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Want to convert to OBDII

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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 02:46 PM
  #1  
87IROCZCamro's Avatar
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From: Orland Park,IL
Car: Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z,96 Vette
Engine: 350 5.7 Liter
Transmission: 700r
Want to convert to OBDII

I have had to many problems tuning OBDI and finding shops around me to do my car so I want to convert to OBDII. Does anyone know how much and how hard it is to do this and what I will need?

Thanks,
Kevin
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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 03:02 PM
  #2  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

You need the entire powertrain and all related sensors from an OBDII car.
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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 03:28 PM
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From: Location, Location!
Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

I'm not sure about that. Justin89Formy has obdII on a minirammed gen1 SBC in his car. It was/still is quite a project but can be done.
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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 04:33 PM
  #4  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

You can do a frankenstein setup, but if you've got the skill to do that you probably don't have to ask the question.
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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 04:40 PM
  #5  
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Car: 1973 Datsun 240Z/ 1985 S-15 Jimmy
Engine: Turbo LX9/To be decided
Transmission: 5-speed/T-5
Axle/Gears: R200 3.90/7.5" 3.73
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

What makes you think that using OBD2 will be any easier than using OBD1?
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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 11:48 PM
  #6  
87IROCZCamro's Avatar
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From: Orland Park,IL
Car: Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z,96 Vette
Engine: 350 5.7 Liter
Transmission: 700r
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Originally Posted by Six_Shooter
What makes you think that using OBD2 will be any easier than using OBD1?
I have had problems people tuning it and people I talk to in my area will not touch my car because its OBD1 and that it takes to long to do.I dont really want to do this but I have a new engine in the car and I cant get 100% out of it.
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Old Jul 25, 2012 | 11:57 PM
  #7  
igotta355z28's Avatar
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From: Bedford Tx
Car: 1991 Z28 1LE
Engine: 370CID GenIII
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 4.33 Moser 9inch
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Like aperion said, step 1 for obd2 swap. Buy an LS1 fourth gen camaro donor car, step 2. swap complete drivetrain and harness...Step 3, have shops still not want to touch your car cause its a frankenstien that they dont want to get stuck messing with....

your best bet is just find a shop willing to work on your car now, they are out there just keep looking...
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 12:07 AM
  #8  
Six_Shooter's Avatar
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Car: 1973 Datsun 240Z/ 1985 S-15 Jimmy
Engine: Turbo LX9/To be decided
Transmission: 5-speed/T-5
Axle/Gears: R200 3.90/7.5" 3.73
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Originally Posted by 87IROCZCamro
I have had problems people tuning it and people I talk to in my area will not touch my car because its OBD1 and that it takes to long to do.I dont really want to do this but I have a new engine in the car and I cant get 100% out of it.
Sounds like a bunch of rubbish to me.

I tune OBD1 vehicles and have few issues doing so, most issues I have are related to specific ECMs, that I have not got a handle on tuning, otherwise I love tuning OBD1 ECMs.

If I absolutely had to ditch the OBD1 ECM, I would likely look at something aftermarket. Tuning OBD2 can get expensive, since there is a cost per vehicle, which to me is just a money grab, and sounds like that might be influencing people in your area, they want to get their money back out of their OBD2 tuning overhead.

Have you tried tuning it yourself?

What issues are you having?

Have you consulted the other areas on this site that could help with your tuning issues?

You might find that after swapping to an OBD2 PCM, the places around you may still not want to touch your car, because now "it's a conversion" and they "can't verify everything is correct." I've see it before.

If you really just can't tune it yourself, find out what places around you WILL tune in YOUR car, and use that.
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 12:31 AM
  #9  
86White_T/A305's Avatar
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From: Canada,Ont
Car: 1987 TransAm Ttop
Engine: 2005 LQ4
Transmission: Ls1 T56
Axle/Gears: 3:54
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Head on over to the tpi section and read the sticky about tpi with obd2 conversion.That will point you in the direction your looking for.I know a few guys here that converted their lt1 cars to ls1 pcms for better tuning and were very satisfied.The problem is alot of tuning shops just dont have the tools/patience to tune tpi cars and burn chips.

After a conversion like this,if you got the pcm with your conversion parts from a vendor..it will have a base tune with the proper firing order.Once the car is running then you can take it to a local speed shop and have it dyno tuned.Its a simple matter of them data logging the first pull and make adjustments from there as if they were tuning any other lsx pcm.

The main question is if its worth the hassle to do the conversion in the first place.I dont know what the kit costs but ask the guys at eficonnection and see what they say.They have come a long way with making these kits work very well and made tuning sbc/ltx motors alot more efficient and thus picking up hidden power and greater mpg.
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 01:17 AM
  #10  
abray1's Avatar
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From: Malvern, Arkansas
Car: 90 IROC 2-92 Zs blk vert & prpl
Engine: stealth ram brodix track 1 ful port
Transmission: 700r4 4l80e
Axle/Gears: iroc 375 lokr 92 Z 277 pos vert 327
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Ed Wright at fastchip.com can do about any tuning you want on about anything.
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Old Jul 26, 2012 | 03:40 PM
  #11  
87IROCZCamro's Avatar
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From: Orland Park,IL
Car: Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z,96 Vette
Engine: 350 5.7 Liter
Transmission: 700r
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

You have all made good points and I honestly just need help getting this car running right more than anything. Anything that can get the car running good is fine by me. I do not want to tune the car myself. I have called numerous shops around me and all say no to me.
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Old Aug 7, 2012 | 10:51 PM
  #12  
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From: Aridzona
Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Originally Posted by 87IROCZCamro
You have all made good points and I honestly just need help getting this car running right more than anything. Anything that can get the car running good is fine by me. I do not want to tune the car myself. I have called numerous shops around me and all say no to me.
An absolute in cars is the older an automotive system gets, the fewer mechanics are familiar with it.

This is accelerating, just as technology does more and more onboard functions in vehicles.

If you're dead-set on the car making gains via tuning on your car as-is, you will benefit from learning a metric tonne of information in the DIY PROM section on this forum or the DIY-EFI site. I say this having done this in the past. It's deep at first.

The 2002 van/vette PCM adapted to the Gen I SBC is the way to go if you want something most places will be able to tune and be serviceable long-term. There are zero aftermarket companies that spend as much in research and development as an OEM.

I don't even want to burn a chip for my car when I get it's body work done and back on the road. I want to go to a later powertrain. We all have our underlying desires and dislikes about the work on our cars. So you're not alone, but at least part of the progress on your car is going to be on your shoulders so get used to it.
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Old Aug 15, 2012 | 05:55 AM
  #13  
klause83z28's Avatar
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From: Kent, WA
Car: 83 z28
Engine: boat anchor 305 (ex CFI)
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10 bolt
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Originally Posted by 87IROCZCamro
You have all made good points and I honestly just need help getting this car running right more than anything. Anything that can get the car running good is fine by me. I do not want to tune the car myself. I have called numerous shops around me and all say no to me.
Efi Connection that a kit that does it for you. I remember reading an article about it a few years ago and still seems like a good idea for gen1 owners. All the system does is turn the dist into a cam sensor, and you use a modified reluctor ring set up from a vortec.

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...n/viewall.html
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Old Aug 15, 2012 | 02:16 PM
  #14  
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From: NYC / Jersey
Car: 1990 Trans Am GTA
Engine: Turbo 305 w/MS2
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Want to convert to OBDII

Originally Posted by 87IROCZCamro
You have all made good points and I honestly just need help getting this car running right more than anything. Anything that can get the car running good is fine by me. I do not want to tune the car myself. I have called numerous shops around me and all say no to me...
You can ask Eric and see if he will tune it for you, as he mostly does tunes for Grand Nationals/TTA's as well as Typhoon's/Syclones, but he is one of the best with OBD1. He's over in Salem. Give him a call, he just might be able to help you out...

http://www.turbotweak.com
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