Can anyone recommend a shop and mechanic that fully understands my Tune Port Injection system? I am in Oshawa Ontario. Any credible T.P.I guys with 50 KM or so?

I want to have the cam and lifters replaced, I talked to a few mechanics in my area, but unfortunately I can’t seem to find anyone how really knows what they are doing, and most just want to send some apprentice to learn on my car and charge me like 3 grand.

 

You don't need somebody that knows TPI to do a cam/lifter swap. It's still just a small block under that crap

 

Yes, but after the cam and lifters is done they need to be able to put all that “crap” back together and set everything up properly without damaging anything. I don’t want to be paying someone to learn on my car ether.

If anyone can recommend a credible shop in or around the Oshawa area that specializes in high performance engine work and set up of Tune Port Injection Trans-am’s or Corvettes please let me know.

 

Well, I am by no means a mechanic and I have had my Trouble Prone Injection system off 3 times since I have had this car. I succesfully put it back together each and everytime. If I can do it ANY mechanic should be able to accomplish this task. Why don't you try it yourself?

 

Ok

The factory TPI stuff is easy to take apart and put back together. The only TPI specific stuff that may need to be done during re-assembly is setting the TPS (which can be avoided be leaved it on the TB), and setting the base timing. Anybody with a mechanic's license should be able to do either with their eyes closed. My suggestion is too find somebody that is knowledgeable that would be willing to "coach" you through the process. If not, just find a mechanic in your area with a good reputation.

Trust me dude, you sound just like me about 7 or 8 years ago. I'm not some pro-carb honk. My car is TPI powered too, sort of.

 

Cam is a pain the butt to do in the car.If youre a newbie I suggest you pull the motor out. With the motor out you will havea better view of what youre doing.IMO.I replaced the cam on my car 2 times with the SBC.Removing all the things in the front is a PITA..Fans,rad,slide out,condenser,crossbars ,plastic trim pieces for the dam..

 

Thanks for the feedback,

I may end up trying this job myself, not sure yet though. My concern about doing it myself is with the cam and cam bearings. I don’t want to scratch the cam bearings or put it in wrong.

After the timing chain and lifters have been removed does the cam just slide out the front (after making room)? Are there any tricks to getting it out? I assume the cam bearings will stay seated for removal and replacement. And when reinstalling the new cam does it just slide in? How do I ensure it is set correctly before putting lifters back in?

The T.P.I stuff should be easy for me now. It took me a day to swap my GTA motor and transmission into my none TPI car and 4 weeks to wire up the painless harness and all the gages.

Any links to cam replacement would be appreciated. And I am still looking for a good shop that is close to my area, I am in Oshawa Ontario.

 

The cam bearings will stay in place when you remove the cam. When you install the cam, just take you time with it and you should be fine. When you pull the old one out, you will get a feel for it, so it shouldn't be too bad putting it back in.

To phase the cam, the cam sprocket and crank sprocket each have marks on them. Line up the two marks (crank gear at 12 o'clock position, cam gear at 6 o'clock position), throw on the timing chain, and you are set.

 

dont forget to loosen the oil pan to put in the timing cover

 

Thanks again for the tips;

I assume it will be easier if I have #1 cylinder at top dead centre before taking things apart. But when I put the cam back in (cam dot at 6:00 & crank dot at 12:00) how do I know if the cam is on compression or exhaust stroke? Hope that is not too stupid of a question I never did a cam before.

 

If its on exhaust stroke the exhaust valve should be down.If it was compression both valves should be up on number one.

 

Or # 6 intake and exhaust valves should be moving.

I wil be doing a cam swap on a TPI shortly but the engine is not in the car. I'm not far away, just in Ajax. If you want you can drop by while I fool around with it. Likely in a month or two.

Will be doing a tranny swap some time within the next week if that interests you.

 

I would agree that any boob mechanic should be able to swap a cam/lifters on a TPI engine properly. The only problem that might come out of it is if you went with a radically different cam than that it came with and it needs ECM re-programming. If this is the case, some of the chip burners may already have one for your setup, or you'll have to find a shop that is comfortable and knowledgeable in doing it themselves. If this is a near-stock replacement cam- then there's not a whole lot to worry about.

However, I would agree with you on one point- I don't go to a garage to pay $60, $70, $80 or $100 an hour so the $10.00 an hour trainee works on the engine. If I'm going to pay full price I want full expertise doing the job from start to finish.

 

Wow, I just got a price on the cam “$600.00 plus tax” not including the price of the hydraulic roller lifters. Plus seals and gaskets, and I guess I mite as well put on a new double roller timing set while I am in there.

What is the advantage of using roller lifters and a roller camshaft? Can I use solid lifters and a “normal” camshaft on my Tune Port Injected motor? If this can be done will I loss performance by doing so?

HalfInchWrench I’ll take you up on the cam school offer, thanks. You have mail.

 

Even a lot of good shops don't do simple things right. Take for instance sealing the valley with RTV for the lower intake. Sure they will remove the old RTV but it will still be full of oil and will never make a good seal. It has to be clean clean clean. Then after the intake has been installed they will start it up and drive it. The engne should not be started for a whole day to let the RTV set up correctly. Time is money so most can not afford to leave a car sitting in a bay for 24 hours.

 

hey man..That dish you gave me,does that have dual or single LNB?

Im too lzay to take it apart..lol

 

Pretty sure I grabbed a dual.