Pick my cam & intake...please - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chargedstang89 · 10-21-2003, 02:40 PM

Well, I have a stock replacement GM Goodwrench crate 350 long block in my '86 gmc k1500 4x4. The thing is a complete dog, gets horrible gas mileage and i'm tired of it. It has 33" tires with stock 3.08 gears, so i know those definitely aren't helping anything. I'm looking to beef the motor a little, but don't know what intake/cam to get for this truck, as I don't want to spend money on gears...i've already dumped enough cash into it.

The engine has a # 1904 edelbrock replacement carb, which I think is hurting me as it's 795cfm, but everyone seems to say that this is indeed a stock carb. In the future, I will have to pass emissions, so I need an intake that has an egr hookup, and a cam that is also emissions legal. I do some towing with my ski boat, but the truck is an everyday driver, mostly highway.

Need some help fellas!

lukecp · 10-21-2003, 03:25 PM

Edelbrock makes a Performer intake that has provisions for EGR....it would be the way to go.

However, the 33" tires and 3.08 gears are your problem, period. The new intake might give you 10HP, and if you swap cams, even a barley bigger than stock cam would hurt your low end, and make your truck slower out of the hole.

You need to get some 3.73 gears. I would suggest swapping the complete axles, it would be the easiest and cheapest way to go. Then, once you have the engine turning at a happy RPM going down the highway, you can worry about internal engine upgrades

If you want some good upgrades right now, give your motor a full tuneup, and put on a set of headers and some free flowing dual exhaust pipes. That should help out alot, and won't sacrafice your needed low end power.

**swervin ervin** · 10-21-2003, 03:31 PM

I would get the Edelbrock EGR intake #3701. About the only option you have if it needs the EGR, which it will with emissions tests. It will also help you down low, where you need it. What is really killing you is the tire size and gears. This will limit what cam you can run. Go to big and it will be a worse dog and get worse mileage. You really need to consider swapping gears. Changing cams ain't going to help you any with 33" tires and 3.08 gears. You'll be fighting a loosing battle. The intake will help you now for sure but I wouldn't even think about a cam until a gear change was made.

The 1904 is nothing but a new Q-jet, and a great one I might add. You are correct, it is 795 cfm, but you have to open them big back barrels to get this. You will not find any carb to give you better mileage. I have a 1904 and wouldn't trade it for anything other than a new 1904.

I bet one reason you are drinking so much gas now is you are in the back barrels a lot because of loss of low end power.

Again, gears is what you need. Not much of anything you can do will help mileage or power without them. Assuming your truck came with 28" tires, stock. Your effective gear ratio is around 2.61 now. Not very good for low end power, or to help get a heavy 4x4 moving from a dead stop.

Just an opinion.

chargedstang89 · 10-21-2003, 03:35 PM

where can i find some axles with 3.73's? i'm assuming a junk yard, but there aren't many trucks like mine in the local yards. what vehicles have axles with 3.73 gears that are direct fit for my '85?

chargedstang89 · 10-21-2003, 03:38 PM

swervin...you are exactly right. i can't even cruise down the interstate without the 4-barrels kicking in and the tranny downshifting to 3rd gear (700 r4). i always have to give it so much throttle just to maintain speed that any slight incline in the road causes the tranny to kick down and the 4-barrels to kick on. even when i floor the truck it just won't go anywhere at all, and forget towing...it uses an entire tank of gas to tow my ski boat about 60 miles or so. absurd...

lukecp · 10-21-2003, 03:45 PM

Just about any axles from '73-'87 Chevy/GMC trucks should bolt in

chargedstang89 · 10-21-2003, 04:45 PM

i didn't know if maybe certain year suburbans or vans came with 3.73 gears and i could use those axles. again...not hardly any trucks like mine in the bone yards around here...

*1FaastC10* · 10-21-2003, 05:15 PM

you have to change BOTH axles in order to make your truck drivable in 4wd. the differentials and tire size MUST match, or you'll kill your transfer case. i would suggest finding a set of 3/4 ton axles. most commonly they came with 4.10 gears. the 4.10 gears shouldnt be a problem bieng that you have a 700R4. one down side to the 3/4 ton axles is they are 8 lug, where yours are 6. if your truck has stock steel wheels, it shoudlnt be much of a problem to just get another set of steel wheels. the ones off the donor truck may even work.

79BIG10 · 10-21-2003, 09:41 PM

On the intake look at the one on the ZZ4's. They are almost identical to a Edelbrock 7101 but has provisions for the EGR and hot air choke.

10-21-2003, 02:40 PM	#1
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	Pick my cam & intake...please Well, I have a stock replacement GM Goodwrench crate 350 long block in my '86 gmc k1500 4x4. The thing is a complete dog, gets horrible gas mileage and i'm tired of it. It has 33" tires with stock 3.08 gears, so i know those definitely aren't helping anything. I'm looking to beef the motor a little, but don't know what intake/cam to get for this truck, as I don't want to spend money on gears...i've already dumped enough cash into it. The engine has a # 1904 edelbrock replacement carb, which I think is hurting me as it's 795cfm, but everyone seems to say that this is indeed a stock carb. In the future, I will have to pass emissions, so I need an intake that has an egr hookup, and a cam that is also emissions legal. I do some towing with my ski boat, but the truck is an everyday driver, mostly highway. Need some help fellas!

10-21-2003, 03:25 PM	#2
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Edelbrock makes a Performer intake that has provisions for EGR....it would be the way to go. However, the 33" tires and 3.08 gears are your problem, period. The new intake might give you 10HP, and if you swap cams, even a barley bigger than stock cam would hurt your low end, and make your truck slower out of the hole. You need to get some 3.73 gears. I would suggest swapping the complete axles, it would be the easiest and cheapest way to go. Then, once you have the engine turning at a happy RPM going down the highway, you can worry about internal engine upgrades If you want some good upgrades right now, give your motor a full tuneup, and put on a set of headers and some free flowing dual exhaust pipes. That should help out alot, and won't sacrafice your needed low end power. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-21-2003, 03:45 PM	#6
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Just about any axles from '73-'87 Chevy/GMC trucks should bolt in __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-21-2003, 09:41 PM	#9
79BIG10 I'm back with 2nd truck! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 3,774	On the intake look at the one on the ZZ4's. They are almost identical to a Edelbrock 7101 but has provisions for the EGR and hot air choke. __________________ 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson

10-21-2003, 03:31 PM	#3
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	I would get the Edelbrock EGR intake #3701. About the only option you have if it needs the EGR, which it will with emissions tests. It will also help you down low, where you need it. What is really killing you is the tire size and gears. This will limit what cam you can run. Go to big and it will be a worse dog and get worse mileage. You really need to consider swapping gears. Changing cams ain't going to help you any with 33" tires and 3.08 gears. You'll be fighting a loosing battle. The intake will help you now for sure but I wouldn't even think about a cam until a gear change was made. The 1904 is nothing but a new Q-jet, and a great one I might add. You are correct, it is 795 cfm, but you have to open them big back barrels to get this. You will not find any carb to give you better mileage. I have a 1904 and wouldn't trade it for anything other than a new 1904. I bet one reason you are drinking so much gas now is you are in the back barrels a lot because of loss of low end power. Again, gears is what you need. Not much of anything you can do will help mileage or power without them. Assuming your truck came with 28" tires, stock. Your effective gear ratio is around 2.61 now. Not very good for low end power, or to help get a heavy 4x4 moving from a dead stop. Just an opinion. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

10-21-2003, 03:35 PM	#4
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	where can i find some axles with 3.73's? i'm assuming a junk yard, but there aren't many trucks like mine in the local yards. what vehicles have axles with 3.73 gears that are direct fit for my '85?

10-21-2003, 03:38 PM	#5
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	swervin...you are exactly right. i can't even cruise down the interstate without the 4-barrels kicking in and the tranny downshifting to 3rd gear (700 r4). i always have to give it so much throttle just to maintain speed that any slight incline in the road causes the tranny to kick down and the 4-barrels to kick on. even when i floor the truck it just won't go anywhere at all, and forget towing...it uses an entire tank of gas to tow my ski boat about 60 miles or so. absurd...

10-21-2003, 04:45 PM	#7
chargedstang89 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 90	i didn't know if maybe certain year suburbans or vans came with 3.73 gears and i could use those axles. again...not hardly any trucks like mine in the bone yards around here...

10-21-2003, 05:15 PM	#8
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	you have to change BOTH axles in order to make your truck drivable in 4wd. the differentials and tire size MUST match, or you'll kill your transfer case. i would suggest finding a set of 3/4 ton axles. most commonly they came with 4.10 gears. the 4.10 gears shouldnt be a problem bieng that you have a 700R4. one down side to the 3/4 ton axles is they are 8 lug, where yours are 6. if your truck has stock steel wheels, it shoudlnt be much of a problem to just get another set of steel wheels. the ones off the donor truck may even work.



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