Engine swap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Morehead KY
Engine swap
How hard would it be to switch out my tune port injection engine for a carburetor engine? I know the intake is different on the two, but would a carb work in an 89 vette? What would I have to change to make it work, if I was getting a completely new engine. I was looking at the GM Goodwrench engine on jegs, in particular.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
How hard would it be to switch out my tune port injection engine for a carburetor engine? I know the intake is different on the two, but would a carb work in an 89 vette? What would I have to change to make it work, if I was getting a completely new engine. I was looking at the GM Goodwrench engine on jegs, in particular.
Low profile intake, carb, distributor, return style regulator, and a lock up switch for the converter if auto.
I think that you asked this question already and I recommended just buying the correct engine.
Is there a reason that you want a carb?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Morehead KY
yeah, the reason i want a carb is because i need an engine on a lower budget, the gm goodwrench engine on jegs is a good price for me. Everywhere I have found a tune port engine it is out of my price range. If you know a place where i can find a tune port engine setup, for an 89 corvette that would help out a lot. I can get a tune port camaro engine for my car, but then i would lose 20 horsepower, which i dont want.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Why not just put the TPI on the new motor? You just need a fuel pump block off plate. Everything else shouldn't be a problem to switch to the new motor. The motor doesn't need to be a TPI motor...they are all Gen I motors. My guess is the TPI motor includes the intake, which is why the price is higher.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,837
Likes: 290
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Why not just put the TPI on the new motor? You just need a fuel pump block off plate. Everything else shouldn't be a problem to switch to the new motor. The motor doesn't need to be a TPI motor...they are all Gen I motors. My guess is the TPI motor includes the intake, which is why the price is higher.
Plenty of people on the forum have done it.
The only trouble would be if you pick an engine with vortec heads, then all you'd need to do is put a different base on it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
yeah, the reason i want a carb is because i need an engine on a lower budget, the gm goodwrench engine on jegs is a good price for me. Everywhere I have found a tune port engine it is out of my price range. If you know a place where i can find a tune port engine setup, for an 89 corvette that would help out a lot. I can get a tune port camaro engine for my car, but then i would lose 20 horsepower, which i dont want.
You are looking at $500 for the carb set up by the time you are done so add that to the price of the engine.
Have you called jegs yet and asked if you could bolt the TPI on that engine?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,837
Likes: 290
From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
If you did a leakdown test, then it's the rings.
You can get shortblocks as well as longblocks from GM.
For what they're getting for a shortblock, you can get one of these non-rollercammed longblocks
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...9&autoview=sku
Keep your original engine for rebuild later.
You can get shortblocks as well as longblocks from GM.
For what they're getting for a shortblock, you can get one of these non-rollercammed longblocks
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...3&autoview=sku
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...9&autoview=sku
Keep your original engine for rebuild later.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Morehead KY
Ive called them multiple times and got different answers from different people. One guy told me though that it would not work with tpi intake, but he could sale me the short block and it would work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 0
From: E. Amherst NY
Throw the TPI on it and be done with it. 
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...&ProdID=194848
FWIW, I think this deal is pretty hard to beat. I've come close a few times.
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...&ProdID=194848
FWIW, I think this deal is pretty hard to beat. I've come close a few times.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Of course the short block would work, you are using your heads. I honestly don't know enough about the difference for the heads on a TPI so I can't advise you. I hope that I am not breaking any rules but I bought my big block from this guy:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SB-CH...Q5fAccessories
I even had a small warranty issue (bad lifters) that he resolved quickly. He can at least point you in the right direction. I am just one customer so don't take only my word on this.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Morehead KY
Throw the TPI on it and be done with it.
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...&ProdID=194848
FWIW, I think this deal is pretty hard to beat. I've come close a few times.
http://paceperformance.com/index.asp...&ProdID=194848
FWIW, I think this deal is pretty hard to beat. I've come close a few times.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,262
Likes: 0
From: E. Amherst NY
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: Morehead KY
the zz4 base from pace performance is looking like a pretty good option. Will have to wait and save up a lil more for it though, unfortunately. So I could just throw my tpi intake on the zz4 base and it should work.
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