engine setup

flyboy367 · 05-23-2009, 01:47 AM

over the years i have built many motors for horsepower for my camaros novas etc. i recently got in an accident where someone decided that crossing 2 lanes of traffic to make a right turn was a good idea and totaled my car. while im waiting for the insurence bs to finish up i found a nice 95 gmc 1500 4x4 ext cab 5spd. it has a fresh 350 and clutch in it. i was wondering what some base setups are for this motor in a truck. i know tq will be more helpfull then hp here. i plan to go about 4" of suspention and some 35's.

my basic plan is to go exhaust and headers first. i have a high flow aluminum waterpump already from a build i never finished. i also have a set of 1:6 roller rockers. i dont feel like ripping the motor out so stock cam will do for now. i thought about changing the heads but not sure where to go and want to stay low budget like maybe a set of tpi heads and do some port work and valve cutting. i also wanted to know if anyone uses the edlebrock mpfi conversion. this looks like it would up the powerband.

75K30 · 05-23-2009, 07:18 AM

Welcome to the site.

If you are limting yourself to the stock cam, then dont bother with any head changes. You wont realize the full potential of the heads without a more aggressive cam profile. A new cam can be installed with the engine in the vehicle.
Looks like you are gonna have the pump off anyway, so you are almost there.
Be carefull with the larger rockers on the stock springs as coil bind might become an issue. You dont want to create more of a problem.
Cant help you with the FI conversion, as I have never used this.
As far as getting the best bang for your buck, you can perfrom the basics such as headers and exhaust on your ride but you will recieve the greatest benifits from a proper gear selection.
For your 35 inch tires, you will be set with some 4.56's. You will have great acceleration and the best overall performance.

Sneakysportsman · 05-24-2009, 04:01 PM

Your better off to pull the engine to do a cam swap in a 4X4. First the oil pan will not come completely out due to the insufficient space between the crank and the front axle. You will never get all the sealing surfaces clean enough to completely re seal with new gaskets. A learned expierience.

Any engine mods require a reprogram of the ECM. Some people can burn a chip if you follow their motor set up exact. More compression means more fuel, timing and so on.
Edelbrock conversion kits do not justify the price to HP difference, plus you have to buy A $300 chip from them to run the set-up. Another learned expierience.

The cheapest and best bang for the buck is this,
Vortec 64cc heads, STD valves or 202-160 you chose.
Buy a gm perf TBI 2 Vortec intake, plug the EGR port and plumbing. OR, you can re drill the vortec heads to accept your Original TBI intake, BUT it takes time and patience to do this, I have done it with no problem, even ported the TBI intake to make a more closer port match.

You will need a chip to do this, Hypertech makes chip that will work this set-up as long as you use an 18-22 psi fuel press spring from TBI chips, Don't get a chip from them it won't work. All the chip does is electronically advance the time 4 DEGREE. Add a little fuel spray time, and change your shift points. You can advance it on the motor but the computer will reset when you plug up the timing wire back up. Add a set of full length headers and a true dual exhaust.

I have tried every TBI engine mod out there, even run a Holley 600 carb with a modified TPS because the auto trans wouldn't shift with out certian readings from certian sensors. But you have a manual trans so you could go completely carb and still run all accesories and never know the difference.

I have the software to burn and read all chips on the market today and they do very little to change the performance of your engine, the biggest notice is a fisad of the engine reving up to higher rpms due to the increase in shift points.

I have several threads and post on 95 modifications. Read them and you will get more info.

P.S. 25 hp is not a good trade for $1300 MPFI set up. You can even run a TPI set up and get more and better results for a lot less.

05-23-2009, 01:47 AM	#1
flyboy367 Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 7	engine setup over the years i have built many motors for horsepower for my camaros novas etc. i recently got in an accident where someone decided that crossing 2 lanes of traffic to make a right turn was a good idea and totaled my car. while im waiting for the insurence bs to finish up i found a nice 95 gmc 1500 4x4 ext cab 5spd. it has a fresh 350 and clutch in it. i was wondering what some base setups are for this motor in a truck. i know tq will be more helpfull then hp here. i plan to go about 4" of suspention and some 35's. my basic plan is to go exhaust and headers first. i have a high flow aluminum waterpump already from a build i never finished. i also have a set of 1:6 roller rockers. i dont feel like ripping the motor out so stock cam will do for now. i thought about changing the heads but not sure where to go and want to stay low budget like maybe a set of tpi heads and do some port work and valve cutting. i also wanted to know if anyone uses the edlebrock mpfi conversion. this looks like it would up the powerband.

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05-23-2009, 07:18 AM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,292	Welcome to the site. If you are limting yourself to the stock cam, then dont bother with any head changes. You wont realize the full potential of the heads without a more aggressive cam profile. A new cam can be installed with the engine in the vehicle. Looks like you are gonna have the pump off anyway, so you are almost there. Be carefull with the larger rockers on the stock springs as coil bind might become an issue. You dont want to create more of a problem. Cant help you with the FI conversion, as I have never used this. As far as getting the best bang for your buck, you can perfrom the basics such as headers and exhaust on your ride but you will recieve the greatest benifits from a proper gear selection. For your 35 inch tires, you will be set with some 4.56's. You will have great acceleration and the best overall performance.

05-24-2009, 04:01 PM	#3
Sneakysportsman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 299	Your better off to pull the engine to do a cam swap in a 4X4. First the oil pan will not come completely out due to the insufficient space between the crank and the front axle. You will never get all the sealing surfaces clean enough to completely re seal with new gaskets. A learned expierience. Any engine mods require a reprogram of the ECM. Some people can burn a chip if you follow their motor set up exact. More compression means more fuel, timing and so on. Edelbrock conversion kits do not justify the price to HP difference, plus you have to buy A $300 chip from them to run the set-up. Another learned expierience. The cheapest and best bang for the buck is this, Vortec 64cc heads, STD valves or 202-160 you chose. Buy a gm perf TBI 2 Vortec intake, plug the EGR port and plumbing. OR, you can re drill the vortec heads to accept your Original TBI intake, BUT it takes time and patience to do this, I have done it with no problem, even ported the TBI intake to make a more closer port match. You will need a chip to do this, Hypertech makes chip that will work this set-up as long as you use an 18-22 psi fuel press spring from TBI chips, Don't get a chip from them it won't work. All the chip does is electronically advance the time 4 DEGREE. Add a little fuel spray time, and change your shift points. You can advance it on the motor but the computer will reset when you plug up the timing wire back up. Add a set of full length headers and a true dual exhaust. I have tried every TBI engine mod out there, even run a Holley 600 carb with a modified TPS because the auto trans wouldn't shift with out certian readings from certian sensors. But you have a manual trans so you could go completely carb and still run all accesories and never know the difference. I have the software to burn and read all chips on the market today and they do very little to change the performance of your engine, the biggest notice is a fisad of the engine reving up to higher rpms due to the increase in shift points. I have several threads and post on 95 modifications. Read them and you will get more info. P.S. 25 hp is not a good trade for $1300 MPFI set up. You can even run a TPI set up and get more and better results for a lot less.