Throttle Body input/advice
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Throttle Body input/advice
I am considering, as my next performance upgrade, a new throttle body. The old one needs servicing. repair. I am considering starting fresh. Anyone have any experience with this? Holley or BBK? My car is spec'd as follows:
94 LT1 6 speed car
SLP claw
Mild porting and polishing on the heads
Hooker headers into 3 inch ss exhaust
I am interested in performance and apearance so part of my interest is a nice piece of billet aluminum sitting up top!
Just curious about past experiences that forum members have had... fitment and performance. Good and bad.
94 LT1 6 speed car
SLP claw
Mild porting and polishing on the heads
Hooker headers into 3 inch ss exhaust
I am interested in performance and apearance so part of my interest is a nice piece of billet aluminum sitting up top!
Just curious about past experiences that forum members have had... fitment and performance. Good and bad.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
I've heard that BBK's TBs are not the best quality....heard several people on this forum complaining of sloppy action, unwillingness to hold a decent idle, and weak springs. Alternatively, I have heard great things about Holley TBs. I think there's actually one f/s right now.
As far as the size goes, you really don't need any more than the stock 48mm. However, if you're getting a new one anyway, why not upgrade. I would go 52mm, since the intake opening to the TB is that big anyway. A 58mm TB would require porting of the intake to 58mm, or you would actually be losing power compare to a 52mm TB due to the ridge.
Also, don't expect a performance gain from going to 52mm. Your mods aren't really enough to warrant any additional flow, although you will notice increased throttle response. Basically, you will achieve WOT at maybe 80% throttle. So until then, it feels more powerful, but that last 20% of throttle movement won't move any more air.
Wow, that turned into a really long post. Summary; I'd get a 52mm Holley TB.
As far as the size goes, you really don't need any more than the stock 48mm. However, if you're getting a new one anyway, why not upgrade. I would go 52mm, since the intake opening to the TB is that big anyway. A 58mm TB would require porting of the intake to 58mm, or you would actually be losing power compare to a 52mm TB due to the ridge.
Also, don't expect a performance gain from going to 52mm. Your mods aren't really enough to warrant any additional flow, although you will notice increased throttle response. Basically, you will achieve WOT at maybe 80% throttle. So until then, it feels more powerful, but that last 20% of throttle movement won't move any more air.
Wow, that turned into a really long post. Summary; I'd get a 52mm Holley TB.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Go with a 52. I've got a 52 BBK and it been fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 35,065
Likes: 0
From: Bergen County, NJ Democrats, doing for the country what they did for Michigan
I've heard that BBK's TBs are not the best quality....heard several people on this forum complaining of sloppy action, unwillingness to hold a decent idle, and weak springs. Alternatively, I have heard great things about Holley TBs. I think there's actually one f/s right now.
As far as the size goes, you really don't need any more than the stock 48mm. However, if you're getting a new one anyway, why not upgrade. I would go 52mm, since the intake opening to the TB is that big anyway. A 58mm TB would require porting of the intake to 58mm, or you would actually be losing power compare to a 52mm TB due to the ridge.
Also, don't expect a performance gain from going to 52mm. Your mods aren't really enough to warrant any additional flow, although you will notice increased throttle response. Basically, you will achieve WOT at maybe 80% throttle. So until then, it feels more powerful, but that last 20% of throttle movement won't move any more air.
Wow, that turned into a really long post. Summary; I'd get a 52mm Holley TB.
As far as the size goes, you really don't need any more than the stock 48mm. However, if you're getting a new one anyway, why not upgrade. I would go 52mm, since the intake opening to the TB is that big anyway. A 58mm TB would require porting of the intake to 58mm, or you would actually be losing power compare to a 52mm TB due to the ridge.
Also, don't expect a performance gain from going to 52mm. Your mods aren't really enough to warrant any additional flow, although you will notice increased throttle response. Basically, you will achieve WOT at maybe 80% throttle. So until then, it feels more powerful, but that last 20% of throttle movement won't move any more air.
Wow, that turned into a really long post. Summary; I'd get a 52mm Holley TB.
I concur. If you're looknig for performance from at TB, you're wasting your time. If you're looking for pretty, that's up to you.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
gp
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,204
Likes: 4
From: Midland Georgia
St. Jude Donor '06
Well purdy never hurts... Mine needs a rebuild or I can go shiny new billet aluminum! I am certainly not expecting a big performance improvement.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
I am actually in your shoes right now concerning the rebuild. After looking at prices, I bought a rebuilt TB off eBay for $180. Bored to 52mm with new shaft bushings installed, and it's a lot cheaper than the BBK / Holley alternatives. Doesn't add any bling factor though.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
Professional Products
Here is the one I have. Looks good, works well. Only con is that top plate is not standard size and requires a special gasket that I have not been able to find.
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...52&CtgID=19321
http://www.cnc-motorsports.com/produ...52&CtgID=19321
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 99
From: Seattle WA
The higher velocity of the smaller TB bores may produce a little more pep at any given rpm range (not throttle angle), but you'll feel the tip-in of the bigger TB way more.
To the OP - forget about performance improvement, there will be none (other than fixing a problem with your existing TB). For looks and quality the billet ones (TPIS, AS&M, Accel/Holley) are the way to go, but they're pricey. I had a TPIS, and it was SMOOTH. I haven't owned a BBK or similar, but I've held them and wasn't impressed. I would rather do a quality rebuilt on a GM one and polish it.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver WA
AS&M are one of the finest looking TB's out there. Only problems I had are the people at AS&M seem either like @55-holes or ignorant (or both)...sent me an LT1 TB at first, took 2 mos to rcv my replacement, and then sent me the wrong TPS 
. Also had to rewire my TPI to LT wiring for the TPS and IAC - which you don't have to worry.
. Also had to rewire my TPI to LT wiring for the TPS and IAC - which you don't have to worry.