Tbi To Carb Swap

[Scorps]

I have an 88 5.0l TBI and I have had nothing but problems with the TBI first the gas mileage went to crap now its the rough idle on cold start until it gets warm. Now for my question is it easy to pull off the TBI and intake and replace with an after market intake and carb without problems, or will the computer stop me from doing this? I'm an old school guy that loves working with carbs mostly because its what I am good at.

[dzrick]

I want to watch for answers as well but I think something would need to be done about the computer.

[Zembonez]

I've seen some of the older trucks running a carb/intake and MSD ignition. It works but it's more expensive and less reliable than just fixing the TBI. That's a pretty simple system (in 88) to troubleshoot. I'd find somebody to at least give it a look before you open a can of worms..

[bill190]

Or might want to sell the newer vehicle and buy an older model with a carburetor.

[Scorps]

Or might want to sell the newer vehicle and buy an older model with a carburetor.

 

That will probably be the best bet, this current truck needs a lot of work. Was thinking about making it a project truck but they changed the emission here and 88 and up need to be tested every 2 years so I should maybe quick fix then drive it till it dies. Then get a 87 or older.

 

What was the last year the carb was available?

[kundog]

I have done this before...order a manifold for your engine or mod a older manifold...center bolt that is off-set is the only difference, either tie up the original wiring harness out of the way or remove most of the wires (I prefer to tie the wires up out of the way) and drop in an older distributor and attach power wire, figure a way to adapt fuel lines to carb and away you go. When I got my 92 Sierra, this is how I got it...I converted it back to TBI (fuel economy was HORRIBLE) the people that did the conversion just were not smart enough to figure it out.