GOTMYZ

iTrader: (1)

I am still hunting for the right replacement! I think I found one, but have some questions...

I came across a Yellow 1989 IROC-Z. It has a Turbo 350 Tranny and a 600 CFM Carb. YEP - Somebody swapped out the TPI and the 700R4!!!

Wiring harness is gone and the computer is most likely gone.

What kind of cost is involved in switching this back to TPI? Would the CARB and Intake have any resale value?

How difficult is this process?

The car has a few other issues, but they do not bother me. Cluster is not working and starter is shot.

projectredsled

is it worth it? depends on your budget and your taste. I purchased my car with the intentions of converting it back to TPI like my previous third gen but after getting the carb tuned correctly I QUICKLY changed my mind and kept the carb.

As far as resale for the carb and intake. You could sell them at a local swap meet pretty easy and might have luck with craigslist but swap meet is your best bet. Around my area it is hard to sell a used carb for anything more than $40 or $50 because they are all over craigslist but I took 2 of them to a swap meet and sold both for $100 each easy. The intake should also be an easy sale as long as it is a decent intake.

The hardest part of going back to TPI is finding a decent wiring harness (or go aftermarket but it is costly) and you would also have to work out something for te fuel pump and lines (most of the time when someone converts from TPI to carb the usually hack the back of the car up really bad to get to the pump from up top and then cut the fuel lines, pull out the EFI pump, stuff the pump back in (most of the time without putting the o-ring back on) and then use hose clamps to "repair" the fuel lines. Have only seen 1 person do it the right way and drop the tank but have seen dozens done the wrong way.

GOTMYZ

iTrader: (1)

Budget is not even in question at this time. This is a long term rebuild.

My last Camaro was a 92 RS with TBI. I liked it but had crap power. I like TPI but I have nothing against CARBs. I started to pric out the wiring harness and it looks like $500 for that and then I need intakes and runners and injectors. That jumps another $500 or so.

Sounds like the CARB made you smile!!??

projectredsled

Yeah the day I picked it up and drove it home I was very disappointed in the power and when i got home I took the carb off and noticed that the fuel that cam out of it was dark brown. I figured I might as well rebuild it so I could sell it as a fresh carb and once I got it apart it looked like crap inside. After the rebuild I figured I would bolt it back on just to see the difference and make sure it all functioned. Needless to say the carb is still on there and I smile everytime I take it for a drive. It also meant that all the money I had put aside for the TPI swap can now be used on other things to make it faster.

GOTMYZ

iTrader: (1)

It has a carborated 350 smallblock, and a 350 turbo tranny.

The engine does have some performance parts like headers, a holley intake manifold and carb. It also has a nice accel distibutor, high flow cat, flowmaster exhaust, and aftermarket gauges mounted inside.

projectredsled

very nice! post up some pics so we can see it. I dont personally like the TH350, it is a good trans for the track but I prefer a 700R4 trans or manual so that I can have the overdrive on the highway. I have a 5 speed in mine right now but have plans to go with a 6 speed in the near future. What size Holley does it have? Mine came with a 600 cfm and I bolted a 750 on it to see how much of a difference it was. It had a little more pull on the top end but the low end felt really soggy so i put the 600 back on and not it has a nice crisp throttle response

GOTMYZ

iTrader: (1)

The owner claims 600cfm

GOTMYZ

iTrader: (1)

I am not a fan of this transmission. It would become a 700R4 or a 6 spd manual. I loved my 700R4!

OdieTurbo

iTrader: (1)

There's a guy in this thread that is going from TPI to carb, perhaps you two should talk! https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...carb-swap.html

Davejs

What he said or find one to part out that has a complete drivetrain and crap body.

dabird07

iTrader: (10)

get a wire harness from pocket on the board 175 bucks is not bad and its labled cant go wrong im doing this swap right now (with heads and cam swap) not that bad it just takes alot of time the crappys part is the fuel tank and droopping it for a fuel pump inside the tank.

You will love the look and cant tell you about the power cuz im still rebuilding mine

check out my thread some time man

and you can find tpi units on the thread all day and i think hawksthirdgen sells the setup for 600 bucks or so for the whole seteup

Davejs

Depending on your budget you could drop on Vortec heads and SDPC manifold with better runners. Even with a mild cam that thing will have the power and Tq to make things happen.

irocarter

iTrader: (1)

are you sure that's an 89? I didn't think made yellow ones after 87. Anyway, if you decide to do the tpi swap,the throttle cables are different from carb and tpi.
When buying a fuel pump I recommend an AC Delco unit. I tried using an A-ZONE pump once and it was crap out of the box TWICE!!

Davejs

Option B is go aftermarket injection with more power right off that bat and more easy to upgrade.

BuzzLOL

.. If budget isn't a problem, as you say, then I'd look for a car (in nationwide listings) somebody hasn't butchered up already!!

.. Or, if sticking with this one, go Holley Stealth Ram rather than begin the process/battle of trying to find great power from the restrictive stock TPI setup which quits making power at a lowly 4500 RPMs on a 350"......

irocarter

iTrader: (1)

right on BUZZ
OR short shift with that tpi!