I was wondering, what would it take and how much would it cost to convert a tbi 305 to a tpi 305, assuming that I got all the parts from a junkyard?

I'm considering taking a tpi 305, stealing the heads and tpi system, and rebuilding it.

thanks.

 

Well, that all depends on avialability of those parts in your junkyards and how the owners like to charge, it varies from yard to yard here and across the country.

 

I converted from Carb to TPI.
Cost me about $800 or so.
I bought a complete TPI setup with heads, new fuel tank, fuel sender with pump, dual fans, wiring harness, computer, all sensors, distributor and coil for $550 shipped.
I sold the fuel tank, the computer and chip, MAF, and the intank pump assembly since I didn't need them.

I then bought a 91 ECM and prom, holley inline pump, had my harness converted to Speed Density, bought an Eprom Programmer, and some other little odds and ends.

 

So you're gonna tell me where you got that rather nice deal from right?

 

by the way, i just realized how common this question is on this board, and I'm really really friggin sorry for asking it....

but maybe it will work out for the best, if I can get a deal like the one you got...

 

There is a tech article on exactly what you're asking.

See here. https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/tbitotpi.shtml

 

I got from a member on this site in the classifieds back in April or May of 2001.

John Millican did my MAF to SD conversion on my harness. Did an awesome job and is an awesome person in general, helped me out tremendously during my TPI conversion.

 

was it overly hard?

Do TPI setups generally come with dual fans stock, I mean why do they suggest it?

Any ideas as to where I can get a similar price?

Thx for the help.

 

It isn't hard at all.
When my motor died, I sold the TPI setup to another member and I went and helped him install it.
Total install time including removing his carb set and elongating the 4 inner intake bolts and installing an inline pump was less than 10 hours.

I am not sure if dual fans are standard with TPI, I just think dual fans are cooler to have.

My friend is selling a complete TPI setup from his 86. I think he is asking $500 for it. Plenum is polished to a near mirror finnish.
If you are interested in it, shoot me an email, zepher@transamws6.com

 

Sadly....very sadly...I'm completely broke right now.

Possibly after christmas...I'll be quitting my job and collecting about 1500 bucks worth of paid time off.

Keep me posted will ya?

Btw...I have a TBI, there's more involved I think then you would have for a carb.

Also, its not just the intake right, its still the gas tank, fuel pump, so on...

How much is a dual fan setup anyway?

Once again, thanks for bein so helpful...

btw, you think that dual intake setup you got, would it work on a camaro too? would it be better then the stock setup?

 

You can get a dual fan setup for about $100.

 

Any idea where?

I don't remember seeing a price like that from summit or jegs....

Anyone know of an aluminum radiator that costs around 200 bucks or so?

By the way, I think its great that you people are willing to go between the states to help eachother work on your cars...that really says a lot.

 

Auto Zone sells a replacement radiator for around $200, it is aluminum

 

Wow, I love life.

 

ok, so lets go through this....

I read the article, and it had a bunch of stuff....

So what do I REALLY need to get tpi?

I'm guessing new fuel rails, fuel lines, new pump? new filter?

TPI setup...although I could get a stealth ram setup for not too much more...by setup I mean the intake manifold, box, and so on by the way.

If I WERE to get the stealth ram manifold...would I be able to use the fuel rails from a stock tpi?

oh ya, computer and wiring harness....

are those hard to change out?

 

If you go stealth ram, you just need the harness and the ecm, throttle body and sensors and relays.
stealthram requires its own fuel rails.

The fans for $100 was for a used 3rd gen set.
you can get dual fans from Jegs for $200, the Flex-a-Lite brand.
A griffin Aluminum Radiator is about $200 from Jegs as well. We used those on the LT1 swap in my friends car.

What you really need to do is mod the fuel lines, best way is -6an adaptors to the hard lines and then braided line up to the TPI setup or the Stealth ram, whichever you decide to use.

Walbro fuel pump is about $100-140, can't remember.
If you were local, I'd help you install everything.

 

Damn me and my not living in more camaro-area places...

ok how bout this...

LT1 swap...

How much could I get an LT1 for do you think...and how much would it cost to get it put in?

Sorry to go completely off the whole subject thing, but basically if I'm gonna spend all this money, I might as well get the best engine I can get, and making an old tired 305 into a TPI won't do that, so maybe I'll do it this way.

Assuming its not the most horribly expensive thing ever.

 

$1,000 for the engine, computer and harness, $400 to convert the harness to a stand alone plug and play style, $400-$800 for a shop to pull out your old motor and put the LT1 in.
Add in $100 or so for Vats elimination and minor PCM tuning.

Then add the fuel lines and pump setup and you are good to go.

 

What about exhaust?

 

Put any 3rd gen set of headers and catback you like on it.
4th gen headers don't work I was told.

 

excellent

 

Alright, I've got news...

Apparently...there's an 85 iroc that has a 305 TPI and a 3.23 rearend for sale for 500 bucks.

Me and a friend want to split it for 250 each, I get the engine and fuel tank and computer and wiring harness and rearend, he gets all the stuff I transfer as well as the car when its all over and done with.

My plans would be to keep my block(and the serpentine system) and just buy a cheap rebuild kit that comes with the better cam and just steal the heads and intake and comp from the 85...

also stealing the tank and having it cleaned and coated...and possibly having the pump replaced just for the sake of it.

Here's hte actual question though, just how involved is it to switch out the wiring harness's...I know its hard, I mean there's one hell of a lot of connections, but I'm hearing htat you literally have to pull apart the entire interior to get to all of it....

So, is this true?

What kind of prices should I expect if I have a mechanic make the wiring harness swap for me?

Should I just spring for a new one while I'm at it?

 

all you need is the engine harness and then splice that harness into your IP (Instrument Panel) harness.
The Engine harness will come out of the car without needing to cut any wires.
I don't know if just any mechanic can do the harness swap and wiring.

 

any chance that you could explain in a little more detail, I'm not really sure what you mean...

And would it be in my best intrests to replace it or no?

Thanks again, you must hate me by now.