Ok, so I'm new to the board, and I've been using the archives for a lot of info. But I couldn't find anything on my specific problem. I just bought an 88 T/A with a 350 crate motor in the car with around 300 miles on the motor. I took it to the drag strip last night and ran a blazing 16.7@80mph. About half way through I the SES light came on. I pulled codes and found a code 43. After reading the archives it looks like I have a couple of possibilities, but I was wondering if the ECM, EST, and ESC, from a 305 would set this fault in a 350? It would seam to me that this would cause many problems if none of the electronics was transferred over when the previous owner put in a 350.

Thanks in Advance,
Joe M

 

Code 43 is the Electronic Spark Control (low voltage?) if I recall correctly; my car ('89 IROC) set the same code soon after I installed a 350 HO with SVO 24# injectors, Scoggin-Dickey TPI baseplate, and a Performance Distributors HEI distributor.

I noticed that you also have a crate motor installed - do you have a custom PCM or are you still running the stock PCM? When my car set the code, I was still running the stock PCM but I recently installed a custom one from www.pcmforless.com and I have no problems now.

Hopefully this will help you out or at least point you in the right direction - I only posted this because the same thing happened to me after the crate motor install.

- 89 IROC

 

Thanks Alot, I just went over to a chevy dealer and picked up a new 350 prom, becuase yes, I removed the computer and found that it still had a 305 chip. Thanks for the help, I hope this helps me run a little better.

 

Anytime - I'm glad I finally have enough knowledge to maybe help somebody out with stuff like this. Let me know how it turns out; mine is running like a raped ape now, and I'm curious to know how yours will be

Something that you may want to consider is a custom PCM; since you have a crate motor, that stock 350 PCM may not want to play nicely with your current setup depending on what it is. Mine is a 350HO crate with Vortec heads, a Scoggin-Dickey TPI baseplate, and 24# Ford SVO injectors - it ran fine for the first 500 miles and then gradually went downhill to the point that it would simply fall on its face when I accelerated. I recently installed a custom PCM and the car is now well on its way to being an asphalt shredder.

- 89_IROC