Question for my first swap

Fastfiveo2 · 10-25-2009, 04:49 PM

Hi, I'm new to the forums as far as posting. I have a few questions about the swap I am doing. First I'll tell you what I have. 1) A complete 1995 S-10 w/ a 4.3L Vortec tbi and no trans in almost excellent condition. Cost me $200. 2) A complete and excellent running 1994 C1500 with a 5.7L Vortec tbi.

Q1) I want to change the heads on the 350. Do I have to go back with tbi specific heads for that year model or does it make a difference?

Q2) When taking the computer from the 1500 and putting it in my s-10 do I keep my harness in my s-10 and replace the pins in my harness for the 350 wiring or do i have to swap the entire harness?

I'm sure I'll have more questions but for now that's all.

Maverick2664 · 10-25-2009, 09:46 PM

1) i wouldnt change the heads, the vortec heads are one of the best head designs that GM came up with before the switch to the LS family of engines... i would port them, but not change them... but to answer your question, yes you would have to find a certain style of head, im pretty sure the old style heads will not work on a vortec engine

2) you have to change the whole harness, use the harness and ECM that came with the engine

Fastfiveo2 · 10-25-2009, 10:44 PM

Ok, made a mistake on the 5.7. It's not a vortec just a standard 5.7 tbi. so are the heads woth it or should I just swap them completely?

Maverick2664 · 10-25-2009, 11:23 PM

oh probably not then, theyre probably low compression smog heads... aka junk... go ahead and change them out if you come across better ones

03blazer · 10-26-2009, 05:53 PM

Could always buy a set of Vortec heads and get the Vortec TBI Intake from Edelbrock.

One of my buddies done that on his Camaro and it made a noticable difference.

Fastfiveo2 · 10-27-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 03blazer

Could always buy a set of Vortec heads and get the Vortec TBI Intake from Edelbrock.

One of my buddies done that on his Camaro and it made a noticable difference.

I may do that then if I'll come out on the cheaper side. Trick-Flo has a set for my 350 for a grand. I'll definatly have to look into that.

firstgenon24s · 10-27-2009, 11:59 AM

If you do get a set of vortec heads and u dont buy them used,check them for cracks...I was looking for a set awhile back and I came across about 4 diff sets that had small cracks that was almost unnoticeable to the eye.I dont know if certain years were prone to cracking but I would def have them checked even if you dont see any cracks.

03blazer · 10-28-2009, 02:01 AM

You can get a brand new set of Vortec heads for about $500 from Summit... Not sure about the intake... I think it's around $180ish..

Fastfiveo2 · 10-28-2009, 07:34 AM

Yeah i will def have them checked. And thats not a bad price at all from summit.

Aftershoxxx · 10-28-2009, 10:06 AM

if u have a tbi truck with the computer under dash and got the motor from a fullsize with same computer location, u dont need to change wiring harnesses.

Fastfiveo2 · 10-28-2009, 01:09 PM

Ok?! So I don't have to change the harness now? My computer is in the cab. So I don't have to change the harness if they are in the cab on both trucks (which they are) or do they have to be in the cab and on the same side.

Maverick2664 · 10-28-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Fastfiveo2

Ok?! So I don't have to change the harness now? My computer is in the cab. So I don't have to change the harness if they are in the cab on both trucks (which they are) or do they have to be in the cab and on the same side.

no no no computer location doesnt really mean anything

if your truck is tbi and the engine is tbi, because the 4.3 tbi and the tbi on the 350's are extemely similar, you can adapt your stock harness to work, but any other form of fuel injection will not work like that

Fastfiveo2 · 10-28-2009, 09:22 PM

Ok, so the 4.3 in the S-10 is a Vortec motor and the 350 nfrom the 1500 full-size is a tbi 350 means I cant use the same computer correct. If I'm not mistaken the 95 S-10 with the vin of W used the L35 which is a multi port fuel injection engine so my computer work work on a tbi right?

Oh, i found a shot vortec 350 today that a friend of mine has lying around and he said i cold get the heads off of it. Will those heads work on my tbi 350?

Aftershoxxx · 10-28-2009, 09:23 PM

well computer location does make a difference cause that pertains to early model OBD-2 diagnostics, ur wiring harness will be almost straight plug and play, only thing i had to change wiring wise was extend the wires for the plug on the coil since it was on oppisite side of the intake. i did the same swap

Aftershoxxx · 10-28-2009, 09:25 PM

also the vortec heads will work, u'll need a vortec tbi manifold to adapt it

Arich0908 · 11-01-2009, 01:51 PM

Obd 1 goes to Obd1.
95 is 1&1/2
So just use the TBI from the 4.3 not the 350 its self and you will be good.
Use the injectors from the 350 and get the the ECM from the 4.3 reprogrammed for the 350 for that year.
Thats what im thinking but let some one else confirm.

Aftershoxxx · 11-01-2009, 02:19 PM

i just grabbed a ecm from same yr truck as ur s10, just picked it up out a suburban and no problem at all

10-25-2009, 04:49 PM	#1
Fastfiveo2 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Fitzgerald, GA User is: OffLine	Question for my first swap Hi, I'm new to the forums as far as posting. I have a few questions about the swap I am doing. First I'll tell you what I have. 1) A complete 1995 S-10 w/ a 4.3L Vortec tbi and no trans in almost excellent condition. Cost me $200. 2) A complete and excellent running 1994 C1500 with a 5.7L Vortec tbi. Q1) I want to change the heads on the 350. Do I have to go back with tbi specific heads for that year model or does it make a difference? Q2) When taking the computer from the 1500 and putting it in my s-10 do I keep my harness in my s-10 and replace the pins in my harness for the 350 wiring or do i have to swap the entire harness? I'm sure I'll have more questions but for now that's all.
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10-25-2009, 09:46 PM	#2
Maverick2664 Heavy Metal Body Man Age: 25 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,846 Location: Erie PA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap 1) i wouldnt change the heads, the vortec heads are one of the best head designs that GM came up with before the switch to the LS family of engines... i would port them, but not change them... but to answer your question, yes you would have to find a certain style of head, im pretty sure the old style heads will not work on a vortec engine 2) you have to change the whole harness, use the harness and ECM that came with the engine
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-25-2009, 10:44 PM	#3
Fastfiveo2 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Fitzgerald, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Ok, made a mistake on the 5.7. It's not a vortec just a standard 5.7 tbi. so are the heads woth it or should I just swap them completely?
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10-25-2009, 11:23 PM	#4
Maverick2664 Heavy Metal Body Man Age: 25 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,846 Location: Erie PA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap oh probably not then, theyre probably low compression smog heads... aka junk... go ahead and change them out if you come across better ones
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10-26-2009, 05:53 PM	#5
03blazer Gettin' ready for V8! Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 338 Location: Gulfport, MS User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Could always buy a set of Vortec heads and get the Vortec TBI Intake from Edelbrock. One of my buddies done that on his Camaro and it made a noticable difference.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 07:37 AM	#6
Fastfiveo2 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Fitzgerald, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Quote: Originally Posted by 03blazer Could always buy a set of Vortec heads and get the Vortec TBI Intake from Edelbrock. One of my buddies done that on his Camaro and it made a noticable difference. I may do that then if I'll come out on the cheaper side. Trick-Flo has a set for my 350 for a grand. I'll definatly have to look into that.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 11:59 AM	#7
firstgenon24s Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,696 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap If you do get a set of vortec heads and u dont buy them used,check them for cracks...I was looking for a set awhile back and I came across about 4 diff sets that had small cracks that was almost unnoticeable to the eye.I dont know if certain years were prone to cracking but I would def have them checked even if you dont see any cracks.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 02:01 AM	#8
03blazer Gettin' ready for V8! Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 338 Location: Gulfport, MS User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap You can get a brand new set of Vortec heads for about $500 from Summit... Not sure about the intake... I think it's around $180ish..
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 07:34 AM	#9
Fastfiveo2 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Fitzgerald, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Yeah i will def have them checked. And thats not a bad price at all from summit.
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10-28-2009, 10:06 AM	#10
Aftershoxxx Not rich, Just broke Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 672 Location: Alexandria, LA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap if u have a tbi truck with the computer under dash and got the motor from a fullsize with same computer location, u dont need to change wiring harnesses.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 01:09 PM	#11
Fastfiveo2 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Fitzgerald, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Ok?! So I don't have to change the harness now? My computer is in the cab. So I don't have to change the harness if they are in the cab on both trucks (which they are) or do they have to be in the cab and on the same side. Last edited by Fastfiveo2 : 10-28-2009 at 01:11 PM.
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10-28-2009, 01:17 PM	#12
Maverick2664 Heavy Metal Body Man Age: 25 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,846 Location: Erie PA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Quote: Originally Posted by Fastfiveo2 Ok?! So I don't have to change the harness now? My computer is in the cab. So I don't have to change the harness if they are in the cab on both trucks (which they are) or do they have to be in the cab and on the same side. no no no computer location doesnt really mean anything if your truck is tbi and the engine is tbi, because the 4.3 tbi and the tbi on the 350's are extemely similar, you can adapt your stock harness to work, but any other form of fuel injection will not work like that Last edited by Maverick2664 : 10-28-2009 at 01:19 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 09:22 PM	#13
Fastfiveo2 Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Fitzgerald, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Ok, so the 4.3 in the S-10 is a Vortec motor and the 350 nfrom the 1500 full-size is a tbi 350 means I cant use the same computer correct. If I'm not mistaken the 95 S-10 with the vin of W used the L35 which is a multi port fuel injection engine so my computer work work on a tbi right? Oh, i found a shot vortec 350 today that a friend of mine has lying around and he said i cold get the heads off of it. Will those heads work on my tbi 350?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 09:23 PM	#14
Aftershoxxx Not rich, Just broke Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 672 Location: Alexandria, LA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap well computer location does make a difference cause that pertains to early model OBD-2 diagnostics, ur wiring harness will be almost straight plug and play, only thing i had to change wiring wise was extend the wires for the plug on the coil since it was on oppisite side of the intake. i did the same swap
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 09:25 PM	#15
Aftershoxxx Not rich, Just broke Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 672 Location: Alexandria, LA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap also the vortec heads will work, u'll need a vortec tbi manifold to adapt it
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11-01-2009, 01:51 PM	#16
Arich0908 Registered User Age: 30 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 65 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap Obd 1 goes to Obd1. 95 is 1&1/2 So just use the TBI from the 4.3 not the 350 its self and you will be good. Use the injectors from the 350 and get the the ECM from the 4.3 reprogrammed for the 350 for that year. Thats what im thinking but let some one else confirm.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-01-2009, 02:19 PM	#17
Aftershoxxx Not rich, Just broke Age: 27 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 672 Location: Alexandria, LA User is: OffLine	Re: Question for my first swap i just grabbed a ecm from same yr truck as ur s10, just picked it up out a suburban and no problem at all
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