96 350 vortec go carb or stock efi?? i need help deciding

[96seirra]

in middle of a dilemma. 3 years ago i took apart my baby to swap from the stock fuel injection to a polished intake and carb setup mainly for show. 3 years later all i have is truck in a million peices. Not in over my head by any means. Got married and have had 2 kids since then. two weeks ago purchased a wrecked 2000 escalade everthing under the hood is in perfect working condition with 125k miles. So with my back against the wall do i continue to do what i set out to do have the firewall shaved, clean the **** out of the block, install the polished intake and carb? Or do i just swap everything from the escalade and just go back with the stock maze of wiring that i hated to pop my hood and show at car shows?

With the carb setup i have so many questions throttle linkage, shifter linkage, can i wire in stock gauges, serpentine belt system with A/C delete? maybe someone has the almighty answer? probably not!

http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss179/lowridinseirra/sittnintheyard.jpg

I can explain more later this evening

[speedjunkie]

I think that you would gain more power out of a carb set up do to the lacking of the flow of the stock efi intake.

[96seirra]

thanks for the input but not terribly concerned about power output. Mainly how swapping the electronic tranny out for a turbo 350 and how linkage would work and a kickdown cable not sure about any of these things. need an old head or somone that has been down this road to give me some input

[Everaith]

carb is easy, and looks better. with efi, you have the wiring to work with, then if u want to add hp, you have to look at tuning, and trying to mess with the computer to get it to run right if you do any engine work. you cant even time a vortec csfi engine without a computer. then if it breaks down? the amount of sensors that could be the problem? if a carbed engine has a running problem, its usually really easy to figure out. for a daily driver that is mostly stock, efi is great. for a custom truck like yours, if you already have a carb setup, thats what i would stick with. plus, if you want to add hp, it will be wayyy easier not having to deal with the computer. and i would assume you could use a steering column out of a 94 and older chevy that actually uses a shift linkage. not sure tho. and i believe the serp system will still bolt to the front of the engine.

[414banger]

carb is the way to go in my opinion too i have a 98 ecsb with a 305 pushing 240000 miles still runs great but i am currently building a big cam 383 stroker motor to throw in it as far as a transmission the 4l60e will still shift if a few of the sensors are still plugged in but not sure which ones u can also get a stand alne controller for the trans to shift myself i am going to switch to either a manual or a built 700r4 by the way good looking truck

[SimpleGreen]

I swapped to carburetor in my '93 C1500 when I had my 355 built. Hated it.

Sold all that and put in a 5.3L and 4L60E out of a 2002 Silverado. Best thing I ever did.

Personal preference...but I'd rather EFI any day.

[96seirra]

carb is easy, and looks better. with efi, you have the wiring to work with, then if u want to add hp, you have to look at tuning, and trying to mess with the computer to get it to run right if you do any engine work. you cant even time a vortec csfi engine without a computer. then if it breaks down? the amount of sensors that could be the problem? if a carbed engine has a running problem, its usually really easy to figure out. for a daily driver that is mostly stock, efi is great. for a custom truck like yours, if you already have a carb setup, thats what i would stick with. plus, if you want to add hp, it will be wayyy easier not having to deal with the computer. and i would assume you could use a steering column out of a 94 and older chevy that actually uses a shift linkage. not sure tho. and i believe the serp system will still bolt to the front of the engine.

never thought about actually changing out the whole column. how does it align up to the newer dash? that would solve my shifting linkage problems if i went with the turbo 350 or even the 700r4.

would really like to keep my 4l60e then theres no changing linkages not to mention i already have mine that i know is in good shape it was rebuilt about 40k miles before i took it apart. Is there anyone on here that is running a stand alone kit with a electronic tranny and carbed vortec? did some research a while back right around same time i started this adventure and recall someone saying that you had to manually shift it with the column and i would really like to avoid that. other then that i have everything else other then a nice polished air breather ir anyone had some ideas for that. almost certain with all this being said im leaning more towards the carb setup. i would definitly want some headers anybody know of some headers that will fit in like factory but without the air inlet on driverside for emissions, need to keep it stock length because i've had the down pipes cut to fit inside the frame rails so i can't go any longer or it will rub the pavement.

thanks for all the help and the complements. I brought the truck to work and am tired of pushing it in and out everyday, and am definitly ready to drag some pavement again. Time to put it back on the trailer and take it to my man for him to weld up the firewall like i had intended to do originally.

[96seirra]

i dont even want to post pictures of it the way it is now. Damn near makes my stomach hurt just looking at it.

[87montecarlomrc]

Carb is the way to go in my opinion, it's not to much work to change it over, and I would go with the 700r4 cause you can pick them up for alittle of nothing, the gauges are the only thing that I'm not for sure about but it's been done many times


89 silverado stepside, stock 350 edlebrock performer intake, holley carb, lowered with 2" shackles for now 3/4 in the near future