Hmm... TPI second gen.... How hard is it?

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STEEL

Member
May 31, 2008
44
Graham Wa
I have been kicking around the idea of finding a junk yard queen second gen and putting a TPI 350 in it out of a third gen.

I dont know how to burn chips yet, and I dont own a laptop. I assume I would have to find someone on here who could go in and only modify the chip to no longer look for emissions equipment, and only accept input from two O2 sensors in the headers.

I assume at that point its just a matter of running wires from the MAF sensor, the dis, both O2 sensors, and the battery to the computer, and calling it a fancy day.

I have never fooled around with TPI, right now the third gen I am driving is a TBI set up, and I am really starting to like FI. (I have never been great with carbs...) I want to do this just to be kinda diffrent, and to learn somethings I didnt know.

If someone who is knowlagable could post their input, I would really apreceate it!

Side note, if I didnt have a laptop, but I had a PC in the garage, could that be used to burn chips? Why does it have to be a laptop? Also, what are the requirments of the lap top? I have one that is ANCENT
 
3SLO5

3SLO5

Veteran Member
Lifetime Gold Member
Jan 7, 2001
3,639
Edison NJ USA
tpi is a good introduction to the fi world but its a little bit of outdated technology, in stock form its a little restrictive and by the time you buy bigger injectors better flowing runners bigger throttle body get chips burnt and relize how much money you have actually spent you coulda bought something else. In stock form its a good system but once upgrades with heads cam you have to change things out. mass air can only take you so far and speed density is a whole different ball game, data logging with a laptop changing data tables it gets highly complicated. if your doing junkyard searching dont get a wire harness and computer from an 85 they have a burnoff module, extra computer that sucks.maf86-89 is what you want. 90-92 speed density
 
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SpeedAddict02

SpeedAddict02

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Dec 31, 2002
4,539
Wallkill, N.Y.
I've thought about this a few times.. just to take a stock tpi motor, maybe do minor mods, but want it mainly for the fuel injection, price and availability. Biggest hurdle, imo, is re-doing the fuel system. Cant use a stock mechanical fuel pump. Need an in-tank pump capable of the psi required for the tpi system. requires pump, tank mods and lines..

I did find one possible solution. Would cost like $500 for the fuel pump, regulator and basic lines. nothing fancy. It's a mechanical pump, bolts in the stock location. Made by company called Race Pumps. The pump, through summit, is like $325. But it is capable of the psi needed. Would need their regulator. Another $120.. Then do your fuel lines.
But you wouldnt have to touch the tank.

just throwing some ideas out there.. To me, if I had the time and a place to do it where i wouldnt be rushed, I would. you can pick up complete stock motors, with the harness and computer for $500+.. And might as well include the 700r4.. lol
 
S

STEEL

Member
May 31, 2008
44
Graham Wa
SpeedAddict02 said:
I've thought about this a few times.. just to take a stock tpi motor, maybe do minor mods, but want it mainly for the fuel injection, price and availability. Biggest hurdle, imo, is re-doing the fuel system. Cant use a stock mechanical fuel pump. Need an in-tank pump capable of the psi required for the tpi system. requires pump, tank mods and lines..

I did find one possible solution. Would cost like $500 for the fuel pump, regulator and basic lines. nothing fancy. It's a mechanical pump, bolts in the stock location. Made by company called Race Pumps. The pump, through summit, is like $325. But it is capable of the psi needed. Would need their regulator. Another $120.. Then do your fuel lines.
But you wouldnt have to touch the tank.

just throwing some ideas out there.. To me, if I had the time and a place to do it where i wouldnt be rushed, I would. you can pick up complete stock motors, with the harness and computer for $500+.. And might as well include the 700r4.. lol
Click to expand...

I hadnt thought of the Fuel pump issue, is there a good reason you cant run an in-line pump?

EDIT: I also am doing this more to learn about FI and chip burning, ect. I did a 1991 Camaro with a 4bbl 383, and it was nice, now I want to do a 350 TPI and see what I think. I am trying to not adopt the mind set of cheapest way to get to 500 horsepower, but just learn and try some things. once I have it running and I put a few mods on there, I might decide to go back and pull the whole thing to make room for a Stealth Ram 454.

For me, I am young and ready to learn, and schooling would cost $600 per month, and not be NEARLY as fun.
 
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U

ULTM8Z

Veteran Member
May 19, 2000
11,580
Los Angeles
You can get an idea of what's involved by reading a write-up I did on my install.

Go to my website and click on "EFI swapper's guide".
 
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