I haven't posted on here in a LONG time, I doubt anyone here remembers me but I wanted to post something anyway.

Today my 89 GMC Suburban hit 300,000 miles. The engine is a dead stock, untouched L05. It's only had basic parts replaced, like water pump, EGR valve, O2 sensor, and thermostat. Change the oil and filter every 300 miles, and I'm just using regular Quaker State 5W30 and a Fram filter.
The truck has been used for towin since we bought it, and has become my daily driver since I tore my 92RS apart to rebuild it. The suspension is shot, it's rusting really bad, and it's been in a few accidents and rebuilt, but the engine just keeps going and going (knock on wood). It only uses a quart of oil a month and it has an oil cooler leak, I wouldn't be suprised if it ran past 400,000 miles.
Still has great power, still pulls like the day it came out of the factory, but the valove springs are worn and it gets kinda funny sounding at higher RPM's, I'm sure the timing chain is stretched badly too.

But I just wanted to report that the stock TBI has fed this thing since it was brand new and has never been touched, proving that TBI's are reliable and GM knows how to build the best engines.

Wish my 305 in my Camaro was as good, but a nice 377 is going in it's place (no it's not a destroked 400, it's a stock 4" bore with a 3.75" stroke crank). Sorry, TBI had to be removed for this engine.

Joe

 

unless that was a typo, and i hope it was, changing your oil every 300 miles is a bit radical...

 

I do agree with you on the reliability point. My '95 G30 work van has 184,000 on it now. It had 35,000 when I bought it 4 years ago, and it burned a little oil then as it does now, but with refills and regular oil changes, it will continue to run with it's stock TBI forever.......
........but my '83 Camaro is not a work truck, and never will be. It has a real nice 750 Edelbrock sitting on top of a nice, tall Edelbrock intake on top of a tiny, bored-out 305 with a cam.
My truck is for work, my car is for fun.

 

Yea my dad's 93 Sierra LO5 is going on 200k and doesnt even burn a qt of oil, although it's had Mobild 1 Tri-Syn all its life at 3k intervals. Still runs like the day he bought it with 130 miles on it.

 

and all these vehicles are super-duper reliable just because they have throttle body injection?

 

No, they're super-duper reliable because they're Chevys

 

My tbi has been thru 2 fires... one on the driver side and one on passenger side.. on passenger side i had to re-do entire wire harness...

150,000 miles and still running strong or getting there... about to put lt1 cam in and some n2o
Shawn

 

Yea that was a typo, I meant 3000, LOL!

I'm just impressed at how good the TBI has been, I've seen so many people with TPI having to replace stuff so often, but I suppose TPI does have alot more to go wrong with them then TBI.

 

My car only has 120000 miles on it but even though my friend(who i bought it from) blew the head gasket, it was because he didnt have an air damn, it runs great(after i fixed it of course) I dont know what keeps the timing chain from holding together especially since its previous owner history but shes a beast and i dont think i'll ever sell her
especially when i put my new cam and chain in! thats like another 200000 miles from me!!

 

There ain't no doubt the small block V8's are tough beasts...Of course I'm not including dodge in that statement, only GM's and Fords.

 

And what's wrong with Mopar small blocks? I've put over 200,000 miles on a 340 in my Dart and it would still run circles around most 350's.

 

It's a personal thing I have against Mopar. I'm sure they're fine for other people, but I've never had a good Dodge.....coupla good GM's, Fords, even a toyota and a Datsun- and 3 bad Dodges.

 

MOPAR




M -my O-old P- pig A- aint R-running



my old pig aint running

 

 

mapars kick ***! my dads truck is all stock and it has 350,000 miles on it and i can still cherp the tires.

 

My formula has 182K on the engine, it has never been touched TBI LO3 305 . I mean the valve covers have never been off, or any thingI had to replace the factory starter at 176k. The alternator at 140k, Power steering pump at 170k (leak not malfunction) the ignition control module 3 times. Orginal AC, Smog, And tensioner. Standard tune ups, and oil changes. I run 10w40 now in it and don't have to add oil inbeteen changes. (now the trany is a different story, the orginal owner rebuilt the 700R4 at 80k, I rebuilt it at 160k ($1300) it sould last this time.