Hey all,

This is somewhat of a overly asked question, I'm sure, but I did search and found little on it.

I'm considering getting a Corvette L98 (1986) for my Cutlass, and think I might just keep the TPI for fuel economy and winter driveability vs. a carb. And with 2.14 rear axle gears and a TH-700, my economy may be outta this world with EFI, as I'm already pulling down mid 20s with a carb, as the car literally idles at 1100 rpm at 60 mph in OD lockup.

ANYWAYS, I'm talking about getting the entire motor, ECM and everything. From what I can gather from searching around the net, as long as I've got all the entire motor and all of the sensors, the only thing I've got to worry about with this swap is going to a high pressure fuel system.

Is there anything else I need to worry about? I know that there are a lot of harnesses involved and whatnot, but I'd imagine as long as I have the computer with the motor and all that connected, it shouldn't be an issue. Anything more to watch out for?

 

I'd say go for it, once you go with F.I. you'll never go back! I found an '88 GTA w/ an L98 for a great deal to do an engine/tranny swap into an '81 El Camino (The GTA isn't worth saving, entire front end from firewall forward, including strut mounts have been replaced) The easiest way to do the fuel system is to get a fuel sending unit from another G-Body that used fuel injection ('86-'86 El camino w/ V6, '84-'87 Grand National/T-Type, and others I'm sure). I'm going to try using the sending unit out of the Trans Am into the tank for the El Camino. You'll have to run high pressure hose all the way from tank to engine. You can use an in-line fuel pump, but they are loud and not cooled by the fuel, so they might not last as long. You'll also have to run a return fuel line. Not sure what year your cutlass is, you may have a return fuel line already. You may also have to find another wiring harness, the corvettes harness is nowhere near as long as a Camaro/Trans am.

A few years back a friend of mine and myself bought an '87 Trans am w/ a 305 and TPI for $1500, the 305 had a hole in the block the size of a softball, my friend gave me a stock 305 block from an '88 Iroc in trade for the TPI, and I had a edelbrock 600 lying around. In one weekend he had his '86 Chevy Truck running with TPI, and we had the trans am running with the carb which I sold for 2500.

 

one of the biggest things that can help you in doing a TPI conversion is actually taking the donor motor/harnes/ecm out yourself. Take your time and label the wiring. Then you have a ruff ideal of what went where and did what. Past that a good wiring diagram is a wonderful thing. Sounds like a good idea. I've got a 81 K5(now 2wd) Blazer w/ a 3.08 gear, 700r4, and LB9 long block(minor mods) knocking down 18+ in town and 21-22 higway w/ a carb. I was always planning on going TPI w/ it, but after over 70k w/ it I'm looking to sell...