GTAman

iTrader: (2)

ok, my stock GM throttle body has been sticking for some time and now it's time to get rid of that sucker. the only reason i'm comparing these two companies is that i don't want to pay $500 for a stupid GM throttle body when i can get a different one for around $300. i've seen in some people's sigs that they have the BBKs, but i was wondering if holley's is any good? are both direct bolt-ons? is there any need for alterations for either of them? does the TPS, IAC, stock hoses , etc... fit?

-hurry on back,
GTAman

P.S.- i'm planning on getting the 52mm throttle body because i don't want to destroy my 5 litre TPI's plenum

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

People have complaints about both. In general the complaints on the BBK center around it being low quality junk.

Complaints about the Holley are primarily that there's no throttle stop on the 89+ style, and that you've got to file the TPS to make it fit.

I've got a 52mm holley and I'm quite happy with it. It's machined from a piece of billet aluminum instead of cast like the BBK, and it's a very high quality piece. Filing the TPS took all of 30 seconds. My only complaint is that for whatever reason they felt that the stock thread size for the TPS bolts was inadequate, so they used a different thread size. Well, that's fine, but the dopes supplied bolts that were too short.

Other than that I'm quite happy. I've got the early style and I have absolutely no throttle-stop problems and it works great. It looks great too.

BRIrocZ

iTrader: (1)

I bought a Holley 52mm for my '89(it's now on the '88). The only problem I had was that there was no place to hook up the TV cable.

GTAman

iTrader: (2)

ok, i'm looking at the holley website now and they offer 2 year ranges. one is the 85-88 range and the other is the 89-92 model range. Jim, you bought the 85-92, right? since the bolts they supplied with the TB were too short what did you use instead? wow, it looks great with that polished plenum! how'd you do it? oh and one more question: where on the TPS did you file? dude, you gotta give me the dirt!

wow, holley is looking mighty good!

-GTAman

:hail: -i'm not worthy!! i'm not worthy!! lol

Sickness91Z28

iTrader: (1)

I went with the BBK....I got it for a great price...I polished it myself....which was kind of hard to do...anyhow...I've never had any problems with it....and I'm really happy with it. I'm sure if I had the money at the time though...I would have went with the Holley too...since it's already polished

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

I bought the 85-88 style. Longer ones. Block sanded it and polished it on a polishing buff. The part that interfered with the throttle body. As soon as you bolt it on it'll be obvious what to file.

bigals87z28

ahhh.. not to make a mess of things, by why would you need a 52mm tb when you have a car that still puts out less then 400hp? You really dont need it, and IMO i would advise you to spend it on something else, maybe ported heads, cam, suspension, tunning, PROM stuff, 4th gen seats,... catch me? $300+ can be better spent somewhere else... but thats me... its your money... do as you wish..

GTAman

iTrader: (2)

uh oh, the dreaded "why are you getting a bigger TB?" question. i guess it had to happen. well bigals87z28, if you look at my first post, you will read that my stock GM TB (48mm) has been sticking for about 1-2 years now. now that i have secured a better paying job, i have now come to that time where i can replace the troublesome TB. now, if i could get the stock 48mm TB for the same price as the holley or the bbk, i think i would do it. however, the price for me to get a stock 48mm TB is $500 and that's waaaaaaay out of my range at this moment. i mean, with the money i'm saving on the holley, i'll have $140 left over to play with for performance parts like cams and ported heads for my lowly 5L 305 and an new radio to replace my AC-delco unit which only plays music out of the right front and rear speakers. so basically, i need the car to be running mechanically perfect right now before i get to the good stuff.

GTAman

iTrader: (2)

oh yeah, jim, where did you get the longer screws for the holley TB?

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Hardware store.

Have you checked Ebay or the classifieds? If you just want one that works, you can get a used one dirt cheap.

bigals87z28

ok... thats why i said.. your money, you do what you want... im not flaming ya.. just talkin... no need for fighting when we live in the same state.

Sickness91Z28

iTrader: (1)

I posted a topic in the past about the 52MM TB...and people said it's a waste of money.....to me...it's one of the biggest improvements on my engine....with the ram air boxes and the headers....it all add's up...so the thing about 400 h.p. to me is a bunch of bs...I'm not trying to start anything...but there was a very noticable difference on my engine....and it's nowhere near 400 h.p....

prOject-IrOc

I bought a 58mm bbk. People kept telling me, don't waste your money. Well, i got it for $240, put it on, and the car feels a lil stronger, and sounds better.

I don't understand people on here that argue that a larger throttle body "can" hurt your performance, more than help. I don't even see how that could be possible. That would be like saying if you put large tube runners, or a hi flow intake, that its going to hurt your performance. Yes, I understand that the stock tb would be just fine for up to 350-400 hp, but don't tell people that it could hurt your performance by putting on a hi po tb. More airflow = better performance.

Anyways, yea i bought the bbk. It looks nice, and bolted on with ease. I got a great deal, and i don't regret it one bit.




you can see it here...
http://www.geocities.com/sjoshuae/

BRIrocZ

iTrader: (1)

When I put the 52mm on my Iroc, it did absolutely nothing for me. I didn't gain or lose one bit in the 1/4. Still, I got it for an amazing price and just couldn't pass it up.

It should do more good on the RS but I haven't run that car yet with the 52mm.

prOject-IrOc

hey what bolt ons you got on that roc?

BRIrocZ

iTrader: (1)

Mods are: Edelbrock intake, SLP runners, ported plenum, Holley AFPR, March pulleys, MSD 6a, Moroso Blue Max wires, Borla cat-back, Hypercrap stage 2 chip, Transgo shift kit, 3.45 gears, Sphon LCAs, Kyb Agx shocks and struts, Eibach drag springs

You'd be surprised how many of these showed me no gains.

prOject-IrOc

hey....was the edelbrock intake and slp runners any of those "no gain" bolt ons?

i just posted a new topic asking about them, i got a good deal on a edelbrock hi flo base and slp's.

BRIrocZ

iTrader: (1)

I did the plenum and runners at the same time and saw a 2 mph gain in trap speed. I got nothing from the base, that was a major disappointment. I was hoping to be trapping 100 mph after the base but that didn't happen. The base is still good to have if you planning on more mods in the future.

prOject-IrOc

yah, cam and headers will be next after base and runners.

i think the base has been ported a bit, looks like it atleast...

i want 12's....at least for now.

GTAman

iTrader: (2)

oh man, sorry bigal, i didn't mean to sound nasty or anything . i just didn;t want the whole debate about how bigger TBs don't do anything for perf and all that jazz. my bad for not putting in smilies like i usually do . anyways, the perf part of the arguement served a base for me in my decision. i thought the holley and BBk TBs cost way less ($200 less) than buying another stock GM TB ($500) and plus i didn't want to risk another $500 in the event that it sticks again. so in my mind i'm buying a polished TB from holley that costs less than a stock GM TB. and in the end i'll have $200 fine dollars to spend on the fun stuff .

my fault
-GTAman