TPI install started.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
No problem,
I actually ended up going with a 90-92 speed density set-up so after it was said and done I went with one of those K & N conical breathers.
I have a dual spal fan set-up, no mech fan plenty of elbow room now.
I do have one question....what did you do for the throttle cable? I bought a TPI f-body cable but the end that connects to the firewall is a little bigger in size so that means I'll have to enlarge the factory opening some. Plus the cable is a little too long, it will still work, just will be curled a bit in the engine compartment.
One more question, did you re-use the stock upper radiator hose? The TPI set-up puts the thermostat housing at a weird angle and the stock hose is a little too long. I'm thinking of trimming it.
I bought a steel braided flexible hose but it's a hair too short and the huge clamp covers look funny on the short tpi thermostat neck....it's a little too small for the hose too begin with and I'm afraid it'll leak.
I actually ended up going with a 90-92 speed density set-up so after it was said and done I went with one of those K & N conical breathers.
I have a dual spal fan set-up, no mech fan plenty of elbow room now.
I do have one question....what did you do for the throttle cable? I bought a TPI f-body cable but the end that connects to the firewall is a little bigger in size so that means I'll have to enlarge the factory opening some. Plus the cable is a little too long, it will still work, just will be curled a bit in the engine compartment.
One more question, did you re-use the stock upper radiator hose? The TPI set-up puts the thermostat housing at a weird angle and the stock hose is a little too long. I'm thinking of trimming it.
I bought a steel braided flexible hose but it's a hair too short and the huge clamp covers look funny on the short tpi thermostat neck....it's a little too small for the hose too begin with and I'm afraid it'll leak.
I used the same thing when i did my tpi but didnt rivet it just filed it and snapped it into place
And when i removed it from my 73 and installed it in a 80 vette i did the same thing and fit fine.
The '87 cable sheath was a tad bit long, and that might have been the issue, but it works very well now with no binding, and full throttle function.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
OK, up and over pix are taken just now, and I will start a thread, but since I can't figger out how to post pix here, I will add to my site so you all can see if you want....
it's still not totally cleaned up and finalized, but what hotrod/work in progress ever IS???
it's still not totally cleaned up and finalized, but what hotrod/work in progress ever IS???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
I wanted to post a pic of my install, I'm hoping to have it fired up sometime this afternoon.
I wanted to thank DR Jay for the inspiration, it was reading on this thread that helped me make the jump to EFI. (My car had a carb on it when I bought it.)
I'll make a thread and do a write up of my experiences when I'm done
I wanted to thank DR Jay for the inspiration, it was reading on this thread that helped me make the jump to EFI. (My car had a carb on it when I bought it.)
I'll make a thread and do a write up of my experiences when I'm done
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
I wanted to post a pic of my install, I'm hoping to have it fired up sometime this afternoon.
(My car had a carb on it when I bought it.)
I'll make a thread and do a write up of my experiences when I'm done
I wanted to thank DR Jay for the inspiration, it was reading on this thread that helped me make the jump to EFI.
I'll make a thread and do a write up of my experiences when I'm done
I just wanted to post an informative thread as a way of passing along the knowledge that some of the other members here had given me. Thanks for the kudos.
You look like you are doing great. The red, and polished runners look
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I wanted to post a pic of my install, I'm hoping to have it fired up sometime this afternoon.
I wanted to thank DR Jay for the inspiration, it was reading on this thread that helped me make the jump to EFI. (My car had a carb on it when I bought it.)
I'll make a thread and do a write up of my experiences when I'm done
I wanted to thank DR Jay for the inspiration, it was reading on this thread that helped me make the jump to EFI. (My car had a carb on it when I bought it.)
I'll make a thread and do a write up of my experiences when I'm done
While the TPI does have some flow restrictions in high-RPM situations, it's one of the coolest-looking intakes ever...and it is a pretty good performer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
On my Vette I am not using either. On my truck I am using canister purge, but not EGR. If you use a C4 TPI intake and want to use EGR you have to use C4 exhaust manifolds or modify headers to have an exhaust source. C4 TPI intakes (or aluminum heads) do not have a center-of-head source for exhaust, F-body intakes do. I like the canister purge. You can keep the system non-vented then. If you don't use canister purge then swap to a vented gas cap.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
The EGR valve is still on the intake, but it is not connected. The custom prom I had burned eliminated the emissions so I don't have the computer controled canister purge or smog pump, but the orrigional Vapor Canister is still on the car, and is hooked up to vacuum, and the fuel tank.
Last edited by DR.Jay; Jul 2, 2007 at 01:25 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
I just saw this thread and saw that you did an in tank electric fuel pump install.
My question is, why didn't you save yourself some time and effort and just use a piston pump from www.racepumps.com ? You could have retained all of your stock fuel lines and such and not had to drop your tank and still have plenty of fuel pressure for probably less money and work.
My question is, why didn't you save yourself some time and effort and just use a piston pump from www.racepumps.com ? You could have retained all of your stock fuel lines and such and not had to drop your tank and still have plenty of fuel pressure for probably less money and work.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
I just saw this thread and saw that you did an in tank electric fuel pump install.
My question is, why didn't you save yourself some time and effort and just use a piston pump from www.racepumps.com ? You could have retained all of your stock fuel lines and such and not had to drop your tank and still have plenty of fuel pressure for probably less money and work.
My question is, why didn't you save yourself some time and effort and just use a piston pump from www.racepumps.com ? You could have retained all of your stock fuel lines and such and not had to drop your tank and still have plenty of fuel pressure for probably less money and work.
On my '78 you can remove the sender through the rear deck if you remove the flip up lid to the fuel filler. The new in tank carter fuel pump, and strainer cost less than $50.oo for the set with a lifetime warranty.
Thats alot less than the $99.oo www.racepumps.com starts at for a piston pump.
I like to fabricate so the two or so hours I had into converting the existing sender into a in-tank sender, and installing it was honestly good theropy for me.
I started the project on 12-22-06, and had it running on 12-29-06. If I didn't have to wait for parts shipments, and the holidays, I would have had it up, and running in about 24 hours of strait labor.
Last edited by DR.Jay; Jul 2, 2007 at 03:02 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Actually the cheapest pump they sell is like $300. $100 is for their regulator.
I'm mainly not a big fan of electric fuel pumps because I fear them burning out or, with an intake pump, them starving for fuel around a tight corner if you don't have enough gas in tank. Plus they kinda make your tank hold less, in theory, because you can't let it go below a few gallons or else you risk the pump burning out. With a mechanical pumps you don't have any of those problems.
I didn't realize you did a whole body off, though. Since you were already in that process you might as well go that route. I just personally dislike electric fuel pumps for the reasons I already mentioned.
I'm working on mating an LT1 intake to my vortec heads and am going to use the piston pump because the part itself may cost more, but the work involved is A LOT less.
I'm mainly not a big fan of electric fuel pumps because I fear them burning out or, with an intake pump, them starving for fuel around a tight corner if you don't have enough gas in tank. Plus they kinda make your tank hold less, in theory, because you can't let it go below a few gallons or else you risk the pump burning out. With a mechanical pumps you don't have any of those problems.
I didn't realize you did a whole body off, though. Since you were already in that process you might as well go that route. I just personally dislike electric fuel pumps for the reasons I already mentioned.
I'm working on mating an LT1 intake to my vortec heads and am going to use the piston pump because the part itself may cost more, but the work involved is A LOT less.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
I just saw this thread and saw that you did an in tank electric fuel pump install.
My question is, why didn't you save yourself some time and effort and just use a piston pump from www.racepumps.com ? You could have retained all of your stock fuel lines and such and not had to drop your tank and still have plenty of fuel pressure for probably less money and work.
My question is, why didn't you save yourself some time and effort and just use a piston pump from www.racepumps.com ? You could have retained all of your stock fuel lines and such and not had to drop your tank and still have plenty of fuel pressure for probably less money and work.
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Well the 150 psi version is designed for fuel injection and I'd imagine that their design would probably get that pressure up pretty quick.
I haven't used it yet but rochester products trusts these exact pumps for all of their flex-jet and flex-jection applications.
I haven't used it yet but rochester products trusts these exact pumps for all of their flex-jet and flex-jection applications.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 4
From: Somers CT
Thnx for the reply.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Another question for ya Dr. Jay.
I think you said you went with speed density instead of MAF. Reason behind that? I'm planning on going with MAF as I like the fact that the computer doesn't need to be completely reconfigured for engine changes with it. Comment?
I think you said you went with speed density instead of MAF. Reason behind that? I'm planning on going with MAF as I like the fact that the computer doesn't need to be completely reconfigured for engine changes with it. Comment?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
The engine in my Vette has been rebuilt prior to my purchasing the car, and I don't have any idea what kind of internals it has (pistons, cam, rocker ratio, etc) and the MAF system has worked great.
What I was truly surprised about during the conversion was with the '87 f-body wire harness, and how well it fit into the C-3 engine bay.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
Actually the cheapest pump they sell is like $300. $100 is for their regulator.
I didn't realize you did a whole body off, though. Since you were already in that process you might as well go that route. I just personally dislike electric fuel pumps for the reasons I already mentioned.
I'm working on mating an LT1 intake to my vortec heads and am going to use the piston pump because the part itself may cost more, but the work involved is A LOT less.
Oops, I didn't read it correctly
Got pics of the LT1 on the heads, or have you not gotten that far yet?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
still getting the bugs and kinks out of it.....with help from the forum members