Thread: TBI swap 1990 pickup

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Originally Posted by sawking

Hello there I have a 350 motor in my pickup that is almost dead. I have a 355 that i overhauled about 2 years ago that I had in my mud drag pickup for two races then went to a big block. The 355 has stock heads with flat top pistons I don't know the cr of it. The cam only pulls about 15 inches of vaccum. Don't know the specs of it. But anyways can I put this older 355 in this newer pickup with a tbi adapter for the spreadbore intake. I have to buy a different tbi anyways for this pickup the linkage is wore out in the tbi unit. Or should I just put a carb on it. what do you guys think.

Doing the TBI would be easier, as you already have that on your 1990. Putting the older motor in the newer chevy will not be a problem. You should be able to use the intake that is currently on your 1990, and install it onto the 355 your putting into the truck. That way, all your EGR, wiring harnesses, throttlebody, and your throttle linkage will bolt right up no problem.
I have a 1988 chevy silverado, that I put a rebuilt 355 into, and thats exactly what I did, to keep the fuel injection. Its really simple and straight forward. Everything else should bolt up fine and all line up.

And if you wanted to run a carb, its possible and fairly simple. Doing TBI, since you already have it would be easier. But for the carb, you would need to have new throttle linkage, as your stock linkage is not long enough, and the mounting plate it currently has, will not match up with your current intake on the 355. You will have to extend your fuel lines about 5 inches to accomodate for the different location for fuel inlets and outlets on a carb. On your throttlebodie, they are right in the back side, but the carb they are on the passenger side. You will pretty much have to eliminate a lot of the computer wires, etc, as you will want to run a hot lead directly to the distributor. There is also a plugin for the timing advance, when with a TBI engine with the computer, you can just unplug it, set it at 34 degrees, and then plug it back in, and the computer will adjust vacuum.

IMO I would go TBI, as you already have it, carb you can make some good power, I think you would be less fuel efficient too, depending on how well its tuned, etc.

-cory