Project Polar Bear

[spudz]

Here is the pic of my GM crate vortec I put in my 96 z71. Notice the metal lower intake that contains a injector spyder with 8 individual injectors, Then a plastic upper intake that just holds a throttle body. NOT a TBI, just a throttle body with no injectors.

[thirdstreettito]

Well then please tell me how/why tons of people have done this. Everything I have read says that I can bolt on 96-00 350(vortec) heads and intake manifold and my TB will bolt right on.

[spudz]

I feel like your being short. I'm just trying to help and save you waisted money.. I dont care what everyone says.... you cant bolt your TBI to a factory vortec truck intake. even if you fabbed up a plate to go across ontop of where the plastic intake is... what are you going to do about the holes left by the injectors in the lower intake? Like I said, that pic you showed is an aftermarket edelbrock carb intake with a TBI adapter.... its not stock. anyways good luck and have fun.

[thirdstreettito]

I wasn't being short, just trying to figure out why out of the blue someone says something completely different. So, would it be cheapest for me to get a carb intake that fits Vortec heads and get a TBI to carb adapter?

[spudz]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

I wasn't being short, just trying to figure out why out of the blue someone says something completely different. So, would it be cheapest for me to get a carb intake that fits Vortec heads and get a TBI to carb adapter?

GM makes an intake, part number 12496821. GM parts direct sells this intake for 358.02 plus shipping.

you can get an edelbrock vortec carb intake for about 100 less. then you have to buy adapter etc. I would go with the GM intake if I were to do the swap.

[thirdstreettito]

Yeah, but damn thats a lot of money for an intake. Seriously.

[spudz]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Yeah, but damn thats a lot of money for an intake. Seriously.

I agree it is high. But its a narrow market they are selling to so they are gonna be a little more.. you can find used vortec carb intake for about 125-150.

[spudz]

some more info from here
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=12496821

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=vortec+tbi

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=vortec+tbi

[jb1016]

Not that you don't know it by now, but spudz is 100% right. If it were me (and I've thought about this swap a lot), I would try to find that GMPP TBI-to-Vortec intake used, but you'll probably be hunting for a while. At one point, there was a used one for sale on FSC, but that's been months ago. Even used, they're usually $200 at the very least.

[thirdstreettito]

So, the head gasket is still bad.

It had a shimmy in the front end I thought was a bad tierod. Dad drove it and thought it was a tire out of balance. So I ghost rode it to look at the tire. Front pass tires cords separated and it had a huge bubble in it. SO I threw on the 20+ year old spare. Darn thing is only 1" small and has no dry rot, and it wasn't totally flat, which was surprising. Also, when I had the old one off, it had a shiny present for me. A bolt, just like the rear pass tire HAS. I need tires bad.

[tallcrown]

Man.. No more Coffee please. I feel under pressure just reading this post. You jump from one thing to another and now you still have a bad head gasket and bad tires. Park it and count to 10 s l o w l y. Then figure out what direction to go.
Did you buy your Cop uniform yet?

[STOCKISH]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

So I ghost rode it to look at the tire. Front pass tires cords separated and it had a huge bubble in it

I have to call B.S. There is no way you "Ghost Rode" it on the passenger side to look at the front tire.

[thirdstreettito]

I did. I put it in drive and ran to the other side. Hard as hell. I dont lie, all truth. I realize I should have just jacked it up and spun the tire. Hindsight is 20/20.

[spudz]

The more you run it with the blown head gasket you are ruining your engine.....

[thirdstreettito]

I know, if you want to pay for it be my guest.

[406 Q-ship]

Great name for this project. My friend had a 1985 C20 Suburban that was white, called it the Fridgaire and even had that painted on the back of it (the F was in Fender Guitar style). It was large white metal box that had plenty of utility (the A/C even was cold....hmmm)......just like a frig!

[thirdstreettito]

Ok, I got a job at Walmart as a cart pusher, they are offering me the job tomorrow, they are very weird the way they do their process.

Also, I changed my oil today, Valvoline Full Synthetic with a Mobil1 filter. Bought a 15qt drain pan so I could do the oil change. Also forgot to put the fill cap back on and it got ran over by someone, so I had to buy another, all they had was chrome, lol. I now have a 2" circle of chrome under my hood...

Bought a spark plug gapper, gotta gap them to make sure they are all correct. I'll gap them at .35, which is best for TBI 350's.

I also finally figured out what I will do for an engine eventually. Vortec 383 with 46mm modded throttle body, should gain me 2-3mpg and go from 180hp to 315ish and 250tq to 405ish. All for less that $2500. I cant wait.

Also hope to be getting new tires this week or next.

[thirdstreettito]

I also will be ordering the flat stock to fix the from of my frame. I need 22"x2.25" .177" thick flat stock. Nobody has 2.25" .177 flat stock, so I'll just cut a little away from this: http://www.speedymetals.com/pc-4021-...ity-steel.aspx

It's only a hair thinner than the frame.

[86ktwenty]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

Well then please tell me how/why tons of people have done this. Everything I have read says that I can bolt on 96-00 350(vortec) heads and intake manifold and my TB will bolt right on.

Its fairly common to use a carb intake on the earlier 87-94 heads. The earlier engines, refered to as G-blocks, are often confused with the Vortec engines, because they use the same style valve covers. The main difference is the number of bolts holding the intake down. 12 for the G-block heads, 8 for the Vortec.

[thirdstreettito]

New tires.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=485069

I have a Monroe Steering Stabilizer needs to be installed.

Sway Bar Bushings shipped out today.

[thirdstreettito]

Steering stabilizer in. I drove to my friends(Sam) shop and he put it in for free. Great guy! Next Thursday when I get paid I'll get Sam to put in my swaybar bushings($30-$60 labor). Then on November 10th(payday) I'll order a muffler and Sam will put it on too($20-$40 labor).

[thirdstreettito]

Also, I think I'm going to do this eventually for my exhaust system.

http://www.ourdealsrock.net/64-815937.aspx

Cheapest I could find the 3" SS U-FIT.

[thirdstreettito]

Ordered a Summit Street & Strip Muffler on thursday. $40 shipped. Should be here by Wednesday.

[thirdstreettito]

Muffler got here on 10/29/11. I will put it on next Thursday/Friday(11/10). I replaced my spark plugs today. All 7. The third one back on the drivers side turns very tightly but wont come out. It hasnt even moved further out. I'm not sure if I should soak it often in WD40 and try it again or if I should just leave it until I get my vortec heads. The old plugs are all light brown. The old ones are Bosch Platinum crap. New ones are stock AC/Delco gapped at .035" like they should be.

Sway Bar Bushings still havent arrived.

[Mt Man Chad]

Try "PB blaster" and let it sit for a night should come out!