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john lindvig (aka johns56) [ View ] [ horsepedlr@aol.com ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ] phoenix, Arizona (623) 465-5708

ok guys. this is for you fi guru's. just how hard is it to convert from carb to fi. what unit is the easiest? stock or aftermarket. i like the price on the stock units out of the yard but are they a hassel to install ect. aftermarket are pretty pricey but are they easier to install and get running? just how tough is this conversion?

Comments

Posted by bigdude  -  11/04/2007 04:16 PM I would like the same answer big John-I,m going with the holley projection on my truck. Seems to have a bunch of rewiring stuff to do. resident know it all [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Three Rivers, Michigan Charter Member since January 2004   Posted by 1carguy  -  11/04/2007 04:49 PM I hope you get some good feedback...I too am considering EFI but I don't want to tear the car apart to do it. I think the wiring/electrical components are the biggest challenge. 1carguy [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Pleasanton, California   Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  11/04/2007 04:56 PM anyway you go about it leaning over fenders sucks. it's much easier to reinstall the front sheetmetal than repaint it. dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003   Posted by JAWS  -  11/04/2007 06:00 PM I agree with ya there shine. As far as changing over, well first make sure you have all the stuff you are gonna need before you start. If you buy aftermarket in "kit" form, then it's much the same as changing your intake and switching carbs, except you will be adding a small harness that should if the kit is done right, fall into place. Leaving the few power and ground hookups left. Most are already dialed in and the instructions are simple and detailed as to what each step is and where to set your timing. Trust me, the companies who put these "kits" together don't want to be liable for your motor if they weren't clear enough. That leaves doing it the patch work dog way......easy too if yoy know what to get. Painless sell the harness and you can buy the computer from a wrecking yard along with the intake from ebay, injectors from NAPA along with a fuel pump from a 86' injected fullsize ford bronco. Or you can check on line for other "kits" to use with your intake, as in replacing the carb on the intake with an injection unit. One such site is www.auto-nomics.com Also make sure you ask lots of questions if you are unsure what to do while your at it. If you need help, ask.... If you can change a cam, this will be a snap.... An electrical headache can make a great car a pain [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Boise, Idaho Charter Member since August 2004   Posted by JAWS  -  11/04/2007 06:02 PM I just checked out the site, for some reason it is down.... An electrical headache can make a great car a pain [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Boise, Idaho Charter Member since August 2004   Posted by Italianguy63  -  11/04/2007 07:45 PM Buy the "Chevrolet TPI & TBI Engine Swapping" manual put out by Mike Knell of JTR (Jaguars That Run). I am of the school of buying a running "donor" car and swapping over everything.. missing harnesses and sensors get very costly fast. MC Speed is about how fast do you want to spend! [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Bartow, Florida   Posted by REBORN55  -  11/04/2007 10:41 PM There is a pretty good overview at www.classictrucks.com in the tech section Ken [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] De soto, Illinois   Posted by jimmothershead  -  11/05/2007 01:00 AM John......did my first Rochester FI back in 1960.......then came another, '85 Iroc TPI in our '33. LS-1 in our '32. S&P in our 2 '37s and '39. LT-1 in our '37. Love 'em. Must have correct pump in tank. Same old advice.....build it on paper first $$$$. Jim said it. Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland   Posted by Willys33  -  11/05/2007 01:00 AM I have used the GM stuff more than once and it works just fine. I'm going to take a swag at prices so here goes (this would be for a TPI unit). Used TPI at swap meet ($225), new "tanks" gas tank with in-tank pump hole ($400), Pump unit from junkyard ($40), new pump ($55). TPI harness ($300), Computer ($100), reprogram ($100), return gas line ($10), knock sensor ($15), O2 sensors ($80), Misc ($300) such as throttle cable, air cleaner etc. Now, if it takes a dump alongside the road, blink out the codes and go to the nearest parts store and they have the part IN STOCK). How hard is it? Even a caveman could do it. The more you learn about it the simpler it gets. Prices subject to change without notice... Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico   Posted by johns56  -  11/05/2007 03:01 AM ok now some questons. do you have to have an intank pump? what if you get the whole deal from the yard , harness, computer ect will it work with a hotter cam than stock?i have vortec heads so that shouldn't be a problem and am running an hei dist ( stock). willys33 when it comes to electrical the caveman wins around here! :~) johns56 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] phoenix, Arizona   Posted by Willys33  -  11/05/2007 03:32 AM John, if you have all the factory manuals for a TPI with wiring diagrams etc. then you would know which ones to cut out BUT you are jumping into the deep end of the pool. A new harness is cheap. Because the engine is not factory stock you must tell the computer this. Go online to www.pcmforless.com. I use an in tank pump because it is factory and every podunk parts store carry them. Run the distributor that comes with the TPI. It is controlled by the computer to stop ping and adjust the timing for engine load and throttle position, heat, altitude and maybe wind direction. Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico   Posted by jchobbs  -  11/05/2007 12:22 PM I started with a TPI out of a junk yard. Took about 2 weeks to get the thing cleaned up and looking half way decent. Now it's polished and is hard to believe that it is the same intake. I talked to Street and Perfromance about the parts required as well as what I should really do. They will help people even if you didn't buy the stuff from them. Once I had the intake, I purchased everything from one place that way there was no finger pointing when an issue came up(computer, wiring harness, enjectors, etc). Check with S & P about the cam you should use, mine had a big one in it and I had to be changed. The big cam was causing the computer to pull the timing out, not a good thing when your coated headers turn cherry red at idle. jchobbs [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Deshler, Ohio Charter Member since August 2004   Posted by dixie  -  11/05/2007 11:21 PM Whew thats all over ny head ,have to use my old single barrel fish. jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006   Posted by JAWS  -  11/06/2007 01:50 AM Dixie, don't be scaret. The first time you changed a cam, I bet you were nervious as to how it would turn out. I was... Same with my first FI.....About the only thing I can relate it too is describing what a torque wrench feels like at 60ft.lbs. I can read the torque spec in the manual, but the manual can't tell me how it really is when you experience it in real life. Once I had done it I knew what I was "looking" for the next time. I know it's not really the same, but the analogy works.... John, if you are curious and want to do it and have the ability, then I say do it. Take your time and do all the homework, like Jim said plan it out on paper. S & P sell a great product and they do have great service, used them myself many times. The next time you try it, I guarantee it will be easier..... Same for you Greg! I know you can do it if you did the Blower thing.......... An electrical headache can make a great car a pain [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Boise, Idaho Charter Member since August 2004   Posted by Italianguy63  -  11/06/2007 02:33 PM OH! I amost forgot.. one of the best "one-stop-shopping" sites I have EVER seen for TPI techical info. can be found at www.chevythunder.com It has almost everything. I know that will help you! Mark Speed is about how fast do you want to spend! [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Bartow, Florida   Posted by johns56  -  11/07/2007 01:02 AM italianguy63. i went to that site. wow. what a wealth of info. i really recomend it to anybody wanting to do fi. thanks a bunch. johns56 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] phoenix, Arizona   Posted by LowPat  -  11/07/2007 06:08 AM www.auto-nomics.com is back on line. You'll find it an interesting site. LowPat [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Broken Hill, Australia Charter Member since August 2000   Posted by JAWS  -  11/07/2007 10:02 PM LowPat, my old work truck is on the site in the users section under "daily drivers". That was with the little motor and muncie.... An electrical headache can make a great car a pain [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Boise, Idaho Charter Member since August 2004   Posted by LowPat  -  11/08/2007 03:40 PM Jaws, I have a FIRST setup on my 37 and have no complaints. LowPat [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Broken Hill, Australia Charter Member since August 2000   Posted by 1carguy  -  11/08/2007 05:57 PM Unless you use OEM parts from a donnor motor, it's very expensive to convert using new aftermarket systems. A top of the line, chromed TPI from S&P (I thnk the best system out there) is about $4500 plus labor if you need someone to do the work. There are other kits out there like throttle body systems that are a lot less money but don't work or look as good. For me, if I were starting from scratch with a car, I'd go the EFI for sure. On a done car that runs fine, I would leave it alone rather than spend that kind of money just to have FI. Just my opinion. 1carguy [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Pleasanton, California

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