help with TPI swap
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Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 613
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From: Canada winnipeg
Car: '91 vert RS, '82 Z28
Engine: TBI 305, TPI 350
Transmission: Auto, 5 speed
help with TPI swap
ok heres whats happening, I bought a 1988 IROC, I wanted the TPI from it. Im puting the TPI into my 1982 Z28.
what my question is, what do I need to keep and use for the wireing? there are the 2 plugs that go into the ecm but there are also 2 clear plugs from the wireing harness coming in from the passenger side connecting to the wireing harness under the dash. I have these same plugs on my 82 camaro, can I just plug into these? there are a lot less wires in the 82 so I dont know if that would work, is my better bet to use the whole wireing harness from the 88. I want this to be as easy as possible and its beginning to give me a headache.
also what about the connection to a scanner the ALDL I think, what do I do about that? thanks
what my question is, what do I need to keep and use for the wireing? there are the 2 plugs that go into the ecm but there are also 2 clear plugs from the wireing harness coming in from the passenger side connecting to the wireing harness under the dash. I have these same plugs on my 82 camaro, can I just plug into these? there are a lot less wires in the 82 so I dont know if that would work, is my better bet to use the whole wireing harness from the 88. I want this to be as easy as possible and its beginning to give me a headache.
also what about the connection to a scanner the ALDL I think, what do I do about that? thanks
Last edited by IROC_5796; Dec 9, 2002 at 05:26 PM.
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 858
Likes: 6
From: Elkton MD, USA
Car: 1985 Camaro Z28, VIN F
Engine: 427 sbc, HSR
Transmission: T-56, self rebuilt 700+ hp
Axle/Gears: Moser 12bolt, 3.42 trutrac
Re: help with TPI swap
Originally posted by IROC_5796
ok heres whats happening, I bought a 1988 IROC, I wanted the TPI from it. Im puting the TPI into my 1982 Z28.
what my question is, what do I need to keep and use for the wireing? there are the 2 plugs that go into the ecm but there are also 2 clear plugs from the wireing harness coming in from the passenger side connecting to the wireing harness under the dash. I have these same plugs on my 82 camaro, can I just plug into these? there are a lot less wires in the 82 so I dont know if that would work, is my better bet to use the whole wireing harness from the 88. I want this to be as easy as possible and its beginning to give me a headache.
also what about the connection to a scanner the ALDL I think, what do I do about that? thanks
ok heres whats happening, I bought a 1988 IROC, I wanted the TPI from it. Im puting the TPI into my 1982 Z28.
what my question is, what do I need to keep and use for the wireing? there are the 2 plugs that go into the ecm but there are also 2 clear plugs from the wireing harness coming in from the passenger side connecting to the wireing harness under the dash. I have these same plugs on my 82 camaro, can I just plug into these? there are a lot less wires in the 82 so I dont know if that would work, is my better bet to use the whole wireing harness from the 88. I want this to be as easy as possible and its beginning to give me a headache.
also what about the connection to a scanner the ALDL I think, what do I do about that? thanks
covering all the 82-92 camaros and you will find
all the info about the connectors, where they go,
etc..
One of the plugs is for the ALDL connector...
mike
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 7
From: LONDON, KY
Car: Camaro
Engine: Carbed L98
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Ok, When I swapped out my 89 305 TBI for a 92 L98 TPI, I swapped dash, wiring harness and all. It was a fairly easy job. You just have to remember which plug goes were.
I would change everything if possible. I did run into a problem with the side dash mounts. I cut the old ones off and welded on the 92 brackets. Everything else seemed to fall into place.
good luck with the swap.
I would change everything if possible. I did run into a problem with the side dash mounts. I cut the old ones off and welded on the 92 brackets. Everything else seemed to fall into place.
good luck with the swap.
Last edited by bluegrassz; Dec 11, 2002 at 02:52 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 613
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From: Canada winnipeg
Car: '91 vert RS, '82 Z28
Engine: TBI 305, TPI 350
Transmission: Auto, 5 speed
I just thought of somthing, Do I need to worry about the vats passkey or any alarm stuff with the 88 TPi+wireing going into a 82 with an 82 column. thankz
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 7
From: LONDON, KY
Car: Camaro
Engine: Carbed L98
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
not sure on the vats. I swapped everything, including the steering column. My car already had vats, so I dont know.
You could get a chip burnt to have it disabled though.
You could get a chip burnt to have it disabled though.
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
From: Canada winnipeg
Car: '91 vert RS, '82 Z28
Engine: TBI 305, TPI 350
Transmission: Auto, 5 speed
bluegrassz.. does your 89 have sensors for the washer fluid or the coolent overflow? Do you know if they have sensores in the 88 Irocs.
You can just plug the 88 harness Dash connectors into the 82 Dash harness.
Except, You will need to supply the Injector power feed somehow, as that power source will not be present in the 82 dash harness.
I forget wich Pin it is, Mike D. Has it on his site.
Figure out wich Pin it is on the ECM, and run a switched 12v to it.
As far as vats, YES you will have trouble, you need a Vats eliminated PROM.
Except, You will need to supply the Injector power feed somehow, as that power source will not be present in the 82 dash harness.
I forget wich Pin it is, Mike D. Has it on his site.
Figure out wich Pin it is on the ECM, and run a switched 12v to it.
As far as vats, YES you will have trouble, you need a Vats eliminated PROM.
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Originally posted by Vidman
You will not have a problem with VATS because it didn't start until '89.
You will not have a problem with VATS because it didn't start until '89.
But clearly you know more than GM, and my '88 was some kinda special factory one-off like the T-5 equipped 350 cars.
I did the conversion last summer, and I'll tell you right now, don't just plug **** in and expect it to work. Just because the connectors look the same and physically fit into the sockets, it doesn't mean their right. I had to re-pin the connectors due to the difference in TPI-TBI. I ended up using wiring from the old tbi harness and parts of the TPI harness to get it right. You can save yourself a lot of aggrivation and time by taking the advice given to get a manual that has a good schematic and studying it for a little bit before actually starting. You'll need the electrical prints for the 82 and the 88 to really make sense of it. You're lucky because you have a doner with everything there, and are putting it into a carbed car, but you'll still have your work cut out for you without a print because some of the wiring goes to the fuse terminal, aldl, ecm, engine harness, and out through the harness connector under the master cylinder. It's quite a cluster****, but with a little planning it's not hard. Good luck.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,449
Likes: 7
From: LONDON, KY
Car: Camaro
Engine: Carbed L98
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Originally posted by IROC_5796
bluegrassz.. does your 89 have sensors for the washer fluid or the coolent overflow? Do you know if they have sensores in the 88 Irocs.
bluegrassz.. does your 89 have sensors for the washer fluid or the coolent overflow? Do you know if they have sensores in the 88 Irocs.
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: NC
Car: '86 Iroc
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: T-5 with Pro-5.0
Originally posted by kevinc
Wow, you should share your valuable expertise with GM...they think they started in '88 with the Firebird line. The '88 GTA I bought as a donor car had VATS.
But clearly you know more than GM, and my '88 was some kinda special factory one-off like the T-5 equipped 350 cars.
Wow, you should share your valuable expertise with GM...they think they started in '88 with the Firebird line. The '88 GTA I bought as a donor car had VATS.
But clearly you know more than GM, and my '88 was some kinda special factory one-off like the T-5 equipped 350 cars.
Actually I got my information from THIS website, so if you have any questions about it, please ask the guys that did the Tech Data section for the validity of their information. Thank you...
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,331
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From: Welland, Ontario, Canada
Car: 85 Monte Carlo SS...
Engine: T.P.I L98.
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3:73 Posi
Originally posted by kevinc
Wow, you should share your valuable expertise with GM...they think they started in '88 with the Firebird line. The '88 GTA I bought as a donor car had VATS.
But clearly you know more than GM, and my '88 was some kinda special factory one-off like the T-5 equipped 350 cars.
Wow, you should share your valuable expertise with GM...they think they started in '88 with the Firebird line. The '88 GTA I bought as a donor car had VATS.
But clearly you know more than GM, and my '88 was some kinda special factory one-off like the T-5 equipped 350 cars.
I have to agree with Vidman here. I double checked all my Auto programs and what not . In 1988 for the Camaros anyway...no Vats till 89, so you aren't as smart as you azz thought it was. You really shouldn't jump down someones thoart if you haven't a clue. Just because the Camaro and the Firebird are on the same platform, means nothing as to options.
Last edited by Cruzin Kaz; Feb 25, 2003 at 08:00 AM.
Originally posted by Vidman
Actually I got my information from THIS website, so if you have any questions about it, please ask the guys that did the Tech Data section for the validity of their information. Thank you...
Actually I got my information from THIS website, so if you have any questions about it, please ask the guys that did the Tech Data section for the validity of their information. Thank you...
Originally posted by Cruzin Kaz
I have to agree with Vidman here. I double checked all my Auto programs and what not . In 1988 for the Camaros anyway...no Vats till 89, so you aren't as smart as you azz thought it was. You really shouldn't jump down someones thoart if you haven't a clue. Just because the Camaro and the Firebird are on the same platform, means nothing as to options.
I have to agree with Vidman here. I double checked all my Auto programs and what not . In 1988 for the Camaros anyway...no Vats till 89, so you aren't as smart as you azz thought it was. You really shouldn't jump down someones thoart if you haven't a clue. Just because the Camaro and the Firebird are on the same platform, means nothing as to options.
Maybe not "as smart as you *** thought" I was, but definitely way ahead of you...
Supreme Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,331
Likes: 0
From: Welland, Ontario, Canada
Car: 85 Monte Carlo SS...
Engine: T.P.I L98.
Transmission: TH350
Axle/Gears: 3:73 Posi
Originally posted by kevinc
I just checked my Helms book for my '88 Firebird, and it very much has VATS. He's got a Camaro harness and ECM, but if he ends up with a Firebird MEMCAL he'll run into VATS.
Maybe not "as smart as you *** thought" I was, but definitely way ahead of you...
I just checked my Helms book for my '88 Firebird, and it very much has VATS. He's got a Camaro harness and ECM, but if he ends up with a Firebird MEMCAL he'll run into VATS.
Maybe not "as smart as you *** thought" I was, but definitely way ahead of you...
Not sure where you got that I was mad...guess the air really is thinner up in Canada...someone that can't spell telling me I'm not smart doesn't really cause much anger, sorry.
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