Found a complete TPI engine, Thoughts?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 441
From: Albuquerque NM
Found a complete TPI engine, Thoughts?
Hey all, I found a complete TPI engine for sale. Seller says that it has the 1991 Aluminum heads. He is also selling the ECU and if I could just figure out how to communicate what the "harness" entails, he is willing to part with that as well (he is going to carbed LS). Anyway, he is asking for 400. Does this seem like a decent deal? My plan would be to rebuild the engine with some intake porting and head porting and then put my OLD TPI in a truck of mine.
Please let me know what you think.
Please let me know what you think.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,057
Likes: 5
From: Bay Shore, NY
Provided you can confirm the engine was running well and you're not going to find major damage to the cylinders, etc. when you start to tear into it, I think $400 is a deal. It would be a great starting point to build an excellent motor for your car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
Sounds fair - even if there are problems. Talk to these guys if you're putting it in a truck: www.hotrodlane.cc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
1. On 84-85, the engine harness is a stand alone harness. 86 and up have the body wiring included into the harness (lights, fan, evap cannister, etc.)
The harness has a firewall feed-thru connector filled with a heat sensitive jelly that is miserable to deal with. This stuff earns the name GOO.
The vacuum line for the heater controls is run through this goo. If it breaks, use the vacuum line over by the steering column.
2. 89-91 heads are the same. D port exhaust.
If the exhaust aren't in a D design with the rounded side at the top, they are earlier heads. Without taking anything apart, just taking off one exhaust manifold, you will be able to determine if they are early or late aluminum heads.
3. If the engine is all there, $400 is a screaming deal if the injection is intact.
4. ECU's go for around $50 -$60 used in working condition for 86-89 engines and are bare aluminum.... 90 and up are black and sealed and install in the engine compartment.
If the ECU is bare aluminum, and the wires go into the side of the ECU, it is a MAP fuel injection, if the wires plug into one end, it is a MAF injection.
MAF and MAP engines had different knock sensors and chips. don't mix up the knock sensors and computers.
The harness has a firewall feed-thru connector filled with a heat sensitive jelly that is miserable to deal with. This stuff earns the name GOO.
The vacuum line for the heater controls is run through this goo. If it breaks, use the vacuum line over by the steering column.
2. 89-91 heads are the same. D port exhaust.
If the exhaust aren't in a D design with the rounded side at the top, they are earlier heads. Without taking anything apart, just taking off one exhaust manifold, you will be able to determine if they are early or late aluminum heads.
3. If the engine is all there, $400 is a screaming deal if the injection is intact.
4. ECU's go for around $50 -$60 used in working condition for 86-89 engines and are bare aluminum.... 90 and up are black and sealed and install in the engine compartment.
If the ECU is bare aluminum, and the wires go into the side of the ECU, it is a MAP fuel injection, if the wires plug into one end, it is a MAF injection.
MAF and MAP engines had different knock sensors and chips. don't mix up the knock sensors and computers.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Jul 25, 2012 at 06:26 PM.
