Building an engine need experience

[Diesel49]

I have a 95 350 1/2 ton 4x4. I finally lost my engine yesterday. I say finally because I have been waiting for it to happen for the past 2 years. I already installed a FLT trans with holeshot torque converter. The mechanical part of the engine is not the problem. I do not think I want to get into tuning myself and would have to do mail order because I cannot find one in Wyoming where I live. I do not use the truck a DD, I have a feild service truck for that. I use the truck for hunting, running around the mountains and towing my snowmachines. I have a GMPP 400ci block, rebuild factory block to 383 or just keep 350ci. I also was planning on using vortech heads. Any suggestions on a easily tuned combo would be great. Thanks.

[Doober]

If you haven't looked into it yet, check out www.dynamicefi.com. Far as I'm concerned it's the setup to use with TBI and OBDI in general - if you want to stay with factory electronics. There are other options out there that are 'easier' to tune - like the self-tuning setups out by FAST, MSD, Holley, etc. - but far as I'm concerned those are no fun, unless you just want something you can slap on and go without tinkering with... I like to tinker. The only 'drawback' you have is the fact you have a '95... '93 and later trucks have the 'E' trans (electronically controlled) which the EBL doesn't run - but it's still possible with a 2nd ECM, essentially dedicating one ECM to the engine and one to the trans - that is unless you have a 5-speed, in which case you're golden to use the EBL. Unless you have a lot of overlap on your cam causing a rumpitty rump idle, I wouldn't worry too much about tuning. The EBL more or less tunes itself as far as fuel requirements go, and your fuel setup is capable of the engine you built (with the right injector/pressure combo TBI can supply 500hp). I would say go for the 400 block and just get the Vortecs drilled for steam holes, and go with a cam between 210-220º on the intake, plus another 3-7º for exhaust.

[Diesel49]

I had done a little research on the EBL tuning and found it would not control the transmsission, (4L60E) do you have experience using two ecms, I am a feild service tech for a CAT dealer and am very familiar with ECMs talking together but how do you get the EBL ECM to tell the trans, the inputs it needs to operate properly, (TPS, vehicle speed, rpm, not sure what other inputs would be required) have you ever tried a mail order tune with factory electronics and do you feel the EBL is just easier to understand from the tuning side or does it offer other benefits, Thanks

[Doober]

They won't talk together, they work independent of each other. They share some sensor inputs but that's it.

[bigbuckdown1210]

i have a 95 ecsb 4x4 that has a 5.7 and 4l60e and i got an ebl a few months ago. the ebl will run your engine and your pcm will run the tranny . its not to bad to hook up. just take a little bit off time to hook up all the wires. it made a difference on mine and i just have a couple of mods done to tbi. better mpg and performance with the ebl.

[dromero5]

This might be of interest to you. I have worked with Brian for several years on chips. As long as you can datalog he will get it close. One thing i have noticed is we don't need near the fuel at high altitudes like back in NC where Brian lives.

http://www.tbichips.com/BURNSBEAST.htm

[Diesel49]

Living at 7500ft above sea level does make a huge difference in how things run, we use a set 21 percent loss at our elevation, that is for horsepower and cooling,

BIGBUCKDOWN, did you have to splice wires so that sensors could be divided between the 2 ecms

[bigbuckdown1210]

i cant remember what wires i had to splice into but Bob from dynamic efi sent me a sheet showing what wires went where. it really isnt to bad to hook up, just takes time to connect wires but it was worth it.

[bigbuckdown1210]

go to dynamicefi.com and click on information then ebl ecm wiring it shows you the wire conections

[93ChevyTBI]

This might be of interest to you. I have worked with Brian for several years on chips. As long as you can datalog he will get it close. One thing i have noticed is we don't need near the fuel at high altitudes like back in NC where Brian lives.

http://www.tbichips.com/BURNSBEAST.htm
I had the same cam in mine with vortec heads. Great for top end. Not so much for towing on a smaller 350. I don't miss it.

[Doober]

In all honesty that cam would be good with a 110º LSA instead of 114º. My cam has the same .050" figures, but is 110º and is in a 383. Idle is still smooth, torque is great, but again it's a 383 and has the stroke of a 400... which is typically where your torque comes from.

[Diesel49]

what is the difference between the factory ECM and the EBL. Is it just a faster ecm capable of more calculations, from what I can tell from sight it is just a more universal ECM and able to tune without removing chip.

[305guy]

what is the difference between the factory ECM and the EBL. Is it just a faster ecm capable of more calculations, from what I can tell from sight it is just a more universal ECM and able to tune without removing chip.

My understanding is that the EBL "learns" so you don't have to tune it by hand except to tweak the tune, also it's a flash-able type ecu like newer cars hav vs having to "burn" chips and remove/instal each time you try a new tune... I do not have an EBL but am looking into one an this is what I've come to understand from my research

[Doober]

It doesn't tune on its own, you still have to do learns - start a learn by selecting it via dropdown menu and choosing a file name, then driving a specific way - then stopping the learn and flashing the EBL. The EBL also has a lot of features the factory ECM doesn't.

[305guy]

Like what kind of features?

[305guy]

Like what kind of features?

[Doober]

They're listed on Dynamic's site...
RPM/MPH limiter
Valet mode (keeps other people from over revving/driving too fast)
Nitrous arm
Shift light
Data logging
Learn from wideband O2
Electric fan control
Boost reference

I'm sure there are more, but those were off the top of my head.

[Diesel49]

will they also learn spark curves by using knock sensor or are those all prgrammed

[Doober]

That's trial/error, and when the EBL logs knock counts you just pull back a couple degrees in that cell until it stops.

[93ChevyTBI]

I'be intereted in it if it would control the tranny. If I bought the EBL, I could just leave to stock ecm in for that?

[Doober]

You can leave the stock ECM in to control the trans, yes.

[Diesel49]

Has anybody experienced tuning 2 identical engines having large differences in final tune.