1993 350 TBI....want more power

Hello all, hope i can get some answers. I have a 1993 Chevy silverado 2500 ext cab short bed 4X4 with 148k on the motor. I have a 350 TBI. I would really like to increase the power in my truck. It seems a little bit sluggish for a stock 350. O yeah and 35 inch tires. I want to add bolt on power and a new TBI or a carburator. I am having trouble deciding what to do. now when i say sluggish i mean just dog slow...my best freind has a 94 1500 same motor with 33's and its alot faster. I just dont get it.. do the tires really make that much difference. Anyone with tips for performance i need em.

Secondly will 35 12.5 inch tires hurt my trransmisson? I heard that they do.

anybody at all?

i got a 89 tbi. i also would like more power. my friend said that i should be able to stand on it and smoke the tires, but it doesnt break em loose unless its cold or im tuirning. its almost like theres a 1 or 2 second delay when i step on it.

I dont know if 35's will hurt ur tranny.

Cold Air Intake would help throttle response GREATLY. check out this site
http://store.summitracing.com/product.asp?d=11&s=616&p=3803&searchtype=ecat

Someone once told me that if you increase the diameter of your tires it lowers the final gear ratio. Your truck was meant to have 15 or 16" tires so I think you are loosing a bit there. What gear ratio is in the truck now? If you don't know you can look up the codes glued into the glove box. I had the same truck and in order of performance increase:
Jet Performance chip either stage 1 or 2 depending on what you have done to your truck already. K&N FIPK filter charger. Edelbock Shorty headers and 3" exhaust pipe from the convertor back.
Sonny

edlebrock used to make a good TBI intake and Holly had a bigger throttle body- probably worth 20 hp together. Don't know if they are still available. Otherwise, some Vortec heads from a 97 350 will add about 40 horsepower by themselves. folks used to make these mods on the 91-93 chevy caprice copcars with basically the same motor you have. you'll need dual exhaust and since you have it apart, some headers would be a help too.

juma

Holley makes a TBI but it will not work for your truck. It's made for an older model. The throttle position sensor on the right side is all wrong for a 93...believe me I've tried it. Once you rewire the injectors, the TPS and if it doesn't run super rich then super...you got it to work. The only problem is the stock injectors can handle up to like 425 hp and the Holley is over kill...you won't notice a difference. The advice about the 97 Vortec heads is solid...but you have to buy a GM intake to make your TBI unit bolt on. Jet chip, K&N FIPK, Edelbrock headers and a flow through exhaust. That's the fairly inexpensive package. Then...add Vortec heads, GM intake and a new cam and you've got something. A March pulley package makes a difference but you might lose your AC at low RPM's and tear up the compressor. An electric fan makes a difference but when it's hot out and you get stuck in traffic you could over heat your engine.
Sonny

I have a 92 regular cab short box 1500 with the 350 TBI and power seems fine, it has a straigh exhaust, stock manifolds, no cat, no muffler and a shift kit, i think it has a different cam but i'm not sure cuz we've never done anything to it, but power for me is no problem. With the shift kit it will chirp in second, or if i floor it it will burn out all the way up to 45-50 mph, power brakes with ease. In the snow if i stop somewhere and apply the brake the rear wheels will spin, and on any surface except for pavement in 4Low it will spin all 4 wheels if im' hooked up to something, the amount of low end torque it has is very satisfying for me. when it shifts from second to third you can feel it accelerate even more, we've had it topped out at over 130 so i think it's got good power. but for more power for me I'm adding headers, a Venom 400 ECU, 1.6 roller rockers, an intake, and a TBI spacer. All in all i think those things together will add for a pretty powerful combo. But if you want bolt on, i'd go chip, ignition, headers, intake...that'd set you up pretty good :2cents:

I have a '93 1500 with a 5.7 and a 3:42 rear. Definately a turd. I added a K&N filter and a Street and Performance throttle body spacer. The spacer woke the truck up in a big way. A very noticeable improvement. A friend has a '94 with the 4.8 and he installed a Transdapt throttle body spacer and same for him. Pepped it right up. That's an inexpensive mod that pays off on the older trucks. Hope that helps.

hey guys thanks for your input. I greatly appreciate it. Can sonny or anyone tell me more about the vortec heads idea that sounds like a good spring project? I am not a big fan of headers, i have right now stock manifolds and about 2 and a half inch exhuast. Good sounding truck so far. I havent had time to inspect the truck fully as i work alot right now. The TBI spacer is a thought i have had before and the chip on ebay that i seen was like 8 bucks. does that chip actually do much...i mean 8 bucks seems too cheap, could just be me. V-10 viper said something about a shift kit too....any extra ideas on those? This is really great info and i am glad i posted on here. Really informative forum. O yeah I am also looking for a mild cam to throw in there. thanks guys and gals (if there are any)

the thing on ebay is just a paper clip wrapped with electrical tape to bypass your AIT sensor. some say it works some say it doesnt about like the MAF screen or TB bypass. do it yourself if you want to do it.

cool Okie....Anyone else?

again i have a 89 1500 singlecab. i want to be able to roast the tires to show up all the rice burners at my high school. qany ideas for low end power upgrades, and where i can get, how it works, etc.. thanks
Wade

I would really like one more mod page if you guys like this can be it too... the other one got pretty big. I am looking for people to post all the mods they have done, prices included if you want.

You might want to buy a crate engine from Summit Racing....

ya right, on my budget... i wish. but im gonna get exhaust, mines factory, and its got rustholes. any suggestions on the best buy?? im thinking gibson, but i have no experience. any suggestions? thanks

How much do you have to spend?? If you have around $300-$400, you can get an exhaust shop to run duels.

i have $315 right now, but in 2 weeks ill have like 450 or 500

i have $315 right now, but in 2 weeks ill have like 450 or 500. Do the shops make as good of stuff as big names?

vortec heads are a good investment. if you want to put a little time and money into it build a 383 stroker or get one crated just make sure you get a computer and chip with the right calibration or it will run like crap. k&n filter and headers help a little bit. most of the little bolt on things don't do much if you want real power it's gotta be built in. 383 vortec you'll smoke the tires right off with all the extra torque.

i have $315 right now, but in 2 weeks ill have like 450 or 500. Do the shops make as good of stuff as big names?
It's been my experience that the exhaust shops use heavier wall pipe, so it stands to reason that the exhaust will last alot longer. I personally have not had any problems with an exhaust shop doing my work... :2cents: Mike...