This is some information regarding two products needed for the tpi to carb swap.

The first is the fuel pressure regulator (3 port), so you can use the existing in tank fuel pump. The sugessted one is the 75 dollar peice in summit. However, gm offers one with its ho 350 camaro conversion. This is a carbed engine w/ an in tank fuel pump. Is this 3 port and will it bring down the pressure enough? PN 10185094, 31.96$

The other thing is the tranny lockup TC. Painless offers a kit for 130 or so, but GM offers a kit that sounds like it does exactly the same thing (discription a bit unclear). Gms kit goes for 35.61$, PN 24502513.

 

jayman350 posted the following:

I just took a look at your tpi->carb post. Where can I find the info from gm about that part? Do they have a website? I have never gone direct w/ gm on something like this. I usually check summit and jegs before I go anywhere else, unfortunately I am at work right now so I don't have much time to go searching for this stuff.

[This message has been edited by x5finger (edited April 06, 2001).]

 

There are several internet places that offer GM parts at direct from factory prices, which are MUCH MUCH cheaper than what you'd pay at a dealers parts counter. The most frequently mentioned is www.gmpartsdirect.com I think the service was great. The shipping is a bit slower, and some may say pricyer for more expensive items (cost based, not weight based shipping), but the prices still beat dealer prices over the head. Prices are typically half. You can just search for any gm part number at that web site to see how much cheeper it is. There is also a GM performance parts cataloge online there.

At home, most of us have 56k. At work everyone should have a T1. Were do you think our surfing is done? hehehe...

Keep in mind, I am not sure if either of these parts would work. Thats the question this thread is asking.

[edit:]

Possible TC lockup kit:
https://www.spoperformanceparts.com/...289&CATID=1286

Possible fuel pressure regulator:
https://www.spoperformanceparts.com/...=135&CATID=126

[This message has been edited by x5finger (edited April 06, 2001).]

 

I am gonna call one of the dealers on there tomorrow. One of them is in NH(I am from Boston) so I doubt that it would take that long to get it shipped from there. Hopefully they will be able to tell me if this is what I need or not. I will let you know what I hear from them one way or another.
oh yeah, I have cable at home hehehe

------------------
Jay

black 85 Z28, t-tops, 4bbl carb, flowmaster 80 series muffler w/ custom tips (hollowed out cat), edelbrock chrome air cleaner, Infinity 4" 2 way front speakers and Infinity 3 way 6x9s, Alpine CDA-7863 head unit. many more mods planned (holley carb 4160 and edelbrock performer intake coming very soon)

 

I can't comment on the GM lockup kit, but Jegs sells a lockup kit for right at $70. I have it on my car and it works fine. It does have some annoying in/out engagement of the TC under light throttle but that is supposedly adjustable on the vacuum switch unit. I must be stupid though because I can't find the damned adjustment...

Heres the url to view it from jegs. http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...%202506%202902 In the paper mail out catalog it doesn't mention anything about it being from TCI, I was pleasantly suprised that it wasn't a no-name kit when I received it. On the web catalog it is listed as TCI though...

The fuel pressure regulator you mention from the 350 HO kit won't work *I don't think*. That 350 HO kit is to put the 350 HO into a previously carbed 3rdgen, so it wouldn't already have the hi-pressure FI pump. The Mallory unit for $75 does in fact work w/ the stock high pressure TPI pump though (I'm using it). The important thing (other than the return style) is the range of adjustment. The Mallory unit advertised a 3-50 psi range, I couldn't find any other regulators that were rated at that broad of a range so I went w/ the Mallory...

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray


[This message has been edited by Ray87Z (edited April 08, 2001).]

 

The GM lockup kit contains a 5 pin connector, a 4 pin connector shell, a pin extractor, a replacement TV spring and a 4th gear pressure switch. It doesn't have a vacuum switch.

Ray87Z, if your TCI kit came with a small flat black pressure switch, there should be a dimple in the center of one side. Drill the dimple out carefully and there's an adjustment screw inside. Check your instruction sheet if you still have it.

 

I don't have the instruction sheet anymore, that's the problem. It does have a small hole on one side w/ a piece of metal at the bottom. So I'm supposed to drill through that metal at the bottom to reveal a screw? Hmm, don't want to screw it up...

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

[This message has been edited by Ray87Z (edited April 08, 2001).]

 

Not the rivet, the dimple in the plastic in the center of the switch on the side marked "World Magnetics". Twist a 1/8" drill in your fingers in the dimple to expose a small allen head adjustment screw. Turn it clockwise to raise the vacuum level and counterclockwise to lower it.

 

Well, the parts list for this conversion package includes an in tank fuel pump, so I was thinking maybe this was a high pressure pump.

The purpose of a large psi adjustment range is to up the pressure on an FI engine, as they like 45 or so psi. If it only adjusts from 5-15, thats all you'll need in a carb. I suppose all that matters is that it is a 3 port pressure regulator...

Now that I am thinking about it, couldn't any 2 port pressure regulator that is good for 8 psi or there abouts work? The problem with a 2 port is that there is no return line, so I guess you'd burn up your in tank fuel pump, because it'd be pushing, but it wouldn't be moving any fuel. Now, if you put a T or a Y fitting on the in port of a two port pressure regulator, you'd attach the incoming to one and a return to the other. It'll let the 9 psi in, and still be able to return the extra. This would save a good 50 bucks or so... Any thoughts, anybody?

[This message has been edited by x5finger (edited April 08, 2001).]

 

The problem is the stock pump flows like 25 psi or something w/ no regulator at all, you have to regulate it down to 5 or so psi from there, so you need a large range of adjustment. That is the going theory anyway, I don't know anyone who has tried a different regulator yet to test it. On the other hand I definitely wouldn't be surprised if you can get something else to work. Let us know what you get to work if you try something else.

Thanks for the info about the vacuum switch, Apeiron, I'm going to pull that sucker off today and get that bitch adjusted, that in/out engagement is pissing me off. The metal plate I was mentioning isn't a rivet though, not sure what the heck it is. Sounds like I need to concentrate on the other side though anyway so who cares.

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray