push rods

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Beau Blankenship" <ne14roxcj at gmail.com>
To: <gmecm at diy-efi.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 8:01 AM
Subject: RE: [Gmecm] SBC TBI intake to 86 and earlier ???


> Another option (that would look good and perform better) would be an
> aftermarket manifold from Edel, or Hly. You would have to have the intake
> off to drill the holes anyway, so why not just stick a new intake on there
> that was designed to fit right. Is it worth the extra cash? How much is 
> your
> time worth when you have to chase a vacuum leak or change the intake 
> gaskets
> because your "modified" intake is giving you problems.
>
> As for the heads, I would try to get some of the EFI heads from 87&up. 
> 80-86
> was a big "smog control era". The smog heads weren't good for much. I use
> mine for mock-ups. The castings were too thin in the bowl areas for any
> porting (as if that would help any), and on the "deck" for re-surfacing.
> Most performance engine builders will warn you away from those "smog"
> castings. The EFI heads were good for drivability, and can be lightly 
> ported
> to improve flow a little bit. For high RPM power, look to the older stuff.
> Muscle car heads. Double-humps, etc. There is a great book by David Vizard
> about selecting and modifying SBC heads. It's one of the PowerPro Series
> books. Pick up a copy of that, a die-grinder, some burr-bits, and some
> polishing stones, and make a weekend of it. Best to do this with some 
> heads
> that already need a rebuild, since they will when you get done.
>
> Beau
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gmecm-bounces at diy-efi.org [mailto:gmecm-bounces at diy-efi.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of jryan at caminofx.org
> Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 7:36 AM
> To: gmecm at diy-efi.org
> Subject: Re: [Gmecm] SBC TBI intake to 86 and earlier ???
>
> Redrilling the holes works, but it's ugly.  Without making special
> washers, you can't get much clamping force on the four center bolts
> (next to the carburetor/TBI mounting pad).  I drilled a TBI manifold
> to fit an '84 305, but I wouldn't do it again.  When I got a 350, I
> got an '87-later-style block and a new TBI manifold and bolted it on.
>
> The bolt angle was changed to make it easier to put a wrench on those
> bolt heads.  It makes a huge difference.
>
> TBI high-swirl heads are meant for high fuel economy and low-end
> torque.  I have them, and I am getting 20 mpg from a 350 in a 3500-lb.
> car that is not very streamlined.  Mine is a daily driver, though, so
> low-end torque and fuel economy are more important to me than top-end
> performance.
>
> For what it's worth, I get the same gas mileage from a 350 with TBI
> high-swirl heads and 9.2:1 static compression as I did from a worn out
> 305 with 8.6:1 compression.  Same car, same transmission and rear
> axle, same ECM, only the engine and PROM changed.
>
> Quoting Mike <sonoma at shaw.ca>:
>
>> Hi
>>
>>
>>
>> When I installed a throttle body on my friends old Chevy 350 we used
>>  an adapter.
>>
>> I didn't like the look of the adapter so I was going to use the TBI
>> intake and modify the center bolt holes for my pre-87 engine.
>>
>>
>>
>> After reading some of the messages here it sounds like there has
>> been some problems using the TBI intake on the earlier engines.
>>
>>
>>
>> What is your experience using this intake on an older small block chevy??
>>
>> Also I was curious which heads are better 80-86 or 87-91 truck heads
>>  or are they about the same??
>>
>>
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>
>
>
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