Hey guys. I'll warn everyone I don't have a lot of knowledge on this subject. I'm relying on my dad for most of this. I've got an 84 Z28 that I'm dumping an LT1 into. The problem is my dad is more of an old school engine kinda guy and doesn't know anything about computers. Is it possible to use this engine with fuel injection without using the PCM? Is there something I can buy that controls the fuel injection? And is there anything else I'd need to get to make this work? Thanks for any help.

 

No. The injectors are elctronically driven.

A PCM.

Kind of an open-ended question... "anything else" depends to a large extent on what you've already got.

There are carb intakes for that engine available; they also even include a provision for a distributor, which of course the LT1 doesn't have.

 

Thanks. I was hoping there was something available that could replace the PCM to use exclusively for the fuel injection. I don't want to buy an entire wiring harness when most of it would go to waste. We're trying to keep this as simple as possible. Is there an alternative to using the regular harness?

Oh, and by "anything else" I just meant anything I'd need electronically if I could get by without a PCM. I'm just trying to make this as simple as humanly possible.

 

Why would any of the harness go to waste?

 

My apologies for not being the clearest about this. We're hoping we can set this up more like an older engine as much as possible, other than the fuel injection. So the least amount of wiring and electronic components as possible. What I'm asking might very well be impossible, but that's why I'm here, to find out. Other than fuel injection, what else is critical to having the PCM?

 

If the car came with TPI you could install a rear dizzy, LT1 timing pointer plate for carbs and make it run off the TPI computer. Any way you go, you are going to need some kind of wiring harness. LT1 harness and PCM would be the cheapest. Other options than LT1 pcm are converting it for TPI or converting it to run off of LS1 computer/coilpacks but both will cost more once you add up the costs of parts needed to be bought especially if you don't have them.

 

There's nothing extra on the engine harness you won't use. You can't set it up like an older engine, because an older non-computer engine only had ignition and nothing else.

 

EDIT: The PCM only runs the fuel injection sytem, ignition system, and 4L60 if equipped on F-body cars. If you are not using the 4L60 you dont need the breakout harness that goes to the tranny. When you use the wiring harness you will remove some uneeded pig tails, but for the most part you will use the whole engine harness.

If you want somewhat easy get an aftermarket harness. You can find them on ebay or at places like Summit. Price varies from $400ish to $800ish. Even then you are still stuck with some wiring on your own. The system will still need power and ground, plus mounting the PCM, diagnostic port, and connection to your gauges.

You could also get Pocket to make you a harness that would probably be about as close to plug and play as you can get. I dont know what he charges, but I am sure there is some lead time on it if you needing this done soon. Drop him a PM if interested.

I made my own harness out of a factory F-body harness which allowed me to put the PCM where I wanted it and custom fit it to my car.

You could go with an aftermarket PCM like a Holley HP, but they are costly and you still have to hammer out the wiring harness since it wont be plug and play.

You would also need a PCM matched to your harness (96 and up are OBDII and require a few more wires) and programmed to remove the VATS and anything else you dont want emmisions wise.

Those are really the only solutions to keeping the fuel injection on the LT1.

If you are going carb, find an old SBC and be done with it.