86-88 MAF to 89
 

What is involved? How? I know you would have to block off the cold start, but other than that do you just have to get a chip burned for an 89? Where do you get the cold start block off plugs(back of fuel rail and intake(Edelbrock 3860)

Thanks

Chris

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1986 305 TPI
8.0 @88 in the 1/8
**Soon to be 355

You want to keep the Speed density from the 89. Trust me its a lot better in the long run. You will just have to get a custom chip. If you convert to MAF you will need a whole new computer

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89 Trans Am Turbo 3.8L All stock 43,000 miles #1053 of 1555

Past Thirdgen:
86 Trans Am w/ built 355TPI with SLP goodies and too much other stuff to List. One sweet *** car, wish I would have had a good enough Job to pay insurance on three cars so I could keep it, but for a 89 Turbo Trans Am w/ Low miles, I think I made the right choice!

I think you read his post wrong Kyle https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif


Yea, all you have to do is disconnect the cold start, remove it if you feel like it, and run the 89 chip. You could go get a stock 89 chip from the dealer, it will probably work much better than what you have now anyway. I'll tell you now that you *may* have a problem with the cooling fans coming on all the time, but I havent looked into it yet to see what the fix is. As I understand it, theres a flag in the chip that needs to be changed, which is no big deal if you have a burner or know someone with one, but could be a small problem otherwise.

What are the big advantages of having the 89 chip over say an 87 chip??

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Looking For:

87 IROC-Z28 350 TPI
The car I want.

84 TRANS AM 305 H.O.
Another car that would be OK to own while I still look for the IROC-Z!!

Its more like the SD chip https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif

I really couldnt nail it down for you, I am not about to decipher what they changed between the two but it works much better. Theres some routines and stuff added to the program on the 89 that I havent looked at as of yet. And losing the cold start is a good thing.

Why?? https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif

I too want to know why loosing the cold start is a good thing. If so, I could just unplug it now. Also, what about aftermarket vs the 89 chip. Are they close the same, just the stocker is cheaper?

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Rob
'86 TA 305 TPI
Gutted MAF, Ported Plenum
TB Bypass, Home made Cold Air Intake,
Edelbrock T.E.S.

Yea...good question. ROB I wanna know too. Any other advantages to an 89 chip?

First, '89 was MAF, not SD. They aren't even close to the same thing, "chipwise".
Second, the '89 has the most refined MAF code in it, and has more to customize, if you choose to. This is the main reason for switching.
Third, if your cold start injector system is working fine, there's no reason to get rid of it. But if you do switch to the '89 chip, you'll have to unhook the electrical connector from the ninth injector to keep it from firing. The other eight injectors supply cold start enrichment in the '89 code and you will be "double dumping" otherwise.
Finally, search the archives for more information on this swap (including those in DIY PROM). BUT DON'T ASK ANYONE TO BURN A CHIP FOR YOU!

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'87 IROC 5.7l TPI - original owner!

I'm interested in the swap also. Would the swap from an earlier chip to an 89 improve performance, gas mileage? If so, what all does it take and is it worth it?

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~3.1EyeCandy~
"The Car that started my craze"

'92 Firebird 3.1 (A car for sale now)

T/A Hood, New Paint, Custom Sound w/subs, T-Tops, K&N fcharger

My new baby: '87 flame red GTA 350 w'auto
Carmine interior with pioneer all around
Hooker Catback, Airfoil, K&N
http://www.3.1EyeCandy.tripod.com

For LB9 and L89 TPI owners... YES you will get better performance in a 86-88 TPI application to a stock 89 chip, and YES you will get better gas mileage.... So quit talking about it and just do it. https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif


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Mike Metzler (Desert86Roc)[*] Webmaster: SpeedWorldMotorplex.com[*] Click Here For 86 IROC 305 TPI (406 build in progress) Page

ET's @ 1250 ft[*] 14.28 @ 95.461 mph (uncorrected, NOS, no headers)[*] 15.365 @ 86.785 mph (uncorrected, headers, no NOS)

[This message has been edited by Desert86Roc (edited April 12, 2001).]

And for my second question....Are the aftermarket chips better than the '89?, or are they close to the same?

Nuff,

Since no one has asked yet, I guess I will...

Are you talking about the OEM 1986 PROM or the reprogrammed PROM resulting from the TSB in 1987? There was a TSB for '86 TPI engines, and the factory fix was a new PROM with a lot better programming. Check the NHTSA site for details on the TSBs/recalls on your car.

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Later,
Vader
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"What a Day..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader

I am going with a 355 so an custom prom is definately needed. The stock prom is ...ummmm...I really dont know where it is. Is that what you are asking? I am new tro the prom burning stuff :-)

Vader:

I have the new chip for the TSB for 86's that you were talking about....I still run better with the 89 code. I went straight from the updated 86 chip to an ARAP based chip and only modified the injector flow rate (changed to 19# from the 22), disabled the VATS, and lowered the cooling fan temps. I did not have to change the "Normally open cooling fan request" switch that the later years have to enable (this is why their fans are on all the time).

M.