I'm about to be buy an 84 camaro with a 350 in it.

i currently own an 86 camaro with a 305 tpi, it doesnt start, and i have yet to figure out why..

my question is, would it be possible to take the tpi intake manifold off and turn the 350 into fuel injection.

if thats possible, how hard of a swap is it?

the guy im buying the 84 from says that its a crate engine, and its a 350.

 

Well, you'd have to install a TPI fuel pump assy in the tank... That would be one of the primary physical tasks to be done... The other half would be the wiring on it..

 

would it be possible to use the inline fuel pump? dropping the tank would be a bitch.

 

If you don't already have an in-tank pump (I thought I heard somewhere that some of the carbed cars have an electric pump from the factory, dunno though), you could use an inline fuel pump (would be best mounted as close to the tank as possible)... It just has to comply with the pressure and volume specifications of a TPI system...

 

Actually, even with the lack of an in-tank electric pump for a CCC setup, the original mechanical pump can be used to draw tank fuel and feed an inline electric pump with a regulator and return line to boost presure to the required 37-44 PSIG. It takes a bit more space under the hood, but could be done.

If it were me, I'd get the '86 running first, then decide whether to perform the swap or devise a different course of action. It would be very discoraging to swap the TPI to the '82 only to find that something about the TPI is a problem. Then you would have two non-functioning cars. It would be nice to know that the TPI is viable before the swap.

If you'd like to figure out the problems with the '86, start a thread. I'm guessing that a few people here could get you pointed in the right direction.

 

I have started a thread on it a while back when it died

so far i have eliminated the following possibilities:

bad spark plug wires
bad battery
bad coil
bad starter

the engine turns, but does not start.

maybe its the fuel filter, here is why i dont think it is:
I applied 12 volts to the aldl connector that turns on the fuel pump, it works, and gives me pressure.

but i dont have pressure from the shrader valve if i dont do that.

its really confusing.

also, the car overheated a lot, i allways had to put water in the radiator (i know, kill me now) because i didnt have the money to replace the radiator.


plus, the 86, HORRIBLE condition, the body is TRASHED BEYOND REPAIR. rust like a mother ******

http://waax.sacrificetheory.net/camaro/DSCF0244.jpg

thats my 86, I took the picture from the cars best angle, trust me, its a rust bucket, no in fact, its one giant piece of rust.

the reason i want to do the tpi swap is because the 350 is relativly new (45k miles) and I would love to make it a fuel injected beast.

im pretty sure the problem doesnt lie in the tpi setup, well at least from the lower intake manifold up.

in fact, i dont really know what the problem is at all, it just does not start.

 

well anyways, i was wondering,
since more than likely i am getting the 84

that means my parents will want me to get rid of the 86.

what parts should I rip off of my 86 before i junk it (yes i am going to junk it)

so far im thinking of ripping off the intake and the heads.

what else should I steal from the 86 before it see's its last days?

Would I get more performance if I took the heads off my 86, ported them, and put them on the 84?

the 84 is a crate 350, i dont know what heads are on it, and i dont know what cam is int it. the 84 is also a carb.

what would you do if you were in my situation (other than getting the 86 running and selling that)


trust me, the 84 is more than 100x better than the 86.
(only thing the 86 has going for it is tpi)

 

If the fuel pump activates when you manually apply power to it, but not with the key, you should check the fuel pump relay.

 

by any chance do you know where that is located?

 

I know exactly where it is:



Personally, I'd get it running and try to sell it. Turn the proceeds into a converted LT1 intake for the 350. If the proceeds won't cover the cost of the intake, fuel rails, injectors, ECM, and wiring harness, save all that from the '86 and trash most of the rest. You might want to save the 700-R4 as well, since the '86 transmission was improved over the earlier versions. If you're going that far, and the '86 has rear disc brakes, it likely has the Borg-Warner rear axle. Save that as well. It will last a lot longer behind the 350 than a stock Saginaw axle. Of course, the interior parts are interchangable, so save the best ones.

I also just looked at the photo. It doesn't look that bad from that angle. Maybe get it running and see what the market will pay.

 

Another thing you'll want to do is check the engine casting numbers and verify what you are considering purchasing. A 350 looks just like a 305 from the outside. And "crate engine" can mean anything from a ZZ4 or Fastburn 385 to a Goodwrench (hecho en Mexico) smogger dogger 350. If the seller is forthright, he/she won't mind you checking at all.

 

thank you very much
where are the casting numbers located?

and once i get the numbers, how do i figure out what block it is?

 

The next time you go to look at the car, take a flashlight, a towel to cover the fender (you don't want to scratch it up, even if you're not buying it) and a note pad. Look at the left rear of the engine:



Make a note of those numbers, then check them against the database at www.mortec.com

 

yah make dang sure the 84 has a 350, because honestly i would keep the 86 if it were me. or at least buy another TPI car and keep the parts off the 86 for future use. a carb'd 350 will very likely eat you up in gas mileage compared to your TPI in the 86. besides 305s can be fast too so dont get too attached to the "i gotta have a 350" mentality, because honestly, 350s arent that much better than a good tight 305.

 

 

327_77_TPI_Maro,

why you smackin your forehead, jealous that you dont have a 305? oh wait you are running a long tube runner intake setup on a large bore short stroke engine, that makes so much more sense.

 

No, I'm smackin my head just because that's opening up a can of worms to some people.