im going from tpi to carb my whole factory tpi harness is intact is there any reason why i cant just hook all the factory sensors up for the gauges hook up the starter and use the coil power wire for the hei and i guess my big question is the tach will i be able to hook the original wire up to the box and it work or will i need to use some special converter o yea i will prolly use a msd digital 6 box

 

A) Unfortunately, this is a pretty common topic.

B) Why? The object is to upgrade, not downgrade. Carbs are ancient history, unless you're making a full on race car.

 

its not like im putting in a stock engine. you get more bang for the buck with a carb.

 

You should be fine with doing what you listed. The coil wire can go to the HEI- I'm guessing you will be using an old style HEI distibutor. The tach wire should work fine coming from the "tach" therminal off the HEI cap or from the tach output wire if you use a MSD. Obviously, the starter wiring should work the same. I fully removed my TPI harness and started over. You'll find that most of the wires from the ECM harness will now go nowhere. All the stuff involving cruise, VSS, MAF, TPS, charcoal canister, coolant temp sensor, and I'm sure I'm missing a few, won't be needed. Anything going to your dash cluster with the exception of the "check engine", and "shift" light do not interact with the ECM. A cool thing is that so many of your fuse circuits will no longer be used so you can use them for whatever aftermarket things you want. Hope this helps a little. What do you plan on doing for fuel delivery?
----------And Kevin, what do you care if he wants to go from TPI to a carb? Your comment helped nothing.

 

I care because

A) TPI engines should stay in TPI thirdgens. If you want a carb you should have bought a carb car.

B) Downgrading to a carb engine isnt smog legal.

C) Fuel injection is way better than carbs for all around driving.

D) I love being able to sit in my driver's seat and adjust my fuel and spark without going under the hood, getting my hands dirty, or spilling gasoline all over the place.

 

Wow; I thought you guys were here to help ?? He was looking for info on wiring a tach to an MSD box & didn't deserve that Harsh reponse. I'm pretty sure he doesn't care if your affraid of "getting my hands dirty". Man ----> This place sure ain't what it used to be !!!!!


89lt1 - It's like "vortec350s10" said - you should not have a problem hooking up all the gauge wiring other than the 40 pounds of useless ECM wiring. Just follow the MSD instrutions when wiring to the tach and you will be fine.

Good Luck with your conversion !

 

Thanks u have been a lot of help do you know if i will be able to get rid of the wires i dont use And they do not do smog testing where i live and they never check for cats or anything. I have a tpi car thats staying tpi.

 

They might not do checks but its still illegal by federal law. What are you going to do if they start doing checks? As this global climate change BS spreads across the country and gets believed by politicians who think they're making a difference, you might have a problem.

 

oh well i will figure something out if it comes to that but i have one question for u kevin where did u get 4.10's for a 9 bolt.

 

I bought them used from a local friend who I think got them from 9bolt.com when he was in business.

 

why do u care you sound like a feminine dude.
"i dont want to get my hands dirty"?? the man just wants some power who cares what u got to say. If you arent going to help why leave a comment. I have the same problem i got a 89 camaro with no engine. I have a carbed 350 im going to swap in and im doing all the wiring right now

 

I care because TPI engines are special while carbs are a dime a dozen. TPI belongs in thirdgens. It doesnt take many brains or talent to make a carb fast. I also dont like to see TPI cars hacked up and downgraded when there are plenty of carb cars already out there that can be used.

Plus I do care about following the law, and not doing anything that will pollute more. Global warming is a bunch of BS, but smog is something you can see and breathe.

My car is completely smog legal, passes CA's smog check, runs in the 12's at the track, gets 20+ MPG on the highway, and is my daily driver. Can you say that about your carb car?