If I was to convert from a computer controlled carb to a tpi system what year should I get. I have heard different years have different faults and different qualities. Thanks!

Mark

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1986 IROC LG4 "Bone Stock" (for now)

 

If you have cneter bolt heads than i think you can use 87 and up, therefore most people would recommend that you use a 91 or 92 speed density system. If you dont have cneter bolt heads than i believe you have to use a 86 or older TPI.

 

I don't have the centerbolts. Would that be the MAF system? I heard that they are more forgiving of engine mods (to a point)

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1986 IROC LG4 "Bone Stock" (for now)

 

If you got an aftermarket base, you could either use an 89 MAF (the best MAF) or 90-92 SD; regardless of your heads.

 

Would the Edelbrock base and runners be worth the money with a factory plenum with either on of the before mentioned systems?

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1986 IROC LG4 "Bone Stock" (for now)

 

As far as wiring goes, it would probably be easiest to convert your car to a MAF system. You could use the wiring harnesses and computer from any 86-89 car. I'd stay away from the 85 TPI. It uses a slower, inferior computer compared to 86 and newer. An 86 TPI base would bolt right up to your heads. However, a lot of people have used the 87 and newer manifolds on the older heads. All you have to do is drill out the four center intake holes to where they line up with the older bolt hole angles. A machine shop can easily modify the holes. I see so many used 86 TPI setups for sale though, that I think your best bet would be to keep an eye out for a setup from an 86 car complete with computer and wiring. If you do it that way, it's simply a matter of swapping everything over. You'll also need to get the fuel pump, pickup assembly and lines from the front to the rear of the car for a TPI.

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89RS w/350 TPI; 69RS/SS w/450 HP 350/Muncie 4-Speed "Too weird to live, too rare to die."

 

i actually have a little experience with this topic! i had an 86 IROC-Z with a 305ci. in it. i blew it up racing a 3000GT. i had a 350 Goodwrench crate motor with 27K on it so i decided to put it in the camaro. i swapped the cam in the 350 for the roller cam in the 305. i got the whole motor in the car and everything bolted up and went to tackle the reassembly of the TPI system. when i went to bolt up the lower intake manifold i found that the 2 center bolt holes in the manifold were at a different angle than the holes in the cylinder heads. after some very involved research i found that you CANNOT use carburated heads for a TPI conversion. i as i always do,rebelled against what i was told, and i took the manifold off and had a machine shop mill the 2 center holes in it so it would bolt up. it bolted up fine, and ran like a raped ape! it had a disk brake rear out of an 83 T/A and had some kind of funky 3:73 posi unit in it. with the 350 and an aout tranny with no mods it would burn the tires into 3rd gear! have fun dude!

 

Thanks for all of the input guys! I just want to make sure I have all of the research done before I go off half ****ed spending money on the wrong stuff and doing it the wrong way.

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1986 IROC LG4 "Bone Stock" (for now)

 

I rarely never believe what anybody tells me, because theoreticly, ANYTHING can be done with enough time, money, or both. I bolted an '85 manifold up to my '87 LG4 heads with some grinding of the center four bolts, and it runs like a dream. My best advice is to get a used factory harness, do not get a painless. They are for custom setups, and yours isn't considered custom.

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For simplicity, go with a SD set up. Those MAFs get expensive when they fry. Any machine shop can do the center bolt holes of an intake for like $25.
Yes, you will feel a big differenc with an aftermarket intake like Edelbrock. Remember you need up upgrade the fuel pump in the gas tank and possibly your fuel lines.
Go with a good aftermarket standalone wiring harness for ease of installation. Trust me, been there, done that, got the t-shirt to prove it.

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Rob P
89RSconvtZZ4TPI
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