bad300sport

I was on here a few weeks ago askin about a '94 350 Tpi (engine is supposedly from a '94 Camaro) swap into the '85 Camaro that had a 305 Tbi.
I've been doin a little research and I have some questions.
-What's the difference (if any) between Lt1 and Tpi engines? The engine I bought was described as a 350 Tpi. But I've been told it is an Lt1.
-Is there any way to distinguish between the two? Assuming these are two different engines and I do have a Tpi, am I correct in assuming the Tpi would be the easiest to install?
-If it happens to be a Lt1, what exactly would be required for this swap?
-What trans is most likely to be in the car, as I know nothing about 3rd gen camaro transmissions? It is an automatic and as mentioned before the engine was a 305 Tbi.
-Would the current trans bolt up to the new engine if it is a Tpi or Lt1?

I am pretty lost on this whole swapping deal. Any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated. I might be able to post a pic of the engine if it would help with identification. Thanks in advance for all your help.

bad300sport

i did some more research, i found out it is not a Lt1, so i was told wrong. it is a Tpi as indicated by the guy i bought it from. My question now is, is the installation of a 350 Tpi easier to install? where can i get a wiring harness for converting from tbi to tpi? again thanks.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

TPI was available in Camaros from 1985 to 1992. In 1993, they went to the LT1. TPI is pretty distinctive looking, with a long plenum on the top of the engine with tube runners going down to the intake base.

TBI was not available in 1985. If it is a 1985 V8 305, it was either a computerized carb or TPI. TBI did not become available until 1988.

Putting TPI into a non-TPI car requires different harnesses, sensors, computer, fuel pump, fuel lines, radiator hoses, throttle cables, relays, etc., etc., etc. The best way to go about it is with a complete TPI car available.

TPI also changed over the years. 1985 was a pretty unsophisticated computer, '86-'88 were better, '89 was similar to '86-'88 but they deleted the cold start injector, '90-'92 were changed extensively from the earlier but stayed pretty much the same within those 3 years.

Sounds like you've bitten off quite a bit. You might be better off putting (what I assume is a carb - if it is indeed a 1985 model car) on the 350 engine and selling off the TPI equipment you have.

Any chance you could post pictures of the 1985 engine and the TPI engine?

bad300sport

the casting numbers i were given and i looked up said it was an '85 and up 350 Tpi. Lt1 casting numbers were completely different. So, the seller must have made a mistake by identifying it as a '94. I can try and put up some pics if i can. i only have three.

bad300sport

i put some file attachments on here for the pics of the engine (hope that works)

roachjuice

thats an older tpi looks like 85-88 maybe... can't tell if 305 or 350..... but if ya wanna sell it... i'm looking for a motor for project lithum grease...

bad300sport

the "tbi" engine is currently not running and in the camaro. i dont have access to the camaro right now, but what you said makes sense. it is a computer controlled carb. i had never seen tbi before and since thats what i was told it was, i went with it.
since the engine pictured above it is not identified by the casting numbers as an LT1, Im assuming it is an '85-92 350 Tpi. so converting an '85 camaro from the computerized carb to Tpi is gonna be pretty difficult i imagine?
thanks for all your help thus far.

tuske427

To answer your original questions,- GM made 2 "LT1" engines. TEh first was in 1970 and was designated LT-1". It was a 350 chevy engine available I beleive in the corvettes and camaros. It was a good engine, I think rated around 360 hp. The later one, the LT1 (minus dash) was introduced in 1992 in the corvette and 1993 in the Z-28's, Trans Am's and Formulas. (Later in the caprices and Impala's too) It was considered the second generation small black. It has a reverse flow coolant flow, meaning the coolant goes to the heads frist. It also has an "optispark" distributor i nthe front of the engine ,a bout where hte waterpump goes and no typical distributor i nthe back of the engine. These are obvious tell tale signs to identify an LT1. Apparantly, they made some smaller displacement LT1's in caprices, so if you're looking for an LT1 watch out for these. They're not as easy to upgrade.

As for your engine- does it have centerbolts in the valve covers? If yes- then it's likely an '87 or newer engine. I believe Chevy changed their engines to centerbolts in '87.

TPI- or tuned port injection is the fuel injection for the engine. It's still a small block chevy underneath.

To switch a car from a carburator to a fuel injection does require upgrading of the fuel system as the fuel injected cars need much higher fuel pressure to operate. It can easily be done as many cars hads this and it's just a matter of bolting the correct parts in. But, as mentioned previously- the best way is to have the donor car as you cna grab everything you need and know where it goes because you took it off yourself.

I hope this is helpful.