Hi all! I am new here, see this is a large community of people! Ok so I purchased a 86' IROC from craigslist and got the bad end of the deal, engine is puking oil from the dipstick and is done for. I am an old school SBC guy with lots of carb knowledge but no TPI. I would like to build a new 5.7 shortblock with 9.5:1 comp and a Comp Cam XE256H for a good daily driver. For the TPI whats the way to go as far as a tune method such as a chip or something else? The stock 5.0 heads I believe have a 58cc comb. chambers, anyone know for sure? Also what are the valve springs good for as far as cam lift? Do TPI heads have a different bolt pattern for the intake manifold than old SBC heads? I know I will need bigger injectors and an adjustable fuel pressure regulator, what else is involved here?

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

305 heads are 58cc. You're going to need about 15cc dish pistons to get 9.5:1 CR, assuming you have about .040" quench height. The valve springs are good for stock lift and not much else. Figure on aftermarket springs to match your cam (retainers would be a good idea as well to eliminate those heavy exhaust valve rotators).

The '86 TPI heads have the same bolt pattern as earlier SBC's. It changed on iron heads in '87. As long as your heads are perimeter bolt valve covers, you won't have an issue.

You should also get a 350 knock sensor and module. If you can find an '87-'88 350 TPI PROM, you can plug it into your computer and it'll run fine with no more cam than you're talking about. Or, you can have your PROM flashed for the 350. Reports on off-the-shelf chips aren't exactly glowing.

Adjustable fuel pressure isn't needed just because you have a 350. It's a nice tuning feature, though.

 

Thank you very much for the info!!!!!

 

Over the weekend I got a fresh 350 4 bolt main block .030 over with new rods and pistons. The pistons are the above stated dish. When I tear into this build this weekend I will try to post some pics and keep everybody up to date.

 

 

Do you know if my stock TPI heads have self aligning rocker arms? Changed my cam choice to a Comp Cam XE262H, do you still think it would run ok with the stock 350 prom? Also what lb. injectors do you think I need? 305's had 19lb and 350's had 21or 23lb. I believe. Again thank you for your help!!!

 

'86 were non-self aligning.

The XE262 should be fine.

The factory used 22 lb injectors in 350 TPI's.

 

Thanks again, you have been a huge help!

 

Don't forget, if you use stock exhaust manifolds replace the one wire O2 sensor...If you have hedders, install a three wire heated O2 sensor. The O2 sensor must be able to reach 600 degree's F to run in closed loop mode on the ECM.

 

Are you saying to just replace it as a new O2, or is it a different one for the 5.7?

 

The part about the 5.7 knock sensor I understand, as far as the module are you talking about the one in the distributor?

 

No, the knock sensor module is on the firewall in the driver side corner.

 

The O2 sensor should be replaced around 50k miles for best results for the ecm to go into close loop mode. As for the 5.7, if you are using stock iron exhaust manifolds (305 or 350) a stock one wire O2 sensor will do just fine. If you have hedders, the stock O2 sensor is further away from the head and will not be able to reach 600 deg and the ecm will stay in open loop mode. A three wire (heated O2 sensor) would be necessary to reach 600 deg.

 

Thank you very much for all the help! I got the old engine torn down to find #4 cyl. piston was damaged near the rings and the cylinder was cracked. I got all the parts I will be using from it cleaned up today and will be taking the heads to the machine shop Monday. Starting on the new short block next weekend. I took some pics just need to figure out how to post them.

 

N/P...I've done this swap and the 86-92 model's are much better to do than a 85 (believe me ). You can PM me for Q&A's and I'll try to help. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Just waiting on the machine shop to finish the heads and we will be in business! Engine bay is cleaned and painted as well as all other parts. I painted the intake red, that was a job with the glass beading and taping off! All looks good, forgot my camera at the shop but will post pics soon. What is the best place to get a 5.7 PROM, not a Hypertech?

 

if you have done any modifications such as a 383 stroker, then you might be better off getting a custom dyno tune... the hypertech chips, simply just advance your timing a bit, not much... you're better off getting a custom chip.... at least that's what I'll be doing when I get around to upgrading my powertrain...

 

Well I will be doing the tuning myself, just can't seem to find an original prom chip for a 350.

 

have you tried eBay, or have you tried posting on the classified right here, I am sure there are fellow members willing to part ways with one of their proms...

 

Harris chips advertizes on ebay, they can customize a chip for the mods that you done to your engine. I have a Motorvations stage II chip in mine.

http://www.motorsportsinnovations.com/motorvation.htm

 

Update: I purchased an entire 89' IROC for a parts car and have since stripped this car of everything possible. I now have the computer from this car and all from the firewall, I do not however know what the knock sensor module looks like (call me stupid!) so I can swap this to my current project car??? I promise pics are coming as the project is coming along very well!

 

Here is a pic of the ESC Its close to the brake booster...


http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...EAMS_560050614___

Here is a pic of the Knock sensor...Just forward of, the back of the starter...

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...SAMS_575774720___

 

Thank you very much! From the price of it I am glad I have one on the parts car!

 

Yw, I know what you mean...If you use the ECM and the wiring from the 89 IROC check to see if it has the VATS ( vehicle anti theft system) on it. If it is not setup or by-passed correctly, the ECM will not send a signal to the injectors to operate.

 

The 89' does have VATS. I can still just pull the PROM from that computer and put in my 86' though correct??? I hope so! I am finishing building the engine this weekend and hope to be driving it on Monday!

 

The VATS is programmed on the ECM (MEM-CAL) prom. You may have to get a custom prom or run the stock 305 prom till you can find one. You have several options on what you want to do here. The lowest cost would be to use the vats system off your 89 IROC (dash wiring, Vats module, steering column w/key) and transferring it to your 86) lots of labor time. The fastest but more expensive is a custom prom. The MEM-CAL Needs to be for a non- VATS system to work on your stock 86 ECM wiring if it dosen't have VATS.

 

Another thing to mention, your 86 TPI has a 9th injector (cold start) on the drivers side plenum runner(between #3 and #5 cyl) and a thermal temp switch for the 9th injector (located at the front of the intake manifold). Your stock 305 MEM-CAL (prom) is programmed to add extra fuel to this injector for up to 8 seconds for cold starting. Once the engine warms to 95 degrees, the ECM disables the cold start injector operation.

On the 89 IROC, the 9th injector was eliminated. The prom is programmed to add extra fuel to the eight injectors while cold cranking. If you use the 89 IROC prom, you can just unplug the electrical connector from the thermal temp switch and the 9th injector or use the fuel rail and plenum runner off the 89 IROC engine.

 

You may be able to find a 87 or 88 Camaro 350/auto MEM-CAL on this site or Ebay.

 

I wanted to post a few pics of how the build is coming along!

 

More pics!

 

looking Good!!!

 

So last night I go to put the dipstick in so I can get ready to start the engine for the first time and no go! I now have a drivers side dipstick that goes in at the deck surface, unlike the original passenger side that goes in at the panrail. I need to find a exhaust manifold to clear my dipstick, as of now it's not even possible with an aftermarket flex dipstick. Any ideas what manifold would work??? Going to the salvage yard Monday to look for a needle in the haystack!

 

Last night I got the car started and went on a test drive! It runs good! I first tried the 89' 350 PROM and it would not run, don't know if it was because the 9th injector or because I didn't use the 89' distributor which is very different??? I put my 86' 305 PROM back in and it fired right up, set timing and it runs. I am going to guess I will need to burn a custom PROM because on start up it won't idle it's like a carb but when warm it's ok. My friend has a burner so I just need to order the chip and adapter from Moates.net and drop a program in it. For now I just put a plug in the dipstick hole.

 

There aren't any manifolds that both clear a driver side dipstick tube and fit in a 3rd gen chassis, to the best of my knowledge.

 

I need to check what headers are on my IROC because it has a drivers side dipstick. This post is mostly to remind me to check tonight...

 

I haven't heard of any driver side dipstick problems with any brand of headers.

 

Doh, right!

 

I really didn't want to use hedders but it looks like I may have to. If I do I think I will use some Hedman shorty hedders, I really like their ball style collector they never ever leak! Do you know with shortys if you have to then run true duals or if you can tie into the y pipe?

 

I am getting ready to order some chips and adapters from Moates.net for my computer and use my friends Ostrich software and burner. Has anybody else ever used it?