BBK 52 mm TB
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Jacksonville FL
BBK 52 mm TB
I am thinking about buying a BBK 52mm TB to replace my aging OEM TB. I also have an extra plenum to port to this TB. I know the runners and base still are restrictions but with LTH's will this make a decent power gain? Also wondering about how the larger TB may affect gas mileage at hiway cruising.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Jacksonville FL
Anybody have one of these from Professional Products? Very reasonably priced.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/52mm-...item58856ac054
Team Owner
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My advice would be to save some cash if your motor is going to be stock, and totally port out your base and plenum to the max, then get some tpis runners or SLP runners and do the same to them. Your stock TB can support over 400HP you are not getting any where near that with any stock L98 heads and or or cam.
WARNING some are probably going to tell you how much more flow you can get from an after market base, believe I bout an SR with a GM base hogged out, and the runners hogged out that little if any difference you will never ever notice unless on a dyno or flow bench for a couple HP.
Keep your TB unless it is shot.
Port the heck out of your GM base/ and plenum
Buy after market runners and port the heck out of them
WARNING some are probably going to tell you how much more flow you can get from an after market base, believe I bout an SR with a GM base hogged out, and the runners hogged out that little if any difference you will never ever notice unless on a dyno or flow bench for a couple HP.
Keep your TB unless it is shot.
Port the heck out of your GM base/ and plenum
Buy after market runners and port the heck out of them
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Polo, these comments are only for my info, I really dont know jack about it. School me bubba!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
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Then how similar is the 305 engine V the 350? I understand our stock set up is designed for a 305. Surely more air in will make the difference in this. I understand that porting will do a lot but would a 305 make 400 hp without the same mods?
Polo, these comments are only for my info, I really dont know jack about it. School me bubba!
Polo, these comments are only for my info, I really dont know jack about it. School me bubba!
2.A 350 has 45 more cubic inches (that's more than the 33 you get with a 383 over a 350)
3.No a 305 won't make 400 hp with a better intake, it does not have the same potential as a 350.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,478
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From: Formerly from the Great White North but now residing in the Desert Southwest NM (The Land of Dis-Enchantment?)
If you NEED to buy a new TB then getting a 52mm won't hurt you. The change in low end throttle response won't be noticable on a stock motor and if you do any mods to intake or exhaust in the future it's one less part you would have to change. If you're changing because you WANT to then save your money, it won't be noticable on a stock motor.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
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From: Jacksonville FL
OK
1) I cant wait to port out my base, plenum. Be ready for questions.
2&3) If the TPI was made for a 305 and the 305 doesnt have the potential as a 350, with more cubes (more air intake), why wouldnt the larger TB supply more air potentially in front of ported parts? Are the OEM plenum, runners, and intake, even after porting not adequate air flowers to support more air in from a larger TB?
and
4) my OEM TB is shot, the shaft is binding and causing accel stick problems so I hafta do something. The PP 52mm TB is $180, how much for an OEM?
5) I asked about SLP runners a while back and got about the same response, dont bother without major engine mods
So with porting plenum, base and SLP runers, the 52mmTB is still a waste without opening up the motor.
Still learning here, a growing boy wants to know, lol.
Thanks Polo, youve been a good source, keep it coming.
Sharkie, I have to, TB sticks so badly now I dont wanna Totoya into anything.
1) I cant wait to port out my base, plenum. Be ready for questions.
2&3) If the TPI was made for a 305 and the 305 doesnt have the potential as a 350, with more cubes (more air intake), why wouldnt the larger TB supply more air potentially in front of ported parts? Are the OEM plenum, runners, and intake, even after porting not adequate air flowers to support more air in from a larger TB?
and
4) my OEM TB is shot, the shaft is binding and causing accel stick problems so I hafta do something. The PP 52mm TB is $180, how much for an OEM?
5) I asked about SLP runners a while back and got about the same response, dont bother without major engine mods
So with porting plenum, base and SLP runers, the 52mmTB is still a waste without opening up the motor.
Still learning here, a growing boy wants to know, lol.
Thanks Polo, youve been a good source, keep it coming.
Sharkie, I have to, TB sticks so badly now I dont wanna Totoya into anything.
Last edited by HlhnEast; Feb 7, 2010 at 12:50 PM.
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Team Owner
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If your tb is shot Buy a 52mm. or get a used stocker for next to nothing. (if your are broke)
Don't be hung up on the intake made for a 305, just think about opening up more room for more air for your motor to breathe.
You will gain more fun out of the car if you improve your intake, you might add 20-25 HP if ported to the extreme, and bigger runners ported to match.
LONG STORY SHORT.
You need a new TB. If you want to tinker pull apart your intake and port it.
You want to feel more power, change heads cam, intake, exhaust, gears. You heard that story already.
Don't be hung up on the intake made for a 305, just think about opening up more room for more air for your motor to breathe.
You will gain more fun out of the car if you improve your intake, you might add 20-25 HP if ported to the extreme, and bigger runners ported to match.
LONG STORY SHORT.
You need a new TB. If you want to tinker pull apart your intake and port it.
You want to feel more power, change heads cam, intake, exhaust, gears. You heard that story already.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
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Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
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From: Chewelah Wa
The reason that the 52 will not help much over the 48, is that the 48 already flows more air than your stock manifold and runners, and probably your ported ones. This is probably why a airfoil is ineffective on a stock motor. In other words, you need to work on the items that flow the least, first. I would be interested in the order that the experts would think this should be taken care of. The free things should be first IMHO. Cut air cleaner lid, remove MAF screens, port plenum and base, port exhaust manifolds, remove guts from cat. Remove vanes from air pump. Then lower cost items, tune up, 1.6 rockers, performance mufflers, AFPR, thinner head gasket. Next would be cam, aftermarket intake and runners (insert fav system here), long tube headers, injectors, true dual exhaust with x pipe. Then good heads and 383. 52 mm throttle body would be at the end of this list. You could mix and match this list depending on budget and emission responsibilities. Keep in mind that labor on all of this is not included, but it is free (sorta) if you are doing it yourself. This has been the approach to my build so far. Oh, and don't forget chip tuning.
Last edited by powerpigz-51; Feb 7, 2010 at 04:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Come on Rod, you know SOTP is more important. We dont wanna go to a dyno and deflate our pants now, do we?
Pig-Ive already have done alot of the simple things like cut lid, performance exhaust, AIR Elim, LTH's in process. I have a spare Plenum and runners to play with, need to get the base from the boy too. Doin the best to open her up. When I decide to rebuild the engine, more to come. Poor ol iron head L98, anyone wanna give me an LS7????
Pig-Ive already have done alot of the simple things like cut lid, performance exhaust, AIR Elim, LTH's in process. I have a spare Plenum and runners to play with, need to get the base from the boy too. Doin the best to open her up. When I decide to rebuild the engine, more to come. Poor ol iron head L98, anyone wanna give me an LS7????
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
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From: Chewelah Wa
I wonder what heads would do with no other mods, just out of curiosity. Of course it would depend on what kind....as far as my previous list, maybe the 52 would be good for a gain on a relatively stock motor, as I have never tried it.
Team Owner
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Choke off at 45-5k like the ones you have now that the tpi chokes.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Louisville Ky
I guess I should have given a little more info . I have a 700R4 tranny and before I made all of my mods when hitting passing gear just alot of noise and now I get a good kick in the pants. Now I'm not going to run with the big dogs but they take notice now. It's alot more fun to drive.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
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I guess I should have given a little more info . I have a 700R4 tranny and before I made all of my mods when hitting passing gear just alot of noise and now I get a good kick in the pants. Now I'm not going to run with the big dogs but they take notice now. It's alot more fun to drive.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Louisville Ky
I realize the 48mm flows more air than the engine can use and the runners do too. I got a good deal on the 52mm and my 48mm was a little wore.I'm the only one I've got to please and it please me. Maybe it could please someone else, maybe not.