Has anyone converted their 88 to 98 to a carb?

My 94 is fnnn horrible slow. doesnt help that i have 22s and adapters and use AC all the time in sunny AZ. Anyway, I have seen engines advertised for 3600 that will bolt in and be compatible with the computers in these trucks and put out about 360 hp. Which is a big difference from 210.


But for 3600 a guy could build more power if not limited by the fuel inj and computer system of these trucks.

I aint scared of emissions cause I have an address in northern az that doesnt require admissions. So has anyone pitched the computer and added power? What did you lose in the process?

Why not keep the shitty's engine stock for cruisin' and build the square for haulin' ass?

It was the first thought that popped into my head and I thought I would share. I'll bet Richard (someotherguy) will have something to add. He's smart.

Dammit Campy callin me out, now I gotta pretend so I can live up to that comment.

One big problem to overcome with ditching the computer on a 91-up 1 ton (or 8 lug 3/4) with an automatic is that the transmission is electronically controlled. There's really no good way around this other than getting a standalone controller for it (TCI, or one from a '93 6.5TD with 4L80E) or doing a hardcore mod to the trans to a full manual valve body. Or.....if you're a standard then obviously there's less of a problem...

So your engine is a stock 7.4 TBI? It's in good shape, fully tuned up, timing is set right, fuel pressure is good, etc? BTW a '94 454 has a higher fuel pressure spec than the previous years, they changed injectors and upped the pressure, no longer 9~13 psi spec like a small block TBI.. it's 26-32 psi.

Oh wait, you said 210HP? It's a 5.7? OK, now I feel your pain, honestly I dunno why they'd small block a crew cab dually, seems like marginally enough torque to me.

There's a lot of gotchas switching over to carb but they can be overcome, just depends on what you want to spend and how much BS you're willing to put up with. Making the transmission work right, speedometer work, cruise work (if you care), all add on top of what you're spending for an engine.

If your engine is still in good shape there's plenty of mods you can do to up the power and retain the fuel injection. You might wanna look at going to a 383. Or chunk that mouse and stick a rat under the hood...

It's too bad Whipple doesn't offer the older supercharger kits anymore; their TBI setup was pretty nice.

Richard

My brother did the 383 swap in his 94, it's a 1/2 ton 4x4. Never been terribly impressed, it's not bad but thought it should be better, but the only thing he did was put cai, headers and exhaust. Never did anything to the computer and I think he needs to to wake it up.

According to his garage the truck has a 454 in it, but that should be more than 210 horsepower.

Yeah if you make any significant mods you gotta adjust for them with the tune or you'll never get the benefit. Helps if you work closely with a tuner and let them help you pick the parts combination you use or it's really a big crapshoot and you're lucky if it runs right at all, nevermind getting more power.

OK so if his garage page says it's a 7.4, then yeah it's like 230hp but a lot more torque than a small block. It really should be enough to move the truck around just fine, I'd say check the state of tune, esp fuel pressure, make sure it's running as best it can before thinking about replacing it.

Richard

See...

That's what I keep telling him. But he has all these ideas that he thinks will help he wants to do first before he gets the tune.

For your buddy with the 383 on the stock tune, hell, the tune is the FIRST thing I would have considered. I wouldn't have bought a single engine part without talking w/a good tuner first. Those guys have written code for a lot of different combinations and should have some good ideas about what delivers the goods, and what is just hype...as well as good/bad combos of parts. Most of us are hip that it takes a combination of parts, not just throwing stuff at an engine, for it to work well. What some people overlook is that when you're talking EFI, the tune is a huge part of that combination.

Richard

That's what I keep telling him.

yeah its the 454. It may be real tired,cause it wont get out of its own way. Runs fine, just no power. I think I did basic tunning like wires and plugs and cap and such. didnt touch the timing. But this thing is a pig. almost goes backwards with the ac on towing something.

Now some of that has to do with a gear swap to 373s. but It lacked power even before the swap. In fact my small block 2000 suburban pulled better than this pos. I have a couple o big blocks lying around...just not sure the cheapest alternative for the most power.