Log In | Register
Skip to main content
Topic: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350 (Read 1375 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #25 –
LOVE the "Brown Banded Turtle"!!!
2005 RB
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #26 –
Thank you for the kind words. I am now looking to locate the ECM for the Brown Banded Turtle's ECM. I need to have the chip modified to accommodate the impending changes, Does anyone know where the ECM is located in the G series chassis like the one used for the 1989 LD MMH

Tom Dangelo &
The Brown Banded Turtle
1989 22' G30
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #27 –
In the 1984 K5 blazer it was above the globe box.
Rodney
1988 Mid Bath
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #28 –
On my 1991 it’s on the bulkhead behind the drivers seat
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #29 –
Thanks for the responses I will take a look.

Tom Dangelo
"The Brown Banded Turtle"
1989 22' G30
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #30 –
Found the ECM and have ordered the chip that I need from TBICHIPS.com, Bryan Harris.  Using Trick Flow 170 Heads, Edelbrock TBI Intake manifold, Bored 1.840. Bored Throttle Body, Roller Camshaft, Lifters and roller tip rockers 1:6, and some other items.
Looking for 300HP+ with a load of low-end torque. I suppose the question will be asked why did I do all of this. The simplest answer: it appealed to me. Thank you, everyone, for answering the questions that I have asked "the mess".

We will see you one the road one of these days or perhaps at a Lazy Daze gathering.

Tom Dangelo
"The Brown Banded Turtle"
1989 22' G30
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #31 –
Quote from: cortezit  - 
I suppose the question will be asked why did I do all of this. The simplest answer: it appealed to me.

I'm look forward to crossing paths with you and taking a look at that now very special engine.   It sounds to me like your "new to you" Lazy Daze has found a good home.  Well done Tom.
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #32 –
All that is left to do is to install a new high-pressure fuel pump in the fuel tank, an inline fuel regulator and of course a fuel pressure gauge. I need to boost the fuel line pressure from 12 to 18 PSI. I also installed a 4-row cross flow all aluminum radiator, new water pump and all of the other stuff that you don't want to become a problem later while we are traveling.

I am still waiting for my new Hellwig front sway bar. It should ship this week. The factory had to make up one for the G30 chassis. We will see how well all of this works when I take it out on the road for the first "shakedown cruise".

Tom and the Brown Banded Turtle
1989 22' G30
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #33 –
I know this question will take us off topic, sorry I’m curious.....

Tom where will you be headed on your first “shake down cruise”?

Cynthia
Daughter of the first Lazy Bones
Hitting the road on my own and with a friend 🚐 while reporting back to the Lazy Bones at home 🛋

2 Lazy Bones - Home
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #34 –
Quote from: cortezit  - 
We will see how well all of this works when I take it out on the road for the first "shakedown cruise".

I'm looking forward to the "shakedown cruise" review.   Do you have a D-Day window for the big event?  It should be an exciting moment for you.
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #35 –
Quote from: cortezit  - 
All that is left to do is to install a new high-pressure fuel pump in the fuel tank, an inline fuel regulator and of course a fuel pressure gauge. I need to boost the fuel line pressure from 12 to 18 PSI.

What do you think it will do the quarter in?  ;)
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #39 –
I have no idea at this point "how fast it will do the quarter in" but it sounds pretty darned healthy. We are still waiting for the correct Hellwig front sway bar for the "Turtle". I am installing a tachometer this morning.  Looking for the comfortable " engine torque curve"  rpm range to travel in.

I will probably take the Turtle from Poulsbo Washington to Sequim Washington and back for its first run. We live in the Olympic Mountain Range so there are a couple of fairly steep grades that will give me a good idea of how much of an improvement there is over what I had originally.

The second run will be with my wife Sally along. We will either go to the "Ho rain forest" or to Leavenworth Washington, from Poulsbo, our base of operation.

Larry, it was a little bit of a challenge but nothing too drastic. As I said in an earlier post "all it takes is money to increase horsepower". It is kind of like having a favorite pair of cowboy boots that you would rather re-sole and re-heel than by a newer pair. :)

Tom and the "Brown Banded Turtle" (with a growl)
1989 22' G30
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #40 –
Well here is the initial report on the "Turtle shakedown cruise". The route I chose was to Forks Washingon and return. The occasion as the "Voices for Veterans" stand down that is held annually at the Elks Lodge, BPOE 2524 in Forks. This is where we take care of those homeless and "damaged" veterans who chose to answer our nations calling and have paid a price for their patriotism.

The one-way trip is 114 miles through some very hilly and semi=mountous terrain with some 9 and 10 % grades, winding narrow roads, along Creasent Lake which is heavily traveled by Logging trucks and tourists alike, and semi trucks.

I averaged 53 mph as my chosen speed. I bought the turtle to see the United Stated and not race through it as my family and I dis on more than one occasion while I was serving my 30 years of active Naval Service. Now is the time to appreciate. Engine tachometer was set at 3300 rpm by cruise control,I had more than enough torque and speed to run any of the grades, passing slower semi-trucks that were under load on the grades. I averaged just a tad under 9 mpg. Elevation changes of up to 1500 ft.

The suspension upgrades that I had done paid off in spades with little or no noticeable swaying when I passed the logging trucks, some of which were doing at least 65 mph with a full load. The drivers are paid by the loads hauled, and not by the hour, so they waste precious little time from pick up to delivery point. I sm most pleased with the outcome.

The desktop dyno estimate  is  a shade under 300 hp with 315 ft lbs of torque @ 3500 rpm if memory serves me correctly


Tom and "The Brown Banded Turtle"

1989 22' G30
 
Re: Horespower and torgue improvements to the small block Chevy 350
Reply #41 –
You may be surprised at what you get out of the 350 TBI, I certainly was. I live in the foothills of the San Juans in Colorado, grinding climbs topping out at 12,000 feet. I don't find the 350 underpowered- my basis of comparison is motorhomes with the 460 EFI powerplant. Mine cruises at 65 without having to work, and maintains speeds well on 6000 vertical foot climbs. Not a hot rod, but far better than I expected. I wouldn't know it is a small block just by driving it, unless I was wondering why I wasn't burning more fuel.

The TBI system is reliable, but near impossible to get power out of. The computer is a glorified calculator working off a very simple table for fueling that has near-zero ability to adapt to modifications, due to the basic nature of the system and the slow speed of the processor. In many ways, GM didn't tune the fuel injection, they detuned the engine to match what the FI was capable of.

Tuning the computer for mods is also very difficult, not so much a lost art as an art that was never really discovered. The computer in these is so slow that even communicating with it is a struggle, it runs abysmally slow serial speeds and so when datalogging, it can only give you a data snapshot once every several seconds, making it brutal to actually determine what the computer is seeing in operation.

I have pretty good experience with GM's 1st gen fuel injection, about 20 years ago I had an 11 second firebird running TPI, the performance fuel injection application. The TBI and TPI computers are similar in their lack of sophistication, with TPI's computer  slightly faster. Neither likes mods.

Headers and exhaust are pretty safe and will make power, but in my experience will mean pig rich WOT operation. Heads that flow better are brutal to dial in.

The LT1 camshaft from 93-97 F bodies is a reasonable performance upgrade and plays nice with computer programming with stock heads. Be careful with cams as the computer system hates cams with much overlap.

If you are looking at going beyond headers and maybe and LT1 cam, Aftermarket fuel management systems these days are really good at self- learning a good tune.

Down the road, if I need to build an engine for mine, I expect I will do a roller cam conversion (to not have to worry about flattening a cam lobe), install vortec heads, an LT1 or possibly LT4 cam, and an aftermarket FI setup, maybe something like a stealth ram. Most of the $$$ will be buying the FI system, the aftermarket ones are cheap while rebuilding a SBC definitely is. 
1989 MP