I was thinknig about doing a EFI swap onto my carbed '86 350 truck. I was thinking along the lines of maybe a multi-port from a camaro or something, pre '86. Other than the intake, injectors, and computer what else would I need?
I was thinking o2 sensor, but I duals so I wasn’t sure how that would work out. Would I need a tps, maf or map sensor, and an electric fuel pump to get higher pressure? Also I would need a return line to the tank right?
Also what do you all think something like this might cost buying parts used? Would I just be better off buying an aftermarket FI system?
fuel pump/sending unit from a newer truck. 87 and up had efi, but depends on the setup you want to run if it will supply enough pressure.
I was thinking something like a TPI, and getting a painless harness to clean it all up. JUst looking at options to get away from the carbs on my old beater truck.
TPI is a nice setup. fairly easy to work on too.
if your not planning on making much of a performance motor for your truck, and only stickin to minor mods, then it really dont matter what setup you choose as far as Mass Airflow or Speed Density TPI setups are concerned.
Mass air takes better to mods like mild cams, intake changes, etc. Speed density will need more tuning with major mods, but runs very well, and probly is the way to go for a high hp big motor combination, as MAF can be maxed out.
but a painless wiring kit will clean things up nicely. makes it easy to hook up TPI, which really aint that bad.
you’ll want a nice fuel pump, something like a walbro 255 if you want a new one, or a working camaro unit would work. but for your truck tank, i’m not sure. so you’d definately would want an EFI truck pump if the camaro unit wont work.
O2 sensor, there is only one that goes in the drivers side header. you’ll need the whole TPI setup and all the sensors they use. the fuel pressure regulator that is on the base plate manifold. the TPI throttle body with all sensors they use…TPS, air intake temp sensor, etc. Get a computer and it should be set
i like 89 MAF TPI systems over the others as 89 doesnt use cold start and features a better chip for tuning- has more memory and is very popular to use.
I will be going with a slight cam, nothing radiacla just something small like an “RV” cam. I’m using a newer block, with older heads, would the '89 set-up work with my heads? I was thinking that I needed the '86 back to work with my heads, did I miss something?
why are you doing this? mileage or ???
either one will work, just have to oval the center holes on the intake.
put a roller cam in it too. if you have 89 and up it should be simple. i probably have enough parts here to convert it over.
plus 1 on the roller cam
go LT1 or LT4 non hotcam cam, its a nice cam for cheap and makes decent power. or even better, the ZZ4 cam. those cams run well with MAF and are common TPI swap cams.
TPI intakes from 87 on up wont fit on 86 older heads without modification to the holes like Eurodad said.
what you can do tho is just get a 85-86 TPI baseplate, and use 89-92 runners with 89 plenum and 89 parts.
you can use the 85-88 stuff too, it basically is the same stuff but with the cold start injector…so you’ll have to unplug the coldstart injector or get a plug kit for it if you want to run the 89 ECM which is better for tuning since it has the $6E mask and you can start with the ARAP BIN. but the ecms from the older cars are just fine too, its just that for the most part, 89 TPI cars are the fastest out of the thirdgen fbodies. the 90-92’s are fast too tho but some 89’s run very strong. they have a nice tune from the factory.
ZZ4 cam with L98 heads or similar with exhaust mods on a TPI 350 motor will be a solid 275-280hp on motor car with around 375-400lbft of torque or so. somewhere around 240-250 whp and 330wtq
think pewter has 86 vette efi intake
works on old heads
what are you doing with the old block?
Really it is just taking up space in the garage right now. Was thinknig of keeping it for a “project” later, but hell the way things go for me, later I might be dead…
Mileage is always a plus, since this is my daily work ride. But to be honest, I just wondered if it can be done, if it is cheaper to go with used stuff then one of the packaged FI deals, and lastly (and most imporant to me) carbs are gonna make me lose my mind.:bash:
its far cheaper to go used TPI setups. however aftermarket setups will yeild better performance. more power/torque and usable rpm range. its costly tho
he does,(might be for a 85 vette, same thing) but i wasn’t saying anything about it. i had thought about it for two seconds before relizing tpi sucks.
Why do you think tpi sucks?
i don’t think they make good numbers for the hassle of hooking it up/swapping it in.
well for one, the cost of a high performance TPI unit is up there. and the main thing is its long runners…21inch long which dont support high rpm power. on a 350 it will kill out at 4500rpms or so stock, and up to about 5200-5500 full modded/ported aftermarket.
4 pieces so you have alot of gaskets to seal…etc
other than that its not too bad. for a street car with a usable power range in the 0-5000 or 0-5500 rpm range, its hard to beat a TPI. it makes a TON of torque. GREAT for trucks which in your case, this is a great affordable EFI setup that will give better driveabilty than carbs
right, it would be good for a heavy truck. but won’t make more power than a carb.
a tpi harness w/ the proper chip burning software is no different than a aftermarket efi system.
hell, my holley commander 950 is wired up on my vw engine the same as it would be on a sbc. the holley uses gm sensors, gm connectors, and gm like wiring.
w/ that said, and after playing around w/ tpi tuning software , i wont make the mistake next time and will just use a gm ecu/harness and cut/solder my wires to fit.
i figured i could get into a tpi wiring harness from a junk yard , a reman ecu or used one (they are all pretty much the same–you can change deffinition files etc to change variables–even make them capable of providing fuel/timing changes for boost! You can make what was a 8cylinder ecu run a 4 cylinder engine. buy a new air intake and water temp sensor and map sesnor, pretty much any new throttle body uses a tps sensor, and a distributor w/ a haul sender. dont really need anything else. if you go junkyard the whole way, i cant see it being more than $200.