454 vortec to carb conversion what parts are needed and how does it run?

[@VIP854]

I have an ACES Killshot I may do this with. I know you mentioned it in a comment but would really appreciate a more in depth overview with the conversion like going over the wiring you had to do and showing the connections for visual reference.

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@VIP854 no problem I'm going to do a video on what you need for the carb swap ..but I just put a killshot and quickdraw on the truck recently..in the process of tuning it now..but I've done that carb swap a bunch so anything you want to know just ask..but I'll post a video as well

[@VIP854]

@@tandjperformancesouthflorida thats awesome thank you! I plan to get the quickdraw as well if I dont manual swap.

[@jasonmoravec2527]

That’s an awesome conversion.

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

Thanks..I'll be posting a few more videos of getting it dialed in

[@mobilemowers]

Cool. What wire did you use to get the tach working ? Other video was to use the tach lead out the hei to power the fuel pump. Some say use an old colored injector wire to power the hei itself. Id love to hard wire / steel line all the way to the fuel regulator. How you get the trans to work and speedo ? I know a tuning shop that can make a chip to do that trans. Some say the trans just works on some early years ..Then some say you need the oil sensors plugged in for the fuel pump to turn on. No complete guides about wirings, plumbing ect. Still trying to figure it out myself on my 94.. I'll have to make a complete guide then.

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@mobilemowers purple wire to starter solenoid..pink coil wire to hei for 12 volts while cranking..white wire to tach terminal on hei..vortec trucks don't have the fuel pump going thru the oil pressure sender..my speedo doesn't work cause the harness burnt up ..I use a manual controller to shift the transmission and a toggle switch for the lockup converter ..only way to have the transmission shift is with a stand alone controller..or a tps sensor on the carb wired into the transmission so the transmission knows pedal position to shift correctly as well as tachometer and speed signal as well

[@GMCOldsRichmond]

I’ve done this swap. Truck has nv4500. 750 vac secondary. Runs very well awesome throttle response. Only problem is I live up in a cold winter climate and no heat crossover in heads can cause the odd issue. But still starts in -30 lol.

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@GMCOldsRichmond yes sir..no choke just let her warm up a few and she's ready to work..never had a choke on anything when I lived in NY

[@natee537]

I'm doing the same thing I'm having problems with my fuel pump tho how did you get consistent pressure mine will work then it'll stop I'm jumping the + and - from the fuel pump relay

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@natee537 the gray wire coming out of the underhood fuse box is the fuel pump wire..I ran my own relay to the gray wire running the ground and power direct to the battery and I used an injector wire from the factory harness to provide 12 volts while cranking to turn the relay on..I used a 40 Amp relay with a 30 Amp fuse on the battery positive feeding the relay..comes on with the key and works great

[@jasonmoravec2527]

Would love to know the fuel mileage. If it changes it anyway

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

I'll let you know..still tuning on it at the moment..but I'll definitely do a comparison

[@daltinsimmons880]

How is a square intake port gonna work when the orginal vortec intake is oval ports?

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@daltinsimmons880 bolts right up and works fine ...used old style big block square port intake gaskets with the 2 Xtra holes on each side for intake bolts ..no issues since it's been together..runs great

[@Desert_guy]

Sorry to hear an old horse, got a part number or which Amazon intake you used?

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@Desert_guy any square port intake will work..all depends on what your preference is and if your going to go in the engine and upgrade the cam or heads..I used a dual plane intake for more low end torque for a power band from off idle to about 4500 rpm

[@jamessindle]

What about the back water ports

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@jamessindle what about them..everything lines up perfect no cooling issues ..no water in the oil..I just plugged the 2 ports in the intake ..you could run a line from side to side if you wanted to but it's not necessary

[@jamessindle]

So you plugged all four of them or just the 2 in the back

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@jamessindle all 4 unless your running heat..then you'd leave the passenger front open for the heater hose fitting..I'm in Florida..no heat needed..lol

[@jhomrich89]

Just curious what was the reason for converting it to a carburator?

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@jhomrich89 harness burnt up real bad..I needed the truck the ASAP so I carb swapped it..it runs great and has good power ..I thought about a painless harness for the vortec..it's about 600 bucks..but I'm leaning towards an aftermarket engine management system to go back to fuel injection here in the future..using the carb intake and hei distributor..tbi style most likely..also there aren't alot of carb swaps on the vortec 454 online..so I did a couple of videos on the swap for anyone wanting to do the same thing

[@wilhelmvo6399]

Did you finish it?

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@@wilhelmvo6399 yep it's running great

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@@wilhelmvo6399 yep it's running great

[@Tommy-rr7ez]

What year is this truck? I just got a 89 GMC Ext cab long bed single wheel, not dualy, K3500. Factory 454 Factory 4 speed trans. Would you happen to know what Rearend these trucks might have? Thanks for any help! Ive also have a 88 GMC Ext cab long bed SIX lug K2500. 350 with a 4 speed ive had for a few years and its tough as pig iron and a beast.

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@Tommy-rr7ez mine is a 97 if you have the globe boxing the truck the rpo codes are on a sticker in the glove box they'll tell you what gear you have ..typical gears in these trucks are usually 410 or 456

[@Tommy-rr7ez]

@tandjperformancesouthflorida OK thanks a lot buddy I realy preciate it! With mine being a 1988 3500 single wheel one ton I didn't know if it would be different than my 1988 K2500. I don't have a sticker on my glove box. It's in great shape for a 89 and all original except motor but it's still a 454 but original motor blowed up with previous owner. I just got it a couple of weeks ago so now it's time for all the fun getting all the bugs out of it. I've had my 88 for several years and I think I finally got all the bugs out it. My 88 don't look pretty but she is tough. I've got a whole load of firewood on it right now I've got to unload today and she aint squared at all. Thanks for getting back to me buddy and if you might be a bug man your more than welcome to come help me get these bugs I don't mind at all.

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@Tommy-rr7ez them tbi engines in the 88 to 95s were gutless but they live forever

[@Tommy-rr7ez]

@@tandjperformancesouthflorida Thanks buddy I realy preciate it! Yall take take care! Oh yeah I watched another video bout you having wiring problems and you showed your truck from a side view and a good looking truck.

[@jamessindle]

What intake you get

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@@jamessindle any square port big block intake will work

[@Ls6chris]

Do you have the link or part numbers for the Amazon intake?/carb?

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@Ls6chris I don't but I just went on there and chose the one I liked ..you can use any intake for a big block..you just have to decide what type of carb you wanna run..if I can find the link I'll post a pic..thanks for watching and commenting

[@Ls6chris]

@@tandjperformancesouthflorida of course!!

[@JohnDoe-en9ch]

Did you have to change the gear on the distributor to work with the cam?

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

No sir..works fine with no issues

[@tchapps88]

Gm factory roller cams are steel, generic hei distributors have an iron gear for flat tappets, eventually if you dont replace the cam gear with a bronze or melonized gear it will eat itself, unless you replace the cam in which most aftermarket generic roller cams have an iron gear.

[@JohnDoe-en9ch]

@@tchapps88 That was my concern. Thanks for the clarification.

[@mobilemowers]

I put a retro roller cam in. So guess swap a brass gear. Glad I haven't started it yet. Posting videos on the slow build. Lots of researching.

[@sugashaneray]

You need a tps adapter and run your cps wire to your tach for transmission. No controller needed

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@sugashaneray my harness is gone..burnt up good .I could get a new pigtail or make one for the crank sensor to the tach wire ..not real fond of those tps adapters ..we used to use 90s camaro tps sensors for swaps back in the day and make our brackets

[@mobilemowers]

I know a tuning shop that can make a chip to do that trans using stock ecm still.

[@mobilemowers]

Tons of obs in yards for you to grab a harness. Crank you mean knock sensor ? How does that thing your speaking of work w tach wire ?

[@sugashaneray]

Your crank sensor wire picks up signal from your dizzy on the tach side

[@tandjperformancesouthflorida]

@mobilemowers 454 harness is rare to find only about 28 percent of 97 obs chevys were 454 4l80e transmission combos..I've found a few but they are in bad shape..I'm thinking about doing a swap harness from painless for the vortec 454 4l80e combo that will controll the engine and transmission with the factory ecu..and going back to fuel injection..or possibly an aftermarket engine management system like Aces or Holley