TBI conversion
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 75
St. Jude Donor '14
TBI conversion
I was wondering if anyone here did a TBI conversion by doing a junkyard crawl to find all of the needed components. It seems like it would be fairly easy if you could pull everything off of one donor car.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
I can't answer your question (I bought a Holley 4bbl TBI kit), but guys at the EFI Forum ChevyTalk.com have done it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 75
St. Jude Donor '14
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Alta Loma CA
I have it but did not do it with a junkyard crawl. I got a kit from Howell, who lacks in customer service skills. One issue with the factory TBI is the throttle body is less than 400 CFM. Nice thing about the Howell kit it uses the Holley 670CFM throttle body. After I sorted out all the issues it runs very well.
Now with that said if I had to do it again for the same effort I would go with a TPI setup. It is a better system and should not cost much more.
Now with that said if I had to do it again for the same effort I would go with a TPI setup. It is a better system and should not cost much more.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 18
From: Corona Ca
Not a Vette, but a learning experience that will be used on one.
I converted my 79 GMC van from I6/TH350 to '87 5.7-TBI/700R4, using a complete donor van (motor, trans, ALL wiring and fuel system), hooked it up, and was able to pull off a California BAR buy off as a smog legal install. Starts easily and idles fine, pulls hard, fuel mileage is much better (about 20%). As I said, a learning experience.
I plan on adding TBI to my Vette during its rebuild, using a spread bore manifold and a '91 Big Block TBI-to-manifold adaptor. This allows adding the throttle body to a better manifold, getting a hot water flow to control icing, and have it all setup looking pretty stock under a factory air cleaner. And, Yes, you can get decent (tho not racecar) power out of a TBI setup.
Best, Tom
I converted my 79 GMC van from I6/TH350 to '87 5.7-TBI/700R4, using a complete donor van (motor, trans, ALL wiring and fuel system), hooked it up, and was able to pull off a California BAR buy off as a smog legal install. Starts easily and idles fine, pulls hard, fuel mileage is much better (about 20%). As I said, a learning experience.
I plan on adding TBI to my Vette during its rebuild, using a spread bore manifold and a '91 Big Block TBI-to-manifold adaptor. This allows adding the throttle body to a better manifold, getting a hot water flow to control icing, and have it all setup looking pretty stock under a factory air cleaner. And, Yes, you can get decent (tho not racecar) power out of a TBI setup.
Best, Tom
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk VA
I was going to do this conversion to my stock 350 in my 74, but soon after I bought the stuff, the engine died. I replaced it with a 440hp 383 and don't want TBI for it so if you want the components I have I'm sure we could work out a good deal. I've got the intake (cleaned and bead blasted), rebuilt throttle body, some sensors, and a new GM computer in the box.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,416
Likes: 291
From: dayton oh
Look for Holley Pro-Jection 2DI (2brl)and 4DI's (4brl) on ebay.
these older TBI systems didn't need a laptop to tune them, just set screws on the CPU. The 2DI should handle 350-400 hp on a 350/355 but I'd go 4DI on anything with more cubic inches or HP.
these older TBI systems didn't need a laptop to tune them, just set screws on the CPU. The 2DI should handle 350-400 hp on a 350/355 but I'd go 4DI on anything with more cubic inches or HP.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 75
St. Jude Donor '14
I was going to do this conversion to my stock 350 in my 74, but soon after I bought the stuff, the engine died. I replaced it with a 440hp 383 and don't want TBI for it so if you want the components I have I'm sure we could work out a good deal. I've got the intake (cleaned and bead blasted), rebuilt throttle body, some sensors, and a new GM computer in the box.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Corvette Fever did an article on it about a year ago.
www.diy-efi/gmecm has a lot of good swapping info, and there are several good "fuel injection parts swap" books available through Amazon or your local bookstore.
www.diy-efi/gmecm has a lot of good swapping info, and there are several good "fuel injection parts swap" books available through Amazon or your local bookstore.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 75
St. Jude Donor '14
Corvette Fever did an article on it about a year ago.
www.diy-efi/gmecm has a lot of good swapping info, and there are several good "fuel injection parts swap" books available through Amazon or your local bookstore.
www.diy-efi/gmecm has a lot of good swapping info, and there are several good "fuel injection parts swap" books available through Amazon or your local bookstore.
Thanks for the heads up, maybe I can have someone interpret it for me. BTW, correct link is www.diy-efi.org/gmecm
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Wow, that stuff is deep. Like a bunch of tech nerds using a foreign language or something! Thanks for the heads up, maybe I can have someone interpret it for me. BTW, correct link is
www.diy-efi.org/gmecm
Thanks for the heads up, maybe I can have someone interpret it for me. BTW, correct link is www.diy-efi.org/gmecm
Thanks for the URL catch. A lot of the modding stuff isn't necessary for a stock engine, but there is some useful info on basic swaps buried in there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
I did the TPI conversion last year, and it isn't that much more complicated than TBI. The real differance is the air cleaner. (less plumbing) Other than that the install is about the same.
Here is a link to the thread I posted:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...&highlight=TPI
Alot of the info on the install of the TPI will be the same as TBI. A pre '93 F-body is an excellent donor for the TBI, since the wire harness fits very well in a C-3 Vette.
Good Luck with what ever route you choose.
Here is a link to the thread I posted:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...&highlight=TPI
Alot of the info on the install of the TPI will be the same as TBI. A pre '93 F-body is an excellent donor for the TBI, since the wire harness fits very well in a C-3 Vette.
Good Luck with what ever route you choose.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Here's the article from Corvette Fever on swapping out to TBI using about $400 worth of junkyard parts.
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=e...7ee78406a5aa0e
Mediafire has a lot of ads and pop ups - if anyone has a suggestion of a better site to host (free) let me know.
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=e...7ee78406a5aa0e
Mediafire has a lot of ads and pop ups - if anyone has a suggestion of a better site to host (free) let me know.
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Perth Western Australia
X-Ram option
Hi
I am in the process of installing the X-Ram manifold which means I can keep the standard TBI/engine management etc. If you are interested have a look at:
http://www.x-ram.com
Cheers
Richard
I am in the process of installing the X-Ram manifold which means I can keep the standard TBI/engine management etc. If you are interested have a look at:
http://www.x-ram.com
Cheers
Richard