putting vortec in a tbi truck

[Nick_gt]

I have a 95 chevy 350 truck. I want to put a vortec in the truck. Is there anything special that needs to be done?

[betterbeaters]

have to change wiring and computer I think to run the vortec..

[D60KING]

 Will need to change the fuel pump. 

[Nick_gt]

I've heard that you can just switch the intakes around

[betterbeaters]

so you wanna use tbi on vortec heads?

[ToughBowtieTruck]

For an engine swap, there is a lot needed to switch. The 95 harness is special one-year-only. EVERYTHING. Trans harness, all that. 96 and up Vortecs are a whole different computer system, and even use a different transmission. All the electronics would have to be swapped. Fuel pump is different. You'll also find a LOT of interior harness to be different, because 96 and up use an OBD-II diagnostic system where the 95 and lower is OBD-I. So some of the interior will have to be torn apart to swap and splice harnesses together.

IMO, it's way too much effort to be worth it . . .

*EDITED TO ADD CONTENT

[betterbeaters]

For an engine swap, there is a lot needed to switch. The 95 harness is special one-year-only. EVERYTHING. Trans harness, all that. 96 and up Vortecs are a whole different computer system, and even use a different transmission. All the electronics would have to be swapped.

IMO, it's way too much effort to be worth it . . .

I was hoping you would post. you know everything about them lol

[ToughBowtieTruck]

I was hoping you would post. you know everything about them lol

Well thank you! It comes from working on trucks of all different years, and parting lots of them out. Internet research, etc

[jaredw]

You can just change the heads and buy the special intake, put all your tbi back on and bam u have vortec heads. Still not worth it

[RIP_K52007]

For the work you would be better off swaping a 6.0 in out of a newer truck

[Disturban]

You can just change the heads and buy the special intake, put all your tbi back on and bam u have vortec heads. Still not worth it

I just did this very same thing except used the marine intake that has 2" bores and a 454 throttle body along with a cam and chip, yes it is worth it I can smoke a vortec and probably make a 6.0 sweat if not beat it!

If you just use vortec heads on a stock tbi 350 you still need a custom chip and adjust fuel pressure or it will run lean.

[jaredw]

sweet, did you get a custom chip burned or buy an off the shelf one.  how big of a cam can you run with a computer controlled motor.?

[jaredw]

For the work you would be better off swaping a 6.0 in out of a newer truck

This is what I am doing, I am going to run the edelbrock carb intake and the msd 6010 along with a LQ9 from a silverado ss or an escalade.

[Nick_gt]

My truck has a 4l60e trans. So if I use the voted heads with tbi intake and objectors it will work? Then get a custom map job for the computer

[jaredw]

You got it

[Disturban]

sweet, did you get a custom chip burned or buy an off the shelf one.  how big of a cam can you run with a computer controlled motor.?

Last tbi motor I built was in my suburban and I had brian at tbi chips burn it for me, it took about 10 burns to get it right, this time I bought an edelbrock cam and they have a chip that is designed to work with their preformer tbi package that includes heads, cam and intake, I only used their cam and vortec heads and marine intake yet got the chip for the performer package and it runs great, might be able to get another few hp out of it with a custom map and tune but why?

I am very happy with the way it perfoms right now and it all cost under $500 for all the parts. Vortec heads, edel cam, edel chip, marine intake, 454tbi, 65 lb/hr cop car injectors at 22psi and walbro 255 fuel pump, oh and adjustable fuel pressure regulator and thats it.