I hate even having to make this thread but I'm between a rock and hard place now. I bought a new Miniram for my ZZ4 equipped 85 for which I can't drive as it wants to stall out off idle. I contacted TPIS about having my tune updated and they said they would flash me a new tune. I sent all the specs of my car and my old TPIS tuned chip to have updated. Next week, that will be 2 months ago. I've called several times with no returns of my messages and my e-mails have gone unanswered as of 2 weeks ago. So, now I have car that can't be driven and I don't even have my old chip :-( As such, I started looking at options. All I want is my dash to work as designed and the car to drive properly. I'm not looking to squeeze out every last bit of HP. Just looking for reliability. From what I have found is:
1 - Convert to an 86 computer. I have no concerns with doing this but them I'm still at the mercy of finding someone that will tune the car for me. Fortunately there are more people that say they can at least.
2 - https://www.dynamicefi.com. I saw a thread with some info on this but I haven't been able to reach the person that was doing the install to see how well it worked out. Sounds like it's basically an 86 ECU conversion, add a MAP and wideband O2 and it tunes itself. I message the company today to get more info.

Anyone have any other options? What would be the best course of action to get my car back up and running? If I didn't just spend nearly $2K on this stupid intake set-up I'd just rip it off and go back to stock.

After buying almost all TPIS stuff for my car (my car is a walking catalog at this point of their parts), I think I'm done with them at this point and recommending them to people :-(

 

I have a DynamicEFI EBL Flash II on my 84 Crossfire and it is good. There is a lot of information over on the Thirdgen board. Rbob will answers your questions there. He will also reply to your emails on the Dynamic EFI website. There is also a lot of info on that site. The EBL Flash II can be used on an L98 with the port mod modification but it is MAF-less. The self tuning (ie VE learns) works well if you have a WBO2 sensor. But before you go that route you probably need a response from someone who has used an EBL Flash on a TPI engine.

 

Appreciate the response. Does your digital dash still function as normal? Bob responded back to my e-mail already with some good info. Sounds like it's basically the same as swapping to an 86 computer with some repining of the harness needed and then installing the MAP sensor.

 

The digital dash should work, but for some reason mine doesn’t work completely. I haven’t got to the bottom of that yet. My distance to empty works, my shift light works but my MPG doesn’t. I have asked other corvette owners and their digital dashboards work so I think that’s my problem.
Just remember that MAF is really an improvement on MAP for general drive-ability. Currently during steady state the MAF in your car is used to adjust fueling but during rapid change the VE tables are used. Some cars have MAF and MAP sensors (I figured yours would but Bob would know). I really like my EBL Flash II but I would still try and talk to someone with a TPI who has done it. There will be plenty of F body guys on the thirdgen board who have, and a few corvette guys as well.

 

Have you considered just buying another Prom for your Corvette? Zip has them for $170 for either the manual or automatic transmission and they ship fast.

I hope that this helps a bit...

Best regards,
Chris

 

Re-wire for 1986-1989

 

So you are saying the best option is swapping in the 86 computer is better than the dynamic set-up? My only concern with the 86 swap is I'd still need to find someone that will tune it.




I actually have a couple of chips for the car. They just wont work with this combination.

 

What on your dash doesn't work? I've got my stock 84 computer in a cabinet and am using an Accel DFI engine management system. My dash works except for the mpg and range.

 

No, our prom's are stock and will not do what he is needing. We sell the EBL and have them in stock, it is the only way to go.

 

Nothing yet. I had just heard that changing to a standalone would impact it. I just spent a mini fortune restoring the interior and dash of my car and I really want it to function as it should thus why that wasn't even one of my options. Since I'm not planning on racing the car and just looking for a tune that will let me DD my car, not sure a full swap makes a lot of sense. But if that is the way I have to go then it's the way I have to go. I'm leaning towards the 86+ conversion or the dynamic kit for simplicity. I like the idea of the dynamic kit but I'm concerned about getting the tune right. I thought it was self learning which isn't the case according to the company. It says it creates updated files as you drive that you have to install and you revert back if the car runs worse. Not so sure my feel of the car is how I want to tune it though :-(

Just wish TPIS would just send me my dang tune for my 85 computer so I wouldn't have to deal with this mess...

 

The EBL does VE Learns and updates a bin file that you can Flash in while your driving if you like. It’s very simple. The EBL is supplied with a number of bin files that will get the car running and driving. It also comes with the WUP software that allows you to monitor what’s going on and flash in new learnt bins.

It is very easy to do so you shouldn’t be too concerned. You definitely need a WBO2 sensor though. The digital dash should work and I think it probably is the way to go. You can download TunerProRT for free and configure a bin file with some initial settings. The EBL comes with a document that describes what every setting does and you can always ask Bob if you are unsure.

The guys that know the most about the EBL hang out on the thirdgen site. Maybe start a thread over there and ask some questions someone can probably share a TPI bin file with you.

 

Hi,
I also converted my 1985 to Dynamic EFI. Bob is very responsive and helpul. Yes you need to re-pin the harness as 1986+.
Another option is : https://www.fuelairspark.com/ez-efi-...-fit-type.html

 

That a pretty good looking option but plenty of wiring no doubt and I guess it won’t drive the digital dash. Still maybe a good option maybe the factory ECM could be wired it parallel to retain the dash features (possibly).
As you have have experience with the EBL on an 85 you might be able to give the OP some insight into your experiences.

 

Sure,
I basically folloed this thread:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html with the help of BobR.
I haven't finished the tune yet. I have to fix some knock issues with the SA tables. I hope I finish it in the near future.

 

That’s a great thread.

 

Thanks for providing. Please let me know how things go when you are done and sorry for ditching my own thread. Life got int he way the last week so I haven't been online for a bit. Good news is TPIS got in touch with me. Apparently the issue they were having is their software/hardware they had for 85 PROMS stopped working and they are having to update my CPU to a new chip design (still compatible with the ECU). They should finish it up in the next couple of days so I'm sticking with this option for now. If the car still doesn't run right after this is done or they go dark on me again I've decided to go the dynamic solution as BobR was really helpful in my e-mails and it looks like I wont be out on a limb on my own.

 

The old 24 pin (2732A or equivalent) eproms can be a pain to work with since not all programmers will support them and you need a u/v eraser to erase them prior to programming. I have an old parallel port programmer that will work, but I no longer have a pc with a parallel port.

Since TPIS is upgrading to a newer eeprom for you, it would be a good idea to invest in a compatible programmer so that you can make minor changes on your own, or at least program any future bin files received via email.

The other big issue with the 85 870 ecm is that you're limited to 160 baud scanning which will make it difficult to identify tuning issues from the limited data that is available.

 

The 1985 ECM sucks. many tuners won't touch it. Its very slow (160 baud).1986+ much more easier to tune. with Dynamic you don't need to pull a chip anymore. everything is done using software and laptop.
Feel free to contact me when you'll get the Dynamic ECM.