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how is it possible to hook a TBI ECU to a carb'd engine

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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 03:59 AM
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91R5's Avatar
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From: Chesapeake
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
how is it possible to hook a TBI ECU to a carb'd engine

I am trying to grasp the concept of how exactly you can change a carberated motor or any other type of fuel deilvery other then TBI to a TBI ECU equiped car. Is it even possible?
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 05:12 AM
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From: Concordia Kansas
Car: 1987 Iroc Z 1990 RS 1991 RS
Engine: 454 soon 496
Transmission: Soon T56
Axle/Gears: 308 Posi
Re: how is it possible to hook a TBI ECU to a carb'd engine

It is possible. As long as you have the setup like for instance if i wanted my carb camaro to tpi just have a donor car and switch everything over and i believe there is a ecm harness you can buy as long as you have the correct ecm with the tpi that is specific for that engine. like 305 ecm tpi. ect.... IF i am wrong someone tell me I belive it is pretty simple to that though.
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 06:54 PM
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
1. Take the carburetor stuff off of the carbureted engine (leaving a "long block").
2. Take the TBI stuff off of the TBI engine and put it on the carbureted engine "long block".
3. Remove the TBI "long block" from the car.
4. Install the formerly carbureted engine with the TBI stuff on it into the car.

Of course, you could do it in a different order, such as removing the TBI engine from the car and transferring the TBI stuff over after you install the formerly carbureted engine long block into the car, but there is nothing specific about carb or TBI to the long block.

Can't say that about Gen II LT1 or Gen III LS1 engines, though.
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Old Oct 16, 2009 | 12:58 PM
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91R5's Avatar
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From: Chesapeake
Car: 91 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: how is it possible to hook a TBI ECU to a carb'd engine

well thank you very much for the reply's. from what I can gather from your posts it would appear that the very simplest thing to do is to transfer the TBI system from my existing engine to a larger better performance oriented carb'd engine. What can you say for all the emissions controls though? will they to be transferred over and find there respectful places on any small block chevy engine with a carb?
It would also appear that the computer control is essential when changing to a say a TPI or LS1/ LT1 type engine. In other words the computer must be changed it can not modified to accept this type of system on a TBI computer correct?
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Old Oct 16, 2009 | 03:33 PM
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From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Correct, the TBI computer will run TBI. Anything else, you need the computer for it.

But, TBI is also sensitive to changes in engine assumptions, such as cubic inches. You may need to change the programming when going to a larger engine.
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