im at the end of swapping a TPI into my TBI 88 camaro. its all put together, but wont start. when i turn the key, the fuel pump works, brand new TPI fuel pump, and the motor just lets out a small click that sounds like its comming from the EGR or the cold start injector. yesterday it would at least crank over and smoke was coming from the plemun, today nothing. watta i doooo? i was told it migh be a problem with the distibutor, mite be in backwards or the timing is screwed up helppp lol

 

The smoke coming from the plenum was more than likely a wire frying, maybe a fusible link if you were using stock harnesses. Break out the schematics and start tracing and double checking your work.

 

how would the smoke from a frying wire get inside the plenum and come out where it meets the runners

 

first off, how confident are you in your work. What I mean is, do you feel confident that 99% of your installation is correct/ if you feel that you have done what was required then I would now check for the cause of that smoke. Did you happen to get a wiff of the smoke at all? Double check al connections and if you tried starting this engine for a while and it never actualy started then you may have drained the battery out from trying so much. Check the charge on the battery and also double check all wires to starter and stuff. What procedure did you use to put your dist in?

 

Is this a repin and modification of the TBI harness or a completely different one?

 

See, most people assume that when cranking over the motor, the top end is assembled.

Concurrent with that, you have a wiring change in your swap and in that context, it is rather common to have an electrical malady.

Concurrent with that train of thought, the fusible link usually is one of the wires that gets sacrificed in this sort of thing and the smoke that comes from it typically is seen in the area you referenced as seeing the smoke which, barring a partially disassembled intake, would logically bring one to that same conclusion that I mention.

Can you hear me now?

 

Fix the electrical problem first.
I posted a Timing procedure on this thread please help, i'm stupid (not a title I would use, but it got me to read it.) I'm sure others have their own methods.
Disconnect the set timing connector, or ESC before setting the timing, and don't forget to reconnect it when finished.
As for the smoke:
Sounds like you may have pinched a hot wire between the runner flanges.
My TPI doesn't have any fusible links anywhere near the plenum, or runners, most are at the starter, and near the battery.
.

 

work on getting it cranking first...

cheak the batteries charged and that the starters getting power. if still nothing take the staerter out and try to engage it and all on the bench.

i went through 3 starters on my swap i'm doing. lol. first two were re-manufactured. last one i jsut got about 3 weeks ago is all brand new and has a lifetime warrenty. haha. so if u got a re-manufactured starter in there...yea, cheak it


just my 2 cents...