TBI spare parts

[stvaughn]

I have a 1990 V-1500 350 TBI with 700R4 that runs good, everything works fine and I want to accumulate a supply of TBI and ignition spare parts while they are still available and affordable. I’m not interested in a carb swap at this time, just want to have all the necessary spare parts to keep this suburban running indefinitely.

What do you recommend and what is the best source?

Thanks, Steve

 

[fast 99]

If reasonably close a pick and pull yard. Have seen most of the parts you list on vehicles in a yard near me. Only item that is always gone are the TBI units themselves. Those are apparently in high demand, not sure why.

 

[Edelbrock]

eBay is always a good place to check.

Another resource is car-part.com

That site currently has 15,000 junk yards on file with over 2 million parts currently listed.

Its like every Junk Yard all in one place and most of them ship.

It also offers an interchange search, so you can find GMC parts for your Chevy, Lexus parts for your Toyota etc.

 

[HotRodPC]

If reasonably close a pick and pull yard. Have seen most of the parts you list on vehicles in a yard near me. Only item that is always gone are the TBI units themselves. Those are apparently in high demand, not sure why.

Because people usually don't know what they're doing and take them apart. Thing is about those throttle bodies, very reliable. They won't win any races, but they'll go and go and go. So when something does go wrong, the first thing they suspect is the TBI and pull it a part. Once pulled apart, many are warped and don't go back together exactly the way they were taken apart. Had they left them alone and not opened them up, and diagnosed the real problem, the TBI would probably still be fine. Best thing to do is, if you're not 100% certain it needs taken apart, just leave it alone. If you did take it apart and it's warped, then probably best just to buy a new remanned unit that was done by pros who have the ability to true the components and make then brand new again, not just put a kit in it as most do.

 

[gmbellew]

there are only a few TBI specific things i carry that are easy fixes that might leave me stranded - ICM, cap, rotor, and fuel pump relay. I also carry a couple old plug wires, old/spare radiator hose, fluids, basic tools, tire patch kit, small air compressor, multimeter, and maybe a few things I am forgetting.

I dont have a stockpile of other sensors or other parts stored, except parts i've replaced and kept the old as a spare in the garage. I did pick up a spare TBI unit off the forum a couple years ago to shove in the garage. but that was just on whim and the price was right.

 

[fast 99]

Because people usually don't know what they're doing and take them apart. Thing is about those throttle bodies, very reliable. They won't win any races, but they'll go and go and go. So when something does go wrong, the first thing they suspect is the TBI and pull it a part. Once pulled apart, many are warped and don't go back together exactly the way they were taken apart. Had they left them alone and not opened them up, and diagnosed the real problem, the TBI would probably still be fine. Best thing to do is, if you're not 100% certain it needs taken apart, just leave it alone. If you did take it apart and it's warped, then probably best just to buy a new remanned unit that was done by pros who have the ability to true the components and make then brand new again, not just put a kit in it as most do.

Seems like it's one or 2 people pulling them. May be there is a used resale or core value. They only cost $23. Only very occasionally I took the units apart, usually injector problem of some sort.

 

[HotRodPC]

I suggest anyone who has a TBI vehicle to get this Harbor Freight Fuel Pump Pressure testing kit. Many Fuel Pump or Fuel Injection service kits do NOT come with the TBI adapter. This cheap $44 kit does. There is no pressure tap on TBI engines to test for fuel pressure. So this fitting goes inline using the threads to the fuel filter. Then you can attach the pressure gauge to the fitting.

The last TBI truck I worked on, ran like hell. The guy that started working on it was a parts changer and just started changing things and never found it. I'll admit, we both and another mechanic said, it's not the fuel pump. We knew it had been replaced a couple years ago and had very few miles on it, and it didn't act like a bad fuel pump. In most cases, they either work or they don''t and the truck ran, it just ran very poorly. Finally I said for ***** and giggles, we need to do a fuel pressure test. Turned out to have 4psi. That's not enough for TBI.

What pissed me off more than anything, was I told my dad, don't let that shop iinsall anything but a Delphi or AC Delco pump, I don't care if they have to buy it at a dealership and spend big money on it, but don't get a crappy AirTex pump from one of the discount chains. He was out of a town at his house, and I couldn't get to it for a few weeks. But now we have this problem. Turned out to be a POS discount auto fuel pump that I said NOT to install. So I did get the Delphi pump at Advanced Auto believe it or not and the truck has been fine since. We didn't regret replacing all those sensors and cleaning the EGR and ICM etc. The truck is a 94 model and never had a thing done to it, except plugs and wires changed once, a clutch, a fuel pump, alternator and several batteries. That's it. So we also changed plugs and wires again, cap, rotor and distributor, an AC Delco distributor. That thing has to have well over 200,000 miles on it and runs like new, not a bit of smoke which blows my mind. I'd expect at leat valve seals to be leaking by now but we've never been in the engine either. I expect if anything goes anytime soon, it's about time for a timing chain and gears.

But yeah, get this $44 Kit from Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/basic-fuel-injection-service-kit-64939.html <<<<<LINK to Kit.

 

[HotRodPC]

Since I long winded that post above, here's the link to that Fuel Pressure tester again. https://www.harborfreight.com/basic-fuel-injection-service-kit-64939.html <<< LINK

And here's the link to the User's Guide. Go to page 7, you'll see the GM TBI fitting I'm talking about that many kits do NOT come with. It's Item #3 on Page 7. https://www.harborfreight.com/basic-fuel-injection-service-kit-64939.html <<<LINK

 

[HotRodPC]

Seems like it's one or 2 people pulling them. May be there is a used resale or core value. They only cost $23. Only very occasionally I took the units apart, usually injector problem of some sort.

True. You can't find Carbs and TBI's in Pull A Parts. I think what you said, someone goes through and buys them all up for cores. Probably rebuilds and sells on fleabay or marketplace.

 

[fast 99]

True. You can't find Carbs and TBI's in Pull A Parts. I think what you said, someone goes through and buys them all up for cores. Probably rebuilds and sells on fleabay or marketplace.

Saw the writing on the wall several years ago, stashed a lot of parts. Used to see rows of 1960-1980 vehicles, not today. The 2 yards here [same owner] go through 800+ cars a month so turn over is quick.

 

[HotRodPC]

Saw the writing on the wall several years ago, stashed a lot of parts. Used to see rows of 1960-1980 vehicles, not today. The 2 yards here [same owner] go through 800+ cars a month so turn over is quick.

Lots of great parts got crushed when car bodies was over $250 a ton. People scrapped many good old cars out in the pastures just for the money.

 

[fast 99]

Lots of great parts got crushed when car bodies was over $250 a ton. People scrapped many good old cars out in the pastures just for the money.

cash for clunkers didn't help either.

 

[dusterdude]

Just for informwtion,i have a lightly used tbi system from performance fuel systems.it is complete except the furl pump.i am wilking to part it out.if anyone is interested,shoot ne a pm.thanks

 

[Sgt Gus]

Since I long winded that post above, here's the link to that Fuel Pressure tester again. https://www.harborfreight.com/basic-fuel-injection-service-kit-64939.html <<< LINK

And here's the link to the User's Guide. Go to page 7, you'll see the GM TBI fitting I'm talking about that many kits do NOT come with. It's Item #3 on Page 7. https://www.harborfreight.com/basic-fuel-injection-service-kit-64939.html <<<LINK

Funny, that's the exact one I purchased. I have the adapter Installed after fuel filter and set our psi. I have purchased an in-line fitting and gauge I was thinking of permanently installing instead, but really need to have section of fuel line shortened by hydraulic shop to keep something permanent in there in order for filter etc to mount back into place correctly. But once psi set why do I need to do that? I got issues.

 

[stvaughn]

Just for informwtion,i have a lightly used tbi system from performance fuel systems.it is complete except the furl pump.i am wilking to part it out.if anyone is interested,shoot ne a pm.thanks

PM sent