I Want More Power From My 1990 Suburban

John Boelte · February 18, 2008

As the thread title says, I want more power from my 1990 Suburban (350, TBI). I tow a 2000 LB boat and would like to get a much bigger boat in the future. My '93 S-10 Blazer seems to pull the boat up the hills better than my Suburban - I don't like that! I replaced the ignition system (module to spark plugs) and have replaced the fuel pump. I've got a new catalytic converter and am looking at a Flowmaster muffler to go with it.

If I replace the heads, cam, and intake manifold, can I still use the TBI or do I need to switch to a carb or aftermarket fuel injection system? Can the TBI be tuned? If I can't retain the TBI, maybe I could use L98 intake & fuel injection system?

Draenor · February 18, 2008

Edelbrock

I'd get one of there performer packages.

John Boelte · February 19, 2008

I had Edlebrock in mind, just wasn't sure about the TBI. I'm looking at the site now - it kinda looks like I can retain the TBI; that would be good.

thecraft · February 19, 2008

Depends on how much power you want to produce, if you want to go over 350hp, you'd probably be better of using some other form of induction better capable of supporting that much horsepower. With that said, that doesn't mean TBI can't handle 400+ horsepower.

John Boelte · February 20, 2008

I think the Edlebrock Performer package is what I'm looking for. 320 HP & 380 lb/ft shoud do a fine job pulling my boat! After a little bit of reading, I see that they have an intake manifold for the TBI.

Thank guys!

John Boelte · February 20, 2008

I think I'll go with the 3704 intake manifold, 60859 heads, and the 3702 cam.

tvickers · March 6, 2008

As the thread title says, I want more power from my 1990 Suburban (350, TBI). I tow a 2000 LB boat and would like to get a much bigger boat in the future. My '93 S-10 Blazer seems to pull the boat up the hills better than my Suburban - I don't like that! I replaced the ignition system (module to spark plugs) and have replaced the fuel pump. I've got a new catalytic converter and am looking at a Flowmaster muffler to go with it.

If I replace the heads, cam, and intake manifold, can I still use the TBI or do I need to switch to a carb or aftermarket fuel injection system? Can the TBI be tuned? If I can't retain the TBI, maybe I could use L98 intake & fuel injection system?

I tow a 7600 lb boat/trailer with my stock 1990 suburban. Try doing that with your S-10...I don't think so. If your S-10 is better with 2000 lbs then stick with your S-10

fr33kachu · March 10, 2008

I wish I could dyno my 1990 Chevy Standard cab but, I have to wait to get a new heavy duty built transmission. I have done a few mods on it. It has a bored tbi (50 MM), bigger injectors from a 454, a 1" crane cams tbi spacer, 2-1/4" injector pod spacers, a mild cam ( not sure which one as the guy did that before I got the truck), heads ported and polished, dual exhaust with flow masters and no cats, stage 2 chip, long tube headers, high flow air intake, smog pump crap removed, and is lowered and my guess it's somewhere around 390hp. and a s**t load of torque. I have raced it and stomped a tricked out Dodge neon SRT4, bad. Beat a new Dodge Hemi quad cab with exhaust and the best driver I know behind the wheel, beat a turboed cavalier '02 maybe, beat a ford lightning, a 454SS with an exhaust at the very least, and 2 late 90's to early 2000s mustang GTs. I did get beat by a S2000 honda in top end but, I had him off the line and up to about 85mph , maybe nitrous?