Conversion from OBD1 engine contro system
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
Conversion from OBD1 engine contro system
I just tried to search but not sure of what key words to use. Anyway, I found nothing.
I'm in the middle of cancer treatment which has nothing to do with the question, but, the point is, I've been in and out of dozzens of offices and waiting rooms and so I lost my source for this, but I was reading In a magazine, somewhere, that a company now makes a complete kit to swap out the entire engine control system in pre 96 corvettes and camarows ending up with a complete new (more modern) system with all the advantages and ease of modifications. It sounded ideal for my 87.
Anyone on here heard of such a thing? I remember that it wasn't Performance Wiring but it seems to me that the company was out of Florida.
I'm in the middle of cancer treatment which has nothing to do with the question, but, the point is, I've been in and out of dozzens of offices and waiting rooms and so I lost my source for this, but I was reading In a magazine, somewhere, that a company now makes a complete kit to swap out the entire engine control system in pre 96 corvettes and camarows ending up with a complete new (more modern) system with all the advantages and ease of modifications. It sounded ideal for my 87.
Anyone on here heard of such a thing? I remember that it wasn't Performance Wiring but it seems to me that the company was out of Florida.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
I just tried to search but not sure of what key words to use. Anyway, I found nothing.
I'm in the middle of cancer treatment which has nothing to do with the question, but, the point is, I've been in and out of dozzens of offices and waiting rooms and so I lost my source for this, but I was reading In a magazine, somewhere, that a company now makes a complete kit to swap out the entire engine control system in pre 96 corvettes and camarows ending up with a complete new (more modern) system with all the advantages and ease of modifications. It sounded ideal for my 87.
Anyone on here heard of such a thing? I remember that it wasn't Performance Wiring but it seems to me that the company was out of Florida.
I'm in the middle of cancer treatment which has nothing to do with the question, but, the point is, I've been in and out of dozzens of offices and waiting rooms and so I lost my source for this, but I was reading In a magazine, somewhere, that a company now makes a complete kit to swap out the entire engine control system in pre 96 corvettes and camarows ending up with a complete new (more modern) system with all the advantages and ease of modifications. It sounded ideal for my 87.
Anyone on here heard of such a thing? I remember that it wasn't Performance Wiring but it seems to me that the company was out of Florida.
Ron
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 10
From: College Station TX
There is no good reason to swap to an OBDII PCM. Lots and lots of work, especially if you haven't modded the car yet. The 87 PCM will deal with mods with a custom chip pretty well.
What PCM would you use anyway? LT1 OBDII's PCM's require an opti signal, and you won't have it. LS1 PCM's require crank position sensor, and I'm pretty sure you don't have that either (TPI's are batch fire, so no need to know where the crank is).
If anything, you should switch to an aftermarket stand alone setup long before you swap to another OEM PCM.
What PCM would you use anyway? LT1 OBDII's PCM's require an opti signal, and you won't have it. LS1 PCM's require crank position sensor, and I'm pretty sure you don't have that either (TPI's are batch fire, so no need to know where the crank is).
If anything, you should switch to an aftermarket stand alone setup long before you swap to another OEM PCM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,283
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
There is no good reason to swap to an OBDII PCM. Lots and lots of work, especially if you haven't modded the car yet. The 87 PCM will deal with mods with a custom chip pretty well.
What PCM would you use anyway? LT1 OBDII's PCM's require an opti signal, and you won't have it. LS1 PCM's require crank position sensor, and I'm pretty sure you don't have that either (TPI's are batch fire, so no need to know where the crank is).
If anything, you should switch to an aftermarket stand alone setup long before you swap to another OEM PCM.
What PCM would you use anyway? LT1 OBDII's PCM's require an opti signal, and you won't have it. LS1 PCM's require crank position sensor, and I'm pretty sure you don't have that either (TPI's are batch fire, so no need to know where the crank is).
If anything, you should switch to an aftermarket stand alone setup long before you swap to another OEM PCM.
and good luck with your battle.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 658
Likes: 1
From: Centerville OH
No. 2001-02 Chevy Express full size vans used the '411 LS1 computer with a Vortec Gen 1 motor. It requires swapping to a Vortec timing chain cover and adding the crank reluctor ring and sensor. Also, the "crab" style Vortec distributor must be used because it includes the cam sensor.
There are several people on ThirdGen.org who have done this swap and there is quite a bit of information available there.
There are several people on ThirdGen.org who have done this swap and there is quite a bit of information available there.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
I have ever toy Craig Motes makes, tons of programs like Procat and TopCat, etc. and I've used the services of some of the better people in the business who do chips for a living. I garentee you the are better and easier systems out there. I didn't mention OBD2 but because of the limited iformation in the artical, I got the impression they were comparing it to a C5 (are they OBD2?). I also never mentioned anything about finding parts and pieces and piggybacking things,,,, I said it was a complete kit. You just removed the existing ecm and wiring harness and installed the new stuff in it's place. It allowed you to set it up and modify it with your laptop, making adjustments as you drive down the street or strip.
I'll look up F.A.S.T. on the internet, but what is this "Big Stuff" system mentioned above?
I'll look up F.A.S.T. on the internet, but what is this "Big Stuff" system mentioned above?
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
Why would you want to do this even if the product did exist? What are the issues that you are having with your OBD1 car that you think moving it to OBD2 would help you solve? You may find that there would be cheaper solutions to your issue than replacing your computer. In addition, the digi-dash on the 87 will be tricky to control with a 96 OBD2 computer without some sort of piggybacking of ECMs.
Ron
Ron
-- Joe
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
No. 2001-02 Chevy Express full size vans used the '411 LS1 computer with a Vortec Gen 1 motor. It requires swapping to a Vortec timing chain cover and adding the crank reluctor ring and sensor. Also, the "crab" style Vortec distributor must be used because it includes the cam sensor.
There are several people on ThirdGen.org who have done this swap and there is quite a bit of information available there.
There are several people on ThirdGen.org who have done this swap and there is quite a bit of information available there.
-- Joe
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
I have ever toy Craig Motes makes, tons of programs like Procat and TopCat, etc. and I've used the services of some of the better people in the business who do chips for a living. I garentee you the are better and easier systems out there. I didn't mention OBD2 but because of the limited iformation in the artical, I got the impression they were comparing it to a C5 (are they OBD2?). I also never mentioned anything about finding parts and pieces and piggybacking things,,,, I said it was a complete kit. You just removed the existing ecm and wiring harness and installed the new stuff in it's place. It allowed you to set it up and modify it with your laptop, making adjustments as you drive down the street or strip.
I'll look up F.A.S.T. on the internet, but what is this "Big Stuff" system mentioned above?
I'll look up F.A.S.T. on the internet, but what is this "Big Stuff" system mentioned above?
However, before you start researching all of this, what is the problem that you are trying to solve? You'll easily be into one of these systems for $3K to get it running and buy the necessary adapter harnesses/piggyback units.
Ron
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 769
Likes: 0
From: Granbury TX
I sent a popular tuner, on this forum, all the mods and specs on my 412 CID, 500+ HP engine, trans, rearend and tires. Shortly after, I recieved the new chip by return mail. After installing the chip, within seconds of starting the car, header temps caught the wiring harness, plug wires ane A/C lines on fire. It even burnt the Hi-Temp paint off the tail pipes (suppose to be good to 1,200 deg). I called the tuner and he requested an output dump from my system while the car was running. I was never able to get a readout that was useful in solving the problem. I suspected a broken wire or bad connection on one of the cables was at falt and ordred more diagnostic tools from Mr. Moates. I put on new wires and A/C lines and got ready to try it again. I got the car started again and seemed to have it runninc a little cooler, but but not much. After a short run I. was trying to download the info the tuner requested. I stoped for lunch and went into the house for a sandwich and a coke. About 15 minutes later I walked out the door and saw flames shooting from under the hood all along the windshield and over my brand new F1 Gs D3's. I managed to call the fire department, get the hood open, and extinguish the fire with a gardon hose. The $25,000.00 I had just spent on the car was gone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OH
Best of luck to you.
Ron
