95 Chevy 2500 question

[rrman61]

I have the 8600 gvw 2500 with the 350 throttle body engine and 4 speed automatic with overdrive.is there a way to boost hp with a programmer or other way without doing too much to the stock engine?

 

[Sean Feeney]

leave it alone

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

No.

 

[DoubleO7]

I have the 8600 gvw 2500 with the 350 throttle body engine and 4 speed automatic with overdrive.is there a way to boost hp with a programmer or other way without doing too much to the stock engine?

Why?

 

[joeysmith]

Lower gears in the reared

 

[timcasbolt]

I have the 8600 gvw 2500 with the 350 throttle body engine and 4 speed automatic with overdrive.is there a way to boost hp with a programmer or other way without doing too much to the stock engine?

You could check with Summit Racing, Jeg's Performance, or similar companies that sell high performance parts. I'd wonder what is still available for a 30 year old truck. Also, people that I've spoken to about tuners have told me you don't get that much oomph for your money.

 

[DoubleO7]

You could check with Summit Racing, Jeg's Performance, or similar companies

quite a few

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[rrman61]

quite a few

Pardon Our Interruption

I like the power I get from my 2013 5.3 half ton Silverado.I know it’s not realistic to get the same power from my 350 in my 2500 but more power would be nice while having a truck that handles loads and trailers better not to mention betting braking with a load

 

[rrman61]

I like the power I get from my 2013 5.3 half ton Silverado.I know it’s not realistic to get the same power from my 350 in my 2500 but more power would be nice while having a truck that handles loads and trailers better not to mention betting braking with a load

Better braking

 

[used red MN]

I doubt anything you put in that truck is going to get a “fall off your chair” why didn’t I do this a long time ago reaction. Save your money for trading up to a newer model.

 

[DoubleO7]

Better braking

That link to Summit and those plug in modules boast up to a 25hp increase. But there are caveats in the fine print such as better exhaust, high octane fuel, etc. requirements. I suspect you would have to put the truck on a chassis dyno before and after the mods in order to detect a HP increase.
And none of the above will do anything to improve braking.

 

[used red MN]

And none of the above will do anything to improve braking.

I think he was saying that he liked the power of the 2013 half ton, but also liked or needs the functions the ‘95 3/4 ton has for towing. Essentially, looking for a free lunch.

 

[Texasmark]

Racing headders and dual exhausts are a simple fix for maybe a dozen HP increase. Replacing the Quadrajet with a Holly 650 or so would help too, especially on acceleration.....they squirt, as I recall my Quadrajet just opened the rear flappers. The other thing is to turn the air filter cover over giving you 360* air input rather than that STUPID LITTLE HOLE IN THE SNOUT OF THE COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[used red MN]

Racing headders and dual exhausts are a simple fix for maybe a dozen HP increase. Replacing the Quadrajet with a Holly 650 or so would help too, especially on acceleration.....they squirt, as I recall my Quadrajet just opened the rear flappers. The other thing is to turn the air filter cover over giving you 360* air input rather than that STUPID LITTLE HOLE IN THE SNOUT OF THE COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Respectfully, he has a 1995, not a 1985. Quadrajet??? Most all Chevy pickups and most other brands have had fuel injection since 1987. You also are not educated in how the secondary (2 lg.rr. bbl) on a Quadrajet carb deliver fuel, I am not going to go into it here. Those carbs took a lot of vehicles millions of miles fairly reliably in the nearly two decades GM utilized them. If you think the secondary accelerator pumps on a Holley “double pumper” make it “the” carb that heals all, get out your wallet because your going to need it at the gas station.

 

[rockcreek4630]

I have the 8600 gvw 2500 with the 350 throttle body engine and 4 speed automatic with overdrive.is there a way to boost hp with a programmer or other way without doing too much to the stock engine?

Easy pull the 5.3 and put it in the 95. I had a 94 with the 350 and did the cip, throttle body spacer, injector spacer, and exhaust you could not tell much difference.

 

[olddavid]

Lower gears in the reared

If it is geared a little high this may be a good solution. The gas mileage will suffer but increasing power will also cause gas mileage to suffer.

 

[Sprint 6]

Don't waste your time trying to get more power out of a TBI engine, they do not respond well to upgrades. About all you'll be successful in doing is making it get 4 mpg. The TBI engine runs on a lot of assumptions. One of the things the computer assumes is the volumetric efficiency of the engine. The VE of the stock 350 was programmed into the original MEM-CAL. Anything that changes the VE (headers, intakes, cams, etc) the computer has no way of knowing the VE changed. All it can respond to is the MAP signal (vacuum), which it will do by dumping fuel into it (because most upgrades lower the vacuum, less vacuum means more fuel needed). The O2 sensor used on a TBI is rudimentary and is really just for fine tuning, but the ECM cannot respond quickly to it.

The one thing you can do is experiment with base ignition timing. The spec is 0° with the timing connector disconnected. This is another assumption the ECM makes, that base timing is 0°, so if you advace it a little, you'll trick the ECM into more advance. You can experiment by turning the base timing up to about 4° and they will run a little better. Listen for ping and back off the base timing until it disappears. Every TBI engine I deal with is different on what it can tolerate, 4 is max, most like about 2 if you want to stay out of ping permanently.

Another thing to think about is mechanical condition of the engine. Regardless of how well it runs, a 95 has to be a bit tired by now.

 

[ss55]

Lower gears in the reared

2X on lower gears, although the 3/4 ton might already have 4:56 gears. Smaller diameter tire might give another 10 percent pulling power and also improve braking capacity.

When I had a 94 half ton with that same engine and 3:43 gears pulling a trailer I would manually shift from overdrive into drive ( third gear ) to pull long hills without lugging the engine. Upshift on the downhills. Fuel mileage actualy improved over lugging at too low RPMs. Take a look at what RPMs you are running at, downshifting on hills might be your most effective and least expensive option.

I think that engine is rated 200 hp at 4000 RPM and it runs out of breath above 4500 RPM. If you need high MPH power you may want a different engine. The 1996 to 2000 engine is rated around 250 HP at 4600 RPM.

For the cost of an engine replacement and transmission swap you could easily trade for a pickup that better meets your needs.

 

[Mule Meat]

2 or 4 barrel throttle body?

If you have a 2 barrel. Upgrading to a four barrel with four injectors will give you a power increase. But it's not cheap and fuel economy will suffer.

 

[Texasmark]

Respectfully, he has a 1995, not a 1985. Quadrajet??? Most all Chevy pickups and most other brands have had fuel injection since 1987. You also are not educated in how the secondary (2 lg.rr. bbl) on a Quadrajet carb deliver fuel, I am not going to go into it here. Those carbs took a lot of vehicles millions of miles fairly reliably in the nearly two decades GM utilized them. If you think the secondary accelerator pumps on a Holley “double pumper” make it “the” carb that heals all, get out your wallet because your going to need it at the gas station.

Sorry for the disinformation.....at 83 decades of progress get tangled up.