CarburetorsCarb discussion and questions. Upgrading your Third Gen's carburetor, swapping TBI to carburetor, or TPI to carburetor? Need LG4 or H.O. info? Post it here.
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I just got an 86 Firebird that had once upon a time had the fuel injected v6 but now has a 350 chevy in it with the electric controlled quadrajet on it. About every wire that should be plugged in anywhere has been unplugged and left just sitting in the engine bay resulting in a check engine light. I am wondering if the computer in the car controls anything else on the car other than the carb and fuel flow that would make it so I need to keep in in the car. I would like to be able to remove everything so I dont have a computer or anything like that but I really dont know all of what I need to do. I have been looking at a friends camaro thats older to get an idea but it really has not helped. I am hoping to get the car completely over to a carburated engine without the computer being needed, and when it comes to being inspected if it has all been switched over will it ever pass an inspection? Any help would be greatly appreciated because I am at a loss as to what to do. I can tell there is a lot of work to do but anyone being able to help with some info would be awsome.
If you have a automatic the computer accuates converter lock-up. The tranny won't last long without a special aftermarket upgrade.
If you get caught in an emissions check the law will go crazy! There can be other problems.
However since the damage is done and I will assume you will only drive this car off road I will tell you a few things.
First of all you need a distibutor that is electronic ign. but still uses a vac advance. Next you need a carb that is non- computer control. You will need to set the timing for older specs. The truth is the computer controll system is superior to any older set-up.
Hope this helps, Contact me for more off-road advice if you like.
Last edited by armdale; 07-04-2009 at 03:28 PM.
Reason: smiley was wrong
My question is why would somebody replace a V6 with a COMPUTER controlled Carb? In my opinion thats a no no. This is just MY opinion but I would go ahead and buy a NON computer controlled carburetor, NON computer controlled HEI and call it good. Then you will be able to remove all unnecessary wiring and crap and clean it up really good. As for emissions with mine I just have to de-tune the carburetor so it runs like crap and it passes fine. Then once I pass I pull in the parking lot and tune it before I leave. It's kind of a pain but it's only once a year. There are two tech articles on swapping from TPI to carb and one even has some good part numbers for you to complete the swap. Hope this helps.
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1985 Trans Am 361ci - Original 305 TPI, Power Everything, T-Tops, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Rebuilt '88 Corvette 350, Isky 270 Hydraulic Cam, Hooker LT's, True Dual Exhaust w/ Moroso Spiral Flow Mufflers, WC T-5, Borg Warner 9 Bolt w/ 3.27 Gears, Glasstek 4" Cowl Hood
well here i dnt have to worry about emmissions as the car is older than a 96. so im not so worried there. And the electric controlled carb was on there so idk what the hell the guy was thinking, But i found another engine its another 350 chevy with a reg carb ect and was wondering if puttin that in and adding the trans lockup will make it so i can remove the computer or does the computer controll anything else. from what i can see so far is that all the old computer wired have been unplugged from whatever and are just hanging out uselessly. is it possible to just take the computer out and all the wiring and just make the car as if it was an older car like 70's where computers were not used, because from what i see it doesnt seem like it would be that hard
1) It's the only legal carb for an '86 in any of the 50 states (no, it is not legal to use a non-computer system because it's older than a '96).
2) It's the best street performance carb system available.
so basicaly i have to use a computer controlled carb on the car in order for it to be legal is that what you are saying? and if so, what do i do with all the wires that had been unplugged from the O2 sensors and everything else? Is there any way to just completely remove the computer and make everything mechanical just like the older cars, i dont care if the computer controlled is better or not. Im looking to get away from the computer controlled system
Correct, the only street-legal carb system for '86 is the computer version.
You can remove the computer and run an illegal non-computer system. To do so, you need to:
1) Replace the carb with a non-computer controlled type (a q-jet would be easiest).
2) Replace the distributor with a non-computer controlled vacuum/mechanical advance type.
3) Provide some means of locking up the torque converter clutch (if TH700R-4 transmission).
