Overheating 350

[starkey]

Thanks for the insight BD, that's what I needed to know.

Both heads were about the same temp.. the passengers side was just a little cooler.. < 5 deg.

I have the heater hose bypassed directly from the intake to the passengers side of the radiator, no heater core, no fittings. Intake to Radiator only. Sorry, don't have any pictures.

Next time I work on in, i'll most likely pull the intake and give it a good cleaning anyhow.

[Fairlane514]

Since it is a carbureted TBI with an aftermarket intake, it would make sense the intake gaskets could be wrong.  That may be your next step.

[starkey]

Fairlane, it's actually the stock, cast iron 4 barrel intake from 74. It appears that all the bolts are in accounted for and installed.

I've done some research on the tbi to carb swap, and to mate a cast iron 4 barrel intake onto the tbi heads, the center intake bolt holes need to be drilled out due to the tbi heads having straight intake bolts, not angled like the gen 1 heads. I'm a little apprehensive about removing the intake, because the stock intake bolt holes are NOT drilled out. Makes me wonder if they just drilled the head bolt holes and threaded the intake bolts in as best they could...

maybe i'll get a set of cheap 305 heads and throw em on.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Stark

[454Man]

I have tbi heads and the older style carbed intake.... they make intakes for the tbi heads, that's what id suggest. I've drilled out the centers twice 1st time tried using the same size 3/8 bit... second said screw it and got the 1/2 out. Now I use washers. Drilling the center bolt holes out is easiest with a drill press as you can get the correct angle while you hold the intake. :v)

[starkey]

454, how's the power with the tbi heads? I've heard they are torque cannons from idle to 4k, which is probably as fast as i'd want to spin it anyway.

My concern is that the stock 4 barrel intake is not drilled, but there are bolts in it. how they managed to do that is beyond me, but i feel like i'm going to find out the next time i work on it. haha!

[454Man]

454, how's the power with the tbi heads? I've heard they are torque cannons from idle to 4k, which is probably as fast as i'd want to spin it anyway.

My concern is that the stock 4 barrel intake is not drilled, but there are bolts in it. how they managed to do that is beyond me, but i feel like i'm going to find out the next time i work on it. haha!

ok here's my combo...
Fresh 350, old th350 this is in a 82 lwb
Engine combo 1990 tbi engine, comp cams high energy 260 cam, flat top pistons with valve reliefs, 9:5 comp, edelbrock 1406, summit 0 to 6k intake, duals, summit 1-1/2 headers... I will say the tbi heads could use a port job on the exaust to bring up the tq a little. There ok power off the line isn't all that because my truck is so heavy, but once I'm rolling... ud better watch out :-). For a lwb truck id say a 454 would do better off the line as it has more tq. Little brother 350 is for everyday mpgs. Also the qjet I had on there was way more responsive off the line.

[starkey]

Thank you sir.

[454Man]

No prob

[454Man]

Btw I use the old style gaskets on my tbi heads and aslong as everything is lined up right everything is good. Maybe the gaskets aren't lined up right. Or maybe your engine is running lean...what kinda plugs and coil are u running?

[starkey]

Running new Champion plugs gapped at .045", Advanced Auto wires, HEI dist and coil.

Plugs electrodes are black, with a hint of brown, she's a little on the rich side actuallly.

Picked up a Mr Gasket intake gasket set and a set of intake bolts to throw on there next time I mess with it. I'm pretty sure that's the culprit.

[starkey]

Quick update...

Got to work on the 74 a little bit last weekend. Before I took the intake off, I parked the front on ramps and attempted to get any air out of the system, but it would not take any more water. Just wanted to rule out a air pocket.

So, got the intake off, and lo and behold, the intake gaskets were on correctly. haha!

What did concern me was the fact that the center intake bolt holes were not elongated, but still attached perfectly to the centerbolt heads. They did have a little less angle than the front and rears, but were not straight up and down. Could this engine possibly be a TPI instead of a TBI? Could I have some weird type heads/intake?

The Mr. Gasket intake gasket set did not fit right when reinstalling. The front and rear rubber pieces were about 1/4" too long on the ends to mate properly with the intake and caused them to squish out when torquing. I don't remember FelPro's doing this.

I think I'm just going to find a 454 and throw it in. It's not gonna be a daily driver, and I've always wanted a bbc anyways

 I did not get the casting numbers, but plan to do so in the next month or so (moving and changing jobs at the same time doesn't allow much free time).

[Captkaos]

Take a picture of the intake and heads.    There is nothing different in TPI vs TBI heads the latter ones share the same bolt patterns.

A daily 454 is going to be a killer on gas.

[starkey]

I'll snap a few pics when I get the chance.. probably won't be for another couple weeks.

and this will NOT be a daily... haha! I had an another 74 that was a daily driver back in my younger years, but at $0.85/gallon, it wasn' t bad. Nowadays, I'll stick with my 02 silverado that gets around 19. 

[Captkaos]

misread what you posted, thought you said it would be a daily.