I just got a 92 RS body and interior in mint condition for $400. Pics coming as soon as I figure how to transfer from camera phone to internet. Anyway, I have not started it up yet as I won't have keys until I get title(Mechs. lein) in 30 days. If when I start this car up I decide to dump the engine(5.0) and trans is there a such thing as a 350 tbi or can I put in a tpi 350 without lots and lots of modifications? what would you do?

 

B-bodies such a Caprice had 350 TBI. They had pretty much the same limitations as the LO3, just another 45 cubic inches to choke.

Info about TBI upgrades and 350 TBI is available on the TBI forum.

Swapping to TPI is pretty much a take-out-all-the-TBI-specific-stuff and install-all-the-TPI-specific-stuff job. Donor TPI car highly advised, rather than trying to piece it all together. Probably the biggest issue will be replacing the in-tank electric fuel pump.

 

five7kid is dead on. The swap is really easy pending you have a donor car to dissassemble. It is pointless however to take a stock 350 TBI from a B-body or truck and put it in stock form. As five said it is just as a pathetic of a motor but with 45 more cubes. I wouldn't waste your time converting to TPI. TBI motors only gain about 10 to 15 hp when a TPI induction is swapped on. Your best bet is to build up the motor on the side and in the meantime prepare the car for the new found power when it comes.

 

I assumed the 350 TPI would be a 350 that had TPI on it from the factory. Probably not a good assumption, but a wise course (unless you build up a proper 350 as Shifty suggested).

 

So your saying just put in a factory 350 TPI, change the fuel pump and that's it? Don't bother with the 350 tbi at all? I was talking to LFN AT U who does tons of 3rd gen part outs and he said it was really a pretty simple swap if you do it that way. Is he correct?

 

Well... its not that simple, u have to repin your ECM harness for a TPI ECM. IF its from a SD car, u will probably have to get a chip burned. I think u also have to get better fuel lines to handle the higher pressure. Your also going to have to get the dual aircleaner setup from a tpi car. Also, if u want a dual fan setup u need to pull that...
Moral of the story, get a donor car with a TPI already, or it can really nickel and dime u to death.

 

I wouldn't swap to TPI unless I was prepared to put another type of multi port intake on it whether it be mini ran, stealth ram, or super ram. The stock TPI isn't worth swapping to when it so restrictive once mods are added. What I would do is use the block, heads, and cam and just put your TBI set-up on top of it. It is much cheaper that way than doing a whole swap plus you have an unlimited amount of intake choices that have the potnetial make awesome power up top provided the motor is prepped right. You will need to look into chip buring or have someone else provide one for you. Tuning is the problem with these swaps. It is easy to just un-bolt and re-bolt engines underneath your TBI induction but you cannot just turn the key and go. Proper chip burning is required to make it all work. It is the lifeblood of these systems.

 

What are the smog laws like in Chicago?...cuz of those three setups, only the super ram is 50 state legal.

 

I have no idea about Chicago but as long as there is no visual inspection any closed loop multi port system should pass providing the tune is dialed in.