I have just dropped a 350 into my 85 iroc. It was originally a tpi 305. I had an 85 z28 that was a carbed 305 and was just going to swap it but when we went do to the valve seals discovered one of the pistons either had a hole in it or cracked ring because there was a 40 knot wind coming from bottom end after cylinder pressurized. Anyway I swapped carb from 305 with its linkage and brackets but the carb is wasted. I have a chance to buy a holley 6210 650 pread bore in almost new condition for $150. Will this carb work with tranny hook up? Thanks. JD

 

I am pretty sure you'll need to get a TV cable bracket adapter for a Holley and 700r4 as I believe the ones from the Qjets and Hollley's use a different set ups. Otherwise it should work fine.

 

You'll also need a method of locking up the torque converter, a method of controlling your fans, an HEI vacuum advanced dist, throttle cable brackets, and maybe a TV cable from a carbed car or a TBI car.

Switching to a non computerized carb means ditching the ECM and all it's functions...

TPI cars the primary fan is controlled by the ECM - so you'll need an aftermarket fan controller. Secondary fan is controlled by the fan switch or the A/C switch.

TPI distributor is HEI, but it's computer controlled, and since your ECM will no longer be getting input from the TPI setup, it can no longer advance and retard timing on it's own - you'll have to get a HEI vacuum advanced distributor.

No inputs to ECM from TPI means no torque converter lockup, so you'll have to find a method for that.

And I read alot where TPI folks have issues with the TV cable from the TPI cars when switching to carb - from what I read the TPI cable is too long in a carbed application. So you'll need a different TV cable I think.

As mentioned, you'll also need a TV cable geometry corrector for the that carb. And new throttle brackets for the throttle cable and TV cable. Don't know about the TPI throttle cable and a carb - might have to get a TBI or carbed throttle cable as well.

So there's alot more involved than just sticking the intake/carb on top. And then - there's emissions. Federally it's not legal - but none of us adhere to the feds - F 'em! But depending on your state/county inspection requirements, you may not pass inspection without having the OEM induction system.

Why not keep the TPI system and have it tuned for the 350? I would think the car should at least run by swapping the 350 TPI chip in and taking the 305 chip out of the ECM. Might have to get a knock sensor for a 350 as well. And Most dyno shops can easily tune TPI chips these days from what I understand. Search and Post up in the TPI section on how/what to do to make the TPI work.

 

I bought the car from someone on this site. It had no motor just the transmission and the computer was already rippedout of it. I have dropped a 350 into it because the 305 i was going to put into it wasn't worth rebuilding. As for the fan its not electric...clutch fan on the water pump. The transmission cable seemed to hook up fine and it does engage and have moved the car around. So if the computer locked up the torque converter what does that mean??? I wont have overdriver? And how do I fix that problem? What else does that damn computer control??? I noticed the heating cooling fan for inside doesn't work and my head lights wont come up but marker, brake and signal lights work??? Big wiring mess under the dash!!!

 

I'd still get the geometry corrector for the TV cable for that carb - $20 now better than new tranny later.

The tranny will run hotter without lockup, also mileage will be affected some. This could lead to a bad tranny (the extra heat). Lock-up kits are available for about $100 - they get installed in the tranny - have to remove the pan. Then they get wired into the car with a vacuum switch, or a remote toggle, or both. Most everyone agrees that not having the converter lockup will ruin the tranny.

 

Ok hate to belabour this.....The tranny that is in there now is from a carbed 85 z28 so will it already have the manual lock up already in it? I am now starting to think the holley is not worth the trouble. I can get a new rebuilt quadrajet up here in the great white north for $360 bucks and wouldn't have to worry about whether the brackets are right. and one more question. I bought a fuel pressure regulator because the electric pump in the tank produces too much psi. We could get the pump to work so I bought a mallory inline electric pump that produces 9psi....is that still too much for the holley or quad and should I run the fuel through the regulator? Man I miss the good old days of just dropping in a motor in a weekend and driving it!!!!

 

OK - I think you misunderstand.

You are not going to use the TPI system, so there will be no computer. It does not matter what type of carb you use, you still can't use the computer, so you will still need to make alot of changes.

There has to be a method to lock the torque converter. You may or may not have to open up the tranny and replace the solenoid inside in order to do this - depends on the tranny. There is a sticky in the carb forum called TCC Lockup - go through it.

You are going to have to replace the TV cable I believe - as I understand it, the TPI TV cable is too long to make work with a carb, regardless of what type of carb you choose.

You cannot put a Quad on there if it computer controlled, unless you can tune it without computer connected to it.

You'll still have to get a non-computer controlled distributor (a vacuum advanced dist) regardless of the carb you choose.

You can use the Mallory pump you bought, but you'll have to drop the tank, remove the TPI fuel pump, and install a carb pickup - you cannot use the Mallory fuel pump externally with the TPI pump in place. The TPI pump is not running, the external Mallory pump will burn itself out trying to suck fuel through the non-working TPI pump in the tank - the dead intank pump makes a restriction.

If the pump has no method of regulating, you'll need the regulator to get the pressure down more than 9psi - the Quads like 4.5 or 5psi, the Holley and Edelbrock like under 6psi.

 

Ok so drop the tank take the old pump out....the distributor is electronic and is vacuum advance and I already have the fuel pressure regulator. And even though the tranny is from a non tpi car I still have to get the lock up kit? Wouldn't it already have it if came out of a non tpi z28? Thanks again for the advice...start working on the tank this week.

 

The type of induction (carb, TBI, TPI) has nothing to do with locking the torque converter. Read the TCC lockup sticky in the carb forum, it will explain how to test for what 4th gear solenoid switch you have and whether or not it has to be changed out, and how to do it, etc.

Maybe your getting confused between the TV cable since I mentioned the length of it and trying to rig it to a carb, and the lockup which is a totally different monster. The TV cable makes the transmission shift, the lockup locks the torque converter after it's shifted to 4th gear.

On the fuel - you can avoid dropping the tank and just use the in-tank pump, but you'll need to return that fuel pump and get the return-style regulator. But given the age of your car, the pump probably needs replaced anyway, so dropping the tank and replacing the pump with a pickup and using an external pmp is probably best - it'll save you from having to drop the tank again years later. There's also a sticky in the carb forum on how to do carb pickups and such.