need some guidance, engine swap/rebuild time

[rickg86]

Hey, truck is a 91 ecsb with 305, has 357,000 km on it, engine is very tired to say the least.
Its my only vehicle, so I can't afford to much downtime.

Here's what I was thinking so far. Read and let me know what options would be better or whatever suggestions you might have.

Buying tbi 350 out of a 94 yukon for 100$ canadian, has 300k on it but ran good when taken out of truck. Gonna buy summit rebuild kit and have a buddy do the work for me, assuming no machine work is required.

And here is where I don't know what to do, as I think I have some electrical issues with my tbi system.
I don't know if I should re-use my stock tbi or switch to carb as it would be cheaper and easier I think?.

My budget is very tight right now as I just started a new job and the wife isn't working due to school.

[907 Chevy]

You're on the right track I think with buying the motor and rebuilding it if you're constrained by limited downtime available and a tight budget.
Switching to carb because of some electrical bugs in the TBI system would be a bad idea IMO.It would be simpler and cheaper to diagnose and fix whatever problem there is,rather than sacrificing driveability and worsening fuel economy by switching to carb...My .02

[rickg86]

I see you're point, I was just thinking it would be easier. Specially if I aim for any aDded power later on.

Another question, federal mogul rebuild kits from summit.. They worth while? Prices seem great, but how is the quality?

[94_c/1500]

If you do keep TBI you will have to use injectors for a 350. As long as you are keeping the motor stock you might as well keep the TBI. You already have everything for TBI so its not going to be cheaper then switching to a carb unless you can get an intake and carb really cheap.
Sacrificing driveability and fuel economy? If you know what you are doing that won't happen with a carb.
Federal Mogul is a good company. Ever heard of the companies Speed Pro or Fel Pro? Federal Mogul own them along with many other companies.
If money is tight, maybe you should just leave your motor alone? Why do you think it needs replaced?

[rickg86]

Well like I said, the km's are high as hell, and I think a bearing is gone as it sometimes sounds like a diesel. (I'm no mechanic but I think that's a sign of spun bearing?).

[94_c/1500]

Well like I said, the km's are high as hell, and I think a bearing is gone as it sometimes sounds like a diesel. (I'm no mechanic but I think that's a sign of spun bearing?).

If it sounds like a diesel, then with what experience I've had with that, that sounds like bad rings and/or worn cylinders. A leakdown test would tell you for sure.

[rickg86]

Oh, also. As the diesel like sound comes more frequently, so does the poor 305's need to stall. If I put it in gear without slightly touching the throttle it just dies, maybe you are right about the rings? Either way, rebuild or replace would solve the issue. Wich is why I figured I'd just get right to that. After all like I said. 376,000 km is a long life. And I plan on keeping the truck for a few years, so investing in the new engine just seems like the right idea.

[NeverFastEnough]

Well what is wrong or leading you to suspect you have problems with the TBI system(I mean other then the fact its a stock TBI system). Might be a easy/cheap fix? Honestly if your TBI system is good enough still hooking your old wiring harness into your new motor and throttle body would probably be easier then switching it over to carb just because all you really have to do is plug it in. Personally if it were me though I would just get a intake, a HEI distributer, return style fuel pressure regulator, and a 4 barrel Especially if you are planning to do something to the motor later on down the road and want to get some more power out of it. What trans does it have?

[94_c/1500]

I wouldn't consider 376,000 KM an excessive amount. They usually last a little longer then that. I've seen alot of these trucks with over 250,000 miles and a few with over 300,000 miles.

I've heard about some with over 400,000 miles, but I haven't seen one and I'm sure they were very well maintained.

[94_c/1500]

Do you have any engine codes?

[rickg86]

Naw, I don't have engine codes. Nor do I know what tranny it is. I know the engine I might get is the 350 out of a 94 yukon.

I'm new to the whole chevy game, so I'm learning as I go. (Drove hondas for the last 6 years)

And the reason "I think" I have a tbi issue, is. Well my friend told me it was one issue I had. Being the stock tbi, they are prone to many problems he said. Without pointing out what the exact problem was.
How do I know what tranny I have? Is there a code cast into the casing? Also.. How much does a tranny rebuild go for? Just out of curiousity.

[NeverFastEnough]

Well in that case I wouldn't be totally sold that there is a problem with your TBI at the moment if all he said is they are prone to problems. I also can't say I've heard of alot of problems with them. As for the transmisson questions, My knowledge of that is pretty thin, I don't know the best way to find out what tranny it is for sure or how much a rebuild would go for, also because that would depend on the tranny. I know lots of times people will just buy a used tranny if theres is going bad. But is the trans a auto or a manual. The reason I ask is because when going from tbi to carb, if you have a auto trans like a 4l60E (I'm doubting your 91 has it because I don't think they came out with the E series trans' until the vortecs) it is run off of the computer that also runs your fuel injection. Also if you go the carbed way, your going to need a new intake, make sure the carbed intake fits your TBI heads before you buy it! Some do and I believe some don't.

[rickg86]

Its auto, but like you said, I don't think its controlled by the computer.
And I need a new intake anyway, while changing intake gasket we had.. An issue I guess, with the one coolant fitting. Won't get into details about trhat... But yeah, if I swap to carb, I was thinking about the summit "horsepower tv bang for the buck" setup. Comes with carb, intake cam ects for just over 500$ but then again, a guy I went to school with, his dad owns a wreckers, so I'm gonna try and get some stuff for cheap cheap.

[NeverFastEnough]

Yea I don't think it should be and if it isn't its nothing to worry about. I haven't heard of that setup and I don't have any experience with the Summit parts, but it sounds like a pretty good deal. Yea, You might be able to find a old 80's truck that's wrecked with a ol' Q-jet on it with the intake, heads, and the HEI for almost nothing at your friends dads, though I'm not sure of my standpoint on the old Quadrajets, I've heard good and bad (I think I'd go aftermarket anyway). If you do go with the carb if you have any swap meets around, I would definitely give them a chance, you can usually find some good used intakes and carbs for a decent price.

[Busted Knuckles]

If you want that 350 to run good, you'd probably better plan on a bit of machine work. There's sure to be some cylinder wear and with nothing but a deglazing and new rings, you'll have blowby and you're likely to be disappointed. Have it bored (or honed) to .020 over and get some new pistons and rings for it along with bearings, etc. and have it balanced. My 400 had no ridge at the top and I had it torque plate honed to .020 over (saved the $$ from boring) and I had the decks cut to .005 over zero. Parts aside, one of the highest priorities when building an engine is good machine work - there's no substitute for it.
While you're having the machine work done, make a few phone calls and find someone who knows what they're talking about with the TBI. You can chase your tail and spend all your money trying to find a problem versus spending a few bucks with someone who knows what they're doing. BTDT. There's no reason a TBI can't work well, there are millions of 'em on the road. Get that issue resolved BEFORE you drop a newly rebuilt engine in. If it's running rich and flooding the cylinders, you'll glaze 'em quick and be right back where you started with poor ring seal. I've torn TBI engines down with 150K miles and they still had factory hone marks visible, but these were operating properly.
By the way, tell your buddy that carburetors are problematic!!!

[94_c/1500]

1991 was the first year for the 4L60E according to Chilton. I can't confirm this, but I do know it came out in the early '90s. The easiest way to tell is to look at your throttle body. Is there a cable other then the throttle cable going to the throttle body? The 700R4 uses a TV cable and the 4L60E doesn't.
If you have a 4L60E, then you will need a TPS sensor on the carb so the transmission still works. The only person I know of that has done this would be FastOrange on GMT400.com
You would only need to change the intake and the distributor if you went with a carb. The TBI heads will work, but I beleive you have mess with a couple bolt holes.

TBI is a good system, especially for a stock dailly driver. It is the simpliest efi system that I'm aware of. They don't have major problems. It seems like keeping TBI would be the cheapest. And depeding on how bad you messed up the intake, it may be fixable.

[NeverFastEnough]

tell your buddy that carburetors are problematic!!!

If you don't know what your doing.

[rickg86]

****, yeah I have 3 , one for throttle, one for cruize and one goes to the tranny I guess. So my tranny won't work then without modifying ?

[94_c/1500]

****, yeah I have 3 , one for throttle, one for cruize and one goes to the tranny I guess. So my tranny won't work then without modifying ?

If you have a cable going to the throttle body, then that means you have a 700R4. Which is the nonelectriconic version. It would be much easier using a carb with this transmission.

A few people on here are doing that, fast 95 is.

[NeverFastEnough]

So then all he'd really have to do is hook that cable back up the same way only to the carb? Right?