Quick question guys:
I'm looking at a set of polished runners on eBay and was wondering if 1987 Camaro runners will work on my '89? I know the '87's have the cold start injector which my '89 does not, but are the runners interchangeable?

 

See if this article helps:
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/PDFFILES/TPIStory.pdf

 

Thanks Ron!

 

Some of the info in that article is misleading (or factually deficient); dealing with the 305 IROC TPI's adaptability to the 350 motors specifically.

In spite of the "TPI" designed for the 305 cid (IROC) cars, GM Powertrain negotiations with Bosch regarding mods to the TPI for 350 cid motors was not completed in time for the 1984 introduction of the new C4 Corvette. So, any implication in that article that leave one to believe a TPI from a pre-84 305 IROC will be appropriate for a 350 motor is a mistake - at least performance wise. (Historically, in the height of the combination of new EPA restrictions and OPEC's strangle hold on gas prices at the time, in some car rag magazine articles - at least - there was talk of the demise of the 350 cid in favor of the (mundane, dismal, puny, - you pick) 305 (or a V6!) - let alone BBCs - for anything but heavy truck applications. In fact, due to timing issues to get the new motor certified in CA with the TPI/350 combination, the Corvettes sold in CA were delivered with the 305 cid motor (I don't recall which model year, but you could Google it if it is important).)

Oh, and just for a giggle, I might mention that 1990 ZR-1s have "TUNED PORT INJECTION" lettering on the door guard belt strip. And, once I asked for a set of plenum gaskets for the LT5 at a local parts store, and I had to argue with the pimply-faced kid behind the counter that insisted the (L98) gasket was "thee" gasket for a 1990 motor. (I even invited hime to step outside and show me where the L98 gasket was going to fit on the LT5. Even then he poured over the motor, looking for somewhere that the gasket might fit! LOL!)

 

You didn't have to argue, you CHOSE to.

All of us were once young, some were "pimply-faced" and some not. All of us learned from experiences and some from those who when given the opportunity to maybe explain did so. Your invite outside was I'd think maybe foolish and meant to intimidate maybe a young fellow that was actually interested in what he was doing and helping you.

OP - I can't definitively say that they won't bolt up and "work" but there wasn't any interchangeability from the OE/GM by part # and that would seem to say "I'd avoid" if it were me. Spend maybe the money to make what you "know" works pretty. Cost effective? Maybe not but they work.

 

Oh, lighten up, will ya? Well, YOU really should have been there...

But, to explain further, things took a turn when in spite of my efforts to inform, when he insisted that gasket was the part I needed (based on "the computer"), and nothing I said convinced him there was another model 1990 C4 to consider. Even when I suggested he look again under "ZR-1" or LT5, he remained stead-fast, insisting THAT (L98) gasket was the one for my car. Well... That's when I invited him to have a look see - an opportunity to enlighten him of their database deficiency. (And, truth be known, that particular (locally owned/independent) store had a tendency to provide a LOT of bum info, causing many return trips for exchange or credit over the years - to the point I seldom if ever go there for parts of any kind anymore.)

Anywayz... I too appreciate your expertise and assistance you give us all. But, you're not alone. (Referring to 000s of my past posts attempting to help noob's (especially/primarily) because, like you said, we ALL were there once!!

 

Makes one wonder how many of those Calif. 305s have been driven to a different state, say the mid west, and sold. Do the owners even know they have a 305? Just wondering. Oh, not that anyone did this on purpose to deceive anyone, military transfers, job transfers, ect.