Keep in mind that raising the fuel pressure increases fuel delivery across the entire engine operating range. You won't be able to go much higher because stock pumps generally can't generate more than 14 or 15 psi. Mount the new regulator and bump the pressure to 13 psi. More likely, the fuel pressure will read 10 to 11 psi. If the pump in your truck is already delivering 13 psi at the TBI, consider yourself lucky and don't bother with the adjustable piece. The approach is to first measure the existing fuel pressure. The price hovers around $90 depending on the source. Companies such as JET, Turbo City, and CFM Technologies sell adjustable pressure regulators. One of the easiest ways to increase fuel flow is with an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. This will help horsepower above 4,000 rpm or so. If you want to do more, spend about two hours opening up the exhaust valve throat to 90 percent of the exhaust valve diameter (1.5 x 0.90 = 1.35-inch diameter).

Stock cams produce relatively low lift, so the back cut will improve flow in that area. To keep the price down, have your machine shop perform a 30-degree back cut to the intake and exhaust valves. This gets expensive because you still have to purchase a set of Vortec heads, so we'll concentrate on retaining the stock heads for budget reasons.

The intake is PN 12496821 ($370 from Scoggin-Dickey). There are ways around that by using a GM Performance Parts aluminum intake that bolts to the Vortec heads and features a stock mount for the TBI. However, the Vortec heads use a different intake bolt pattern that does not match up to the TBI intake manifold. These heads flow very well and would be a good choice to make 300 hp with a mild camshaft. The best approach would be to go with a stock camshaft and a set of Vortec iron heads. Before we get to the electronic side of things, it sounds like you have a new engine ready to go into the truck.

Tbi injector specs