Caprice motor
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Starksboro Vermont
Caprice motor
I have an oppurtunity to get a Caprice police interceptor for $500. Is it worht it to swap the motor into my '75? I'm not interested in originality. Thinking that FI would provide greater oppurtunity for power and mpg versus the L48 set-up I've got now.
It's a 5.7L tpi set-up in the Caprice.
Quick responses are needed as the car is going away quickly if I don't take it.
Thanks,
George
It's a 5.7L tpi set-up in the Caprice.
Quick responses are needed as the car is going away quickly if I don't take it.
Thanks,
George
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The EFI is nice, but TPI gets winded at high RPMs. As a swap it's not that hard if you have the computer and harness. The block itself is the same so the accessories bolt right on.
It'll probably be a better motor than your stock '75 motor.
How much are you looking to spend on that car?
It'll probably be a better motor than your stock '75 motor.
How much are you looking to spend on that car?
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Texas
Do you plan to freshen up the motor? Anyway, $500 seems like a good deal for the whole car if it runs and drives. If your car is an automatic, go ahead and swap the transmission with the motor too. I've always been under the impression that the computer install is a lot of work. I have been scared of it myself. Simply due to lack of experience with it. However I have been told that "painless wiring" can make it alot easier.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I meant the Vette. If you have a little more than $500 you have some other options. Megasquirt can be bought and used to control that TPI motor better than the stock computer and harness.
Isn't Megasquirt made by Holley?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
I have an oppurtunity to get a Caprice police interceptor for $500. Is it worht it to swap the motor into my '75? I'm not interested in originality. Thinking that FI would provide greater oppurtunity for power and mpg versus the L48 set-up I've got now.
It's a 5.7L tpi set-up in the Caprice.
Quick responses are needed as the car is going away quickly if I don't take it.
Thanks,
George
It's a 5.7L tpi set-up in the Caprice.
Quick responses are needed as the car is going away quickly if I don't take it.
Thanks,
George
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Starksboro Vermont
What's pfi?? How's it different from TPI?
Durango boy...why the interest in the $ in the '75?
I'm mostly familiar with Bosch systems for FI having been a VW/Euro tech for the last 12 years.
Durango boy...why the interest in the $ in the '75?
I'm mostly familiar with Bosch systems for FI having been a VW/Euro tech for the last 12 years.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Starksboro Vermont
I don't have a budget for the Vette, D-boy. I do have a plan that includes FI at some point. Right now I'm in the process of doing the rear wheel bearings--new spindles, etc. Then I've gotta decide if I'm going to undo the power steering and go manual with it as the power assist ram is broken. I would like to do the Jeep box conversion at some time as well.
I just wanted an idea of if it makes sense to grab the Caprice now and hold onto the drivetrain/electronics until I could actually put it into my car. And i like the serpentine belt set-up. Then try and sell off whatever possible from the caprice to recoup as much as possible. Gonna find out the year tomorrow. I forgot to ask today. The car has been sitting in the lot over from where I work and the owner of it asked if I was interested.
I just wanted an idea of if it makes sense to grab the Caprice now and hold onto the drivetrain/electronics until I could actually put it into my car. And i like the serpentine belt set-up. Then try and sell off whatever possible from the caprice to recoup as much as possible. Gonna find out the year tomorrow. I forgot to ask today. The car has been sitting in the lot over from where I work and the owner of it asked if I was interested.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
TPI, used in G.M. vehicles from 1986 until around 1991. It has long externally visible intake runners. Good for up to around 5,200 rpm's and maybe 350 hp. The PFI engines took over around 1992, have shorter hidden and more efficient runners. Good for at least 6,000 rpm's and at least 425 hp. LT1's have reverse cooling of the heads, and require specific water pump and serpentine pulley arrangements.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Starksboro Vermont
When I popped the hood on the Caprice a day ago(before I knew it was for sale!) I forgot to check the year. I did notice however that the runners were not obvious like on the Vettes. There were individual fuel injectors though so it definetely was not TBI. I didn't realise that they made something other than the TPI that vintage. I will give the car a thorough going over tomorrow.
Thanks for all the info.
Thanks for all the info.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 25
From: whitney pt. N.Y., USA ny
Lt1
I may be wrong here but most used police car i have seen have many, many, many hours of idle time as well as thousands of miles before they are taken out of service. I have a 93 Buick Roadmaster with a LT-1 and it was very strong at 70,000 miles when I bought it. It now has 178,000 and still runs good but does not put you back in the seat like it used to.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
TPI, used in G.M. vehicles from 1986 until around 1991. It has long externally visible intake runners. Good for up to around 5,200 rpm's and maybe 350 hp. The PFI engines took over around 1992, have shorter hidden and more efficient runners. Good for at least 6,000 rpm's and at least 425 hp. LT1's have reverse cooling of the heads, and require specific water pump and serpentine pulley arrangements.
That engine has to be beat to chit. Does it still run?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Your NOT wrong. Those cars are beat on 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 244
Likes: 2
From: Starksboro Vermont
Thanks for the pic! That's the one. I would certainly freshen the motor before it went into the Vette. New rod and main bearings at least. I'm going into work early to listen to it run and check it out further. Should I do a compression check on atleast one cylinder? What should I expect to see for numbers?