Tmic87TPI

iTrader: (3)

I'm dropping in a carb'd 355 in place of my 305tpi, so I know I'll need an AFPR but which one should I get? then what should I do for a trans kickdown cable, I'm going to be running a 600cfm edlebrock performer and a 700r4. last question is what wires can I "trim" out?? I'm planning on ditching all the emissions sh** as well as my A/C.

anything else I should know about this swap before tackling it this winter?

-Tim

PS: if you guys want some pics just ask... the progress will be slow but you guys should all know I love showing off pictures!

btw I have searched and read threw tons of posts as well as the tech article but I'd like to completly sure before spending more money.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Any carb AFPR will work, its up to you

Cables should be from a carb or TBI car. Nab the brackets too

The 700R4 will not have lockup control without the ECM. You must use an older style vacuum switch like on the carb cars. Several companies sell these and the related wiring

As for wiring read this before you begin
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...p-3rd-gen.html

This thread has alot of the useful pinouts of the body connectors and useful info about fittings and non engine related wiring such as fuel pump/fan control
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...formation.html

Anything else? Yes EFI is better, reuse the TPI harness/ECM, get a L98 chip and have it tuned for your combo

camaronewbie

No - NOT ANY AFPR will work!!

If you are using the in-tank pump, you MUST use a return-style regulator like the Mallory 4309! There's no other way around it unless you are dropping the tank and replacing the electric fuel pump with a carb pickup.

The entire pass side wiring harness can be removed.

TC lockup info is correct - won't work after ECM removal - most kits require dropping the tranny pan to install a new solenoid - B&M makes a kit that does not require dropping the pan.

You'll need a nice sturdy throttle cable bracket, and you'll need a geometry corrector for the TV cable that attaches to the carb linkage, and a TBI or carb TV cable.

Must not have searched or read too much - this has been posted over and over again like a gazillion trillion times - at least one new post a week - and now once more There's even a sticky on it in the carb forum.

Tmic87TPI

iTrader: (3)

thanks guys, looks like I've got some parts to search for and I'm rebuilding my 700r4 while its out so I planned on installing a lockup switch too, guess I neglected to mention that. thank you for the links Pocket and while I may agree about EFI being better, the engine is already setup for carb, maybe someday I'll be able to afford a nice EFI setup but not with college next year lol


thank you for that insightful comment. as you can clearly tell from the end of my post I was trying to avoid any comments like this, and I obviously did search since I knew what I was asking, and since I got mixed answers it obviously hasn't been gone over enough.. comments like yours are why TGO has gone down hill. good job.

-Tim

camaronewbie

Sorry dude - I (and many others) just get tired of answering the same damn questions all the time, day in and day out. The reason TGO has gone downhill is that a ton of newbies sign in everyday and post ignorance without even reading the forum policies and rules. Questions about trucks, Porche's, Caprice's - and the "guess my hp questions - give us a break and go to the dyno! Then add the "need a dollar" jerks who think the Classifieds section doesn't get enough hits - PLEASE! - WE DON"T LOOK IN THE FOR SALE SECTION CAUSE WE AREN"T BUYING!!!!!!

Then, to top the cake, a "senior member" like yourself that's been around the TGO block a few times goes and does the same? It just gets annoying after awhile. That's why we have the forum rules and policies, and that's why each and every section clearly states at the top to first!

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Actually it cant all be removed. Fan relay 12v fuse, fuel pump relay output and call all go through the pass side harness behind the fender. Most carb setups use atleast some sort of booster pump near or in the tank. They will need this wiring. Unless he is switching to a manual fan, the fan fuse and call wire will both be needed. He will have to use a fan switch instead of having the ECM call the function

camaronewbie

I was assuming he was ditching the ECM altogether since it will serve no purpose anymore. Fans maybe on the TPI cars as I understand that the TPI ECM does control the primary fan - but would be much easier to go to a seperate fan controller instead of trying to rig the factory wiring to work since the ECM might not get the right signals from sensors to control the fan anyways.

And the simple solution for the fuel pump is to remove the fuel pump wiring from the oil pressure sending unit and run those wires to a relay with a ground and a switched 12v so that when the key is on, the relay activates and runs the fuel pump (no need for the fuel pump priming now since the carb bowls will always have enough gas to start the car).

Thus, my thought was a much cleaner (ie less wires) engine bay can be achieved with these two modifications and removing the entire stock pass side harness and ECM. But there are as many options for doing it as there are members here at TGO. For me it's an easier concept to get a seperate fan controller, wire the fuel pump to a relay with a switched 12v, and take the entire TPI harness out in tact - plus the TPI harness is worth bucks to many folks out there looking to swap to EFI

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Running the fan on a temp switch isnt a rig job, hell carb cars used it as the exclusive method of electric fan control

Fuel pump wiring can be removed but the booster pump is recommended

My point wasnt which wires I posted were specifically needed, it was that there were useful wires running through the harness there and blindly taking a pair of loppers to sever it would be a bad idea

I agree on removing the TPI harnesses whole, esp if he is considering returning to EFI later. Similar year V6 harnesses are common and pennies on the dollar. If youll read the beginning of the how-to thread youll see I recommend the base model harnesses from the start

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Although you are doing an engine change at the same time, your questions aren't about engine swap.

This is covered in the Carburetor forum all the time. It's the first thing addressed in the "Welcome to the Carburetor Forum" sticky. It's been the subject of a tech article for years https://www.thirdgen.org/carbswap. Links to other sites also available https://www.thirdgen.org/carbswap

That's why it's frustrating to answer the same question over and over.

Tmic87TPI

iTrader: (3)

pocket - that is one hell of a write up, thanks man! I'm scared to death of wiring but I may pull a harness and give it a shot..

thank you guys for the helpful advise..

camaronewbie - trust me I've been in the same position as you are before but I was in the body section.. I just tried to be nice to the people and direct them to a helpful thread in a friendly manor. but thank you for your help man. see I know nothing about engines, I know transmissions and all sorts of body work but this is my first engine swap.

-Tim

John in RI

iTrader: (167)

There's more than one way to skin a cat; since it's your first swap, Keep it simple. Once you have the basic package working than you could add any number of mods/upgrades in order to male it "better". Recomendations from retaining a 3-way fuel filter to a 91-92 fuel tank are all ways to make a carb system "better".


Install a Carb pick-up and block mounted pump. You could pull the original pump from your current pick-up and add a length the rubber as long as the pump and reinstall. I'd add an extra inline filter due to the lack of a "sock" on the rubber hose ! ( Most guys don't bother ! )

Remove the entire TPI harness from your 87.

Buy an Aftermarket TCC kit or go to a junkyard and locate a early 80's truck/Van with 700R4. Most of them use a vacuum operated TCC lock up and the system can be easily added to a ThirdGen. ( Pull the Vac soleniod, any wiring pulugs to/from it & the plug from the tranny )

Add an aftermarket Sensor/Relay for your fan. Block mounted coolant fan sensor recommended.

Take that advise and your Fuel, Fans, And TCC systems are covered. You will have spent less $$ than buying a quality AFPR and have only worked with less than a dozen 'custom' wires in order to get your 355ci doin' Donuts down main steet. ( and you really don't even need the TCC lock-up for that ! )

vangogh4560

wow some grumpy people on this site

camaro430sut

iTrader: (2)

Tim, I took my harness out when I put my motor in. I went through the wiring diagram and cut everything out I didnt need anymore. I had trouble getting the fan to run after, I bought a painless fan control kit. I actually like it better cause it allowed me to turn the fan on sooner. Your going to need a Malory 4309 like said. If ya need help with any of the wiring, Ive been through it all before I can give you a hand

Tmic87TPI

iTrader: (3)

thanks matt chances are I'll be giving you a call once I get into it, I'm ordering the AFPR today.. but the engine builder recommended me running two FPR's, anyone know any advantage to this?

-Tim