Ok guys, im new here as you can tell but i've been reading TONs of posts in the last couple of weeks. Here's my deal. I have a 94 caprice lt1 at the machine shop right now, but i have some questions. I was hoping to lose the mass airflow crap in order to go ??speed dynasty?? How would i accomplish this? i know i have to get the pcm flashed but what else is needed for the conversion? I dont really want to buy a mass airflow unless switch is a real PITA. Any help would be great. Im also ditching the clutch fan going with dual electric, Trick FLow heads one of comp cams XFI cams (haven't decided yet) 58 mm TB, full MAC exhaust, I know i have to switch to a TPI fuel pump, as my car is an original 87 carb 305 (i didn't even know they made them this late) 1.6 stainless roller rockers(if i can find tall centerbolt valve covers stupid alternater). im thinking Accel optispark with either accel or msd coil. Painless wiring and a PCM from PCM for less. Am i missing anything?? i know i have to plumb new fuel, ac, coolant lines. Im just trying to get my head straight with a game plan. Any ideas, suggestions or just moral support would be AWSOME.

 

Which tranny are you going with? The LT1 pcm will be looking for an electrical input from the vss on the back of the tranny (since Caprices didn't have stick shifts, I assume the pcm you have is from an automatic car).

 

Wow, optimistic project there. Changing so much will require some expert tuning/troubleshooting for sure. Hope it all works out for you.

 

Going with a "Painless wiring" wiring harness will not get you much over a stock harness, other than costing you about $500 extra, either get to work on the stock harness, or pay to have it done, because you'll be doing the exact same after you've got the "painless" harness, the only thing you get for the $ is a $10 fuse block and a few wires crimped to it.

Going Speed Density ? For what reason ? Not many really want to get rid of the MAF on the LT1, and a used maf isnt very expensive, please post a good reason for wanting to get rid of it or you are only going to get similar replies.

 

well i was under the impression that switching over would be better, well thats what all the tpi guys say. anyway im using the 700r4 thats currently in the car and i should get a pretty decent setup from PCM4less, i was told they can delete the electronic tranny, as well as give me a reasonable tune to work with. Well thats what im hopeing for, i've never tuned or flashed a pcm before so i wouldn't even know how to start.

 

I have some simple questions about the engine setup.. Are you milling the trickflow heads? If not they are around 64cc and will drop your compression, great for blowers, but bad for N/A ltx. Why xfi?

look at the engine combo first and make sure it is based on good solid LTx common knowledge.. Not saying you don't know, but just making sure. If you are not sure there is a fair amount at cz28.com and here, but you have also got it backwards by starting the build without being rocksolid on how you are going to get it done. That is the start of an unfinished/moneypit project.. and we don't want that to happen to you.

Pcms4less is a good start, but the more extreme the setup the worse a mailorder tune will accomodate you. Just something to keep in mind.

You are getting good advice above from someone that can obviously accomodate your wiring needs, worth a PM perhaps? That is up to you.

I would not get rid of the MAF.

As I just mentioned in another thread I am superbusy but PM me and I will give you a number to contact me if you feel I can offer you sound advice/lessons learned.

 

Do you not have the 4L60E from the caprice ?
Trying to run the 700R4, is going to require a good bit of extra work to get it to have a vss output compatible with the LT1's pcm, for what you'll spend trying to adapt things, chances are you could have bought a used 4L60E, making things much simpler and improving the way the car drives a great deal by doing so. Unless you have a very well built 700r4 I would strongly suggest searching out a 4L60E.

Have you bought the heads yet ? Cam ? ETC ?

IMHO you may want to put a little bit of a stop where you are and see if you cant maybe get a set of stock LT1 alum. heads. Have your nice shortblock finished off and work on getting the rest of this together, then start looking at a heads / cam package from LE or Ai.

Trying to start with building this and that, as J's T/A said can easily cause you to end up with a lot of parts sitting, a lot of money spent, and in a bad spot. Not to mention if you simply had the shortblock finished and put in a decent cam you'll still have quite a bit of power.

Right now you still need to focus on the headers / exhaust, getting the accessories hooked up, proper transmission for your setup.

Holding off on the other goodies will allow you to be able to get the correct parts to do the swap right so that it performs as it should, what good are trick flow heads if you've got stock exhaust manifolds, or headers that block half the ports and choke it ?

 

Well, i Kinda knew this would cause a problem. See my mindset was this i got the motor complete from a junkyard for 65 dollars. i figured I would compensate for the saved cash by putting extra into the motor. Anyway if the other tranny will work better im for it. I'm also sold on eportworks kits if you can get that much out of stock heads why upgrade im not going for a 10 second car. So thanks alot for the help, your opinions probably saved me a BUNDLE.