I am swapping my 305 TPI with a 350 TPI, I understand that I need to change knock sensor, injectors and the chip. Getting the 350 chip is what I have problem with. Seem like I need to have one burns specificly for this 350 engine. According to the engine code TPA, it is a 1992 350 motor used in a truck. Can anyone tell me where to go about for the chip???

 

www.gmpartsdirect.com is about the best site for buying memcals, there is an article with part numbers for years end engine sizes that I'll look for and get back to you on

 

Thx.. tpi_roc

 

Do you currently or will you have the ability to burn your own proms? Or are you just looking for a one time installable sollution?

 

tpi_roc

I have no knowledge of burning chip, plus this will be a one time deal for me.

 

ok still searching

doesn't appear to be where i thought


One thing you can do is call a GM dealer and give them a car year (87?) that matches your combo of engine size, transmission, and gearing, then just get the part number and order off gmpartsdirect.com

 

I did contact both Chevrolet and Pontiac dealers.. no one can help with anything. They suggested to get an after market chip. I did talk to Summit to no prevail.

 

Aftermarket isn't the sollution, although I know your dealership pains

 

Ed Wright - Fast Chips.

He is always on these boards, try and find him and send him a pm to see if he can get you one; he might be able to tell you what other chips will work.

 

He might have the information, but I dont recommend buying an aftermarket one just to get your car going, a stock one is in teh range of $40-$60 from gmpartsdirect.com, where as an aftermarket can be as much as $400 for marginal if any gains (without the car being WITH the tuner)


I'm not finding the article i once had, guess you'll have to do the leg work but its easy, i've done it for 2 swaps, just find a car that matches your specs and get the PN, you might really have to drill dealership guys but they deffinatly hve the informatino availiable.

 

I contacted GMPartDirect.com, and the answer was "16151348 e-prom is for a 350 (L98) TPI engine 90-92" for $41. Is this what I am looking for????. BTW.. thx for all you guys help

 

Well your'e getting closer but it wont help if its from a 90-92, thats a SD setup and an entirely different ECM

The years you can play with is 86-89 however due to small changes such as VATS (Vehicle anti-theft) and other things, its the best bet to get one SPECIFICALLY for an 87

 

tpi_roc

Reading from this web site, I thought the chip I need is specific for the year of the engine. What you are tellling me is to get a 87 chip to use with 92 engine???. Please explaine

 

Ok maybe we should back up, answer the following questions

1.) What year is the car?
2.) what year and model is the ECM (Engine control module)?
3.) what year and ecm is the wiring harness for?


I assumed the car was an 87 due to your nick name

 

Answer:

1) 87
2) and 3) How do I find out??

 

Well is the computer and wiring harness original to the car?

If so, then it doesnt' matter what YEAR the engine block is, metal is only metal, what you need to match is sensors, displacement, tranny, and rear-end ratio to the prom, thats all (and of course the right prom for the right ECM)

There are 3 TPI ecms's
1985: '870
86-89: '165
90-92: '730

IF your car is an 87, the ECM is from your car originally (87) and the harness is from the car originally (87) then you have a '165 ecm and need a memcal from a 86-89, to make sure it matches as close as possible, getting a memcal from an 87 is the wisest

now in 87, with a 350, your only stock choice is an AUTO bin, so if you have a manual you're in a tough spot, if you have an auto you're in luck, now you just have to match to the closest rear-end ratio and you're all done, then buy the memcal for that car.

 

tpi_roc

Thank you so much for your help thus far. I bought the car used so I have to assume that everything is original. The car is indeed Auto with 2.73 rear ratio (per RPO). What is memcal, anyway???

Now, what question can I ask to clearly state what part I need??

 

memcal is the name of what you're trying to buy, you can't JUST buy a "chip" or a "prom" form GM

 

Memcal or Calpack. Don't use any of the 89's, they came with VATS (vehicle anti-theft system). Just tell the dealers you need a memcal/calpack for an 87 or 88 GTA Trans-AM with a 350.

 

VATS sparatically showed up before 89 as well, just something to be aware of.


Calpack isn't used by GM, i believe that was an aftermarket phrase that showed up by jet or hypertech or someone.

 

tpi_roc

OK, so I will request a memcal for 87 TA with 350, auto and rear ratio 2.73? Do I still need a chip??

 

This is a memcal

 

THis is a memcal without the blue cover


The left half of the memcal is the "prom" or "Chip" its what stores the vehicle specific information, you can't just buy it because its soldered to the memcal, you buy the entire MEMCAL from GM.


When you burn custom proms, you solder a ZIF socket in place of the PROM, and then you can take the prom in and out of the memcal, but you still have to start with a memcal as close to your vehicle as possible, as the RIGHT side of it, holds some generic infromation such as number of cylinders, knock filter, yadda yadda.