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TPI Caprice?

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Old Feb 3, 2009 | 12:24 PM
  #1  
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From: Columbus, OH
Car: 1986 Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 Carbed
Transmission: th700r-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
TPI Caprice?

Is it possible? My friend has a Caprice, and I think it would be pretty bad *** with TPI ontop of it.
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Old Feb 3, 2009 | 02:11 PM
  #2  
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From: Michigan
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Richmond 3.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

What year Caprice?
The newer ones have LT1 motors in them. In that case....leave the LT1 in it.
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Old Feb 3, 2009 | 03:01 PM
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From: Lynn Haven/Panama City, FL, USA
Car: 88 Monte SS
Engine: Super-rammed L-98 383
Transmission: T-56 6-Speed
Axle/Gears: 8.5" G-BODY G-80 3.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

Sure it is possible and pretty easy for that matter. Like mentioned, if it is a94-96 it would have either an L99 4.3L LT-1 look-a-like, this would be the code on the SPID located in the trunk lid. This the white sticker located on the roof of the trunk. If it is the 5.7L LT-1, it would also be on that SPID. If this Caprice is an 87-93 model, with either the LO3 5.0L TBI or the LO5 5.7L TBI, it would be really easy to convert it to a TPI, and with the already existing TBI harness. It just takes some meticulous re-pinning of the TBI harness and the (Green or Yellow 32 pin 7730 connector) from the 90-92 TPI 7730 ECM, and some minor re-wiring of the under-hood wires, and it will work fine. I've done a few of them, and a few LO3 TBI RS Camaro's. There is a plethora of information on such swaps, and just simply ask for help with well thought out questions, and you will be very successful in your project. HTH's.
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Old Feb 3, 2009 | 08:42 PM
  #4  
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From: Columbus, OH
Car: 1986 Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 Carbed
Transmission: th700r-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

It's an 88, i guess my next step is a search, lol.

thx for the quick response
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Old Feb 4, 2009 | 12:15 AM
  #5  
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From: Orange, SoCal
Car: 1990 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 355 TPI siamesed runners
Transmission: Tremec T56
Axle/Gears: 12-Bolt 3.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

A Caprice/Impala forum would be your best bet. I'm sure its been done before.
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Old Feb 4, 2009 | 01:20 AM
  #6  
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From: toledo
Car: 1987 Z28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: TPI Caprice?

without getting rid of the swirlport heads your porlly not going to see much to any performance gains.....

i know because guy i know slapped a tpi setup on a 89 fullsized blazer and got a ton of tq added and lost top end hp

tried bumping fuel pressure/tuning it/advanced timing...everythign and still ran like poo. Ended up pulling the tpi off and running a holley carb and never looked back. I may even do the same after adding up how much its gonna cost to build my 327tpi project up from stock setup right now
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Old Feb 4, 2009 | 06:47 AM
  #7  
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From: Columbus, OH
Car: 1986 Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 Carbed
Transmission: th700r-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

I don't think it is a TBI, he just rebuilt the carburetor, which TBI's don't have, right? I'm gonna check the VIN today to see what the car came with, be cause it definitely still has the original engine.
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Old Feb 4, 2009 | 10:31 AM
  #8  
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From: toledo
Car: 1987 Z28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: TPI Caprice?

oh i thought i read it was a 89 which is all tbi(friend owns a junkyard...lol)

but yah 88 had the LG4/305 and a weak 350 carb'd(smog motor).

putting a tpi unit on either motor will see more tq but almost no gain in horsepower due to the tpi is lacking in cfm flow. iirc tpi flows like 250-300cfm stock and a quadrajet flows in the neighborhood of 750cfm

id stick with the carb if your looking for performance and having to spend a ton of money to upgrade from stock tpi later to match a carb's performance
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Old Feb 4, 2009 | 03:57 PM
  #9  
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From: Columbus, OH
Car: 1986 Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 Carbed
Transmission: th700r-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

so his car would benefit more a performance carb?
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Old Feb 5, 2009 | 12:06 AM
  #10  
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From: toledo
Car: 1987 Z28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: TPI Caprice?

Originally Posted by Paragus77
so his car would benefit more a performance carb?
if the owner of the car has a boat load of money id go tpi.

but since the car is a carb'd car already id suggest looking into a dual plane edelbrock performer rpm intake and edelbrock 600cfm carb


also, is this a dd car or a weekend bruiser? kinda big detail
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Old Feb 5, 2009 | 06:41 AM
  #11  
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From: Columbus, OH
Car: 1986 Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 Carbed
Transmission: th700r-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

DD, but he does not care about gas mileage or anything, he just wants to smoke his tires like my LB9, lol
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Old Feb 5, 2009 | 07:25 AM
  #12  
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From: Columbus
Car: 88 Formula, 72 Nova, 68 Chevelle
Engine: L98, mild 350, L79 327
Transmission: 700R4, M20, M20
Axle/Gears: 9b 327,10b 373, 12b 331
Re: TPI Caprice?

Originally Posted by Paragus77
DD, but he does not care about gas mileage or anything, he just wants to smoke his tires like my LB9, lol
Then tell your buddy to look for a good dual-plane manifold and a carb to to put on it, a cam swap too (hydrolic flat tappets can be had for about 100 bones with the lifters). Steeper gears could be had from the junkyard, as well as possibly a used posi. A little 100 shot of nitrous would do that Caprice right also!

Last edited by FormulaL98; Feb 5, 2009 at 07:29 AM.
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Old Feb 5, 2009 | 10:09 AM
  #13  
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From: toledo
Car: 1987 Z28
Engine: LG4
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: TPI Caprice?

Originally Posted by Toyota h8r
if the owner of the car has a boat load of money id go tpi.

but since the car is a carb'd car already id suggest looking into a dual plane edelbrock performer rpm intake and edelbrock 600cfm carb


also, is this a dd car or a weekend bruiser? kinda big detail
Originally Posted by FormulaL98
Then tell your buddy to look for a good dual-plane manifold and a carb to to put on it, a cam swap too (hydrolic flat tappets can be had for about 100 bones with the lifters). Steeper gears could be had from the junkyard, as well as possibly a used posi. A little 100 shot of nitrous would do that Caprice right also!
cool someone agrees with me lol
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Old Feb 5, 2009 | 11:40 AM
  #14  
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From: Columbus, OH
Car: 1986 Sport Coupe
Engine: 305 Carbed
Transmission: th700r-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

Awright! We'll be hunting riceboys in that boat, er beast, in no time! lol.
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Old Feb 5, 2009 | 12:05 PM
  #15  
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Re: TPI Caprice?

Im in the process of that conversion into a 92 Caprice Wagon, its been done before found it on a forum somewhere.

But thats irelavent since your freinds isnt the same anyway
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Old Dec 17, 2019 | 01:40 AM
  #16  
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Re: TPI Caprice?

Originally Posted by 88SS6SPEED
Sure it is possible and pretty easy for that matter. Like mentioned, if it is a94-96 it would have either an L99 4.3L LT-1 look-a-like, this would be the code on the SPID located in the trunk lid. This the white sticker located on the roof of the trunk. If it is the 5.7L LT-1, it would also be on that SPID. If this Caprice is an 87-93 model, with either the LO3 5.0L TBI or the LO5 5.7L TBI, it would be really easy to convert it to a TPI, and with the already existing TBI harness. It just takes some meticulous re-pinning of the TBI harness and the (Green or Yellow 32 pin 7730 connector) from the 90-92 TPI 7730 ECM, and some minor re-wiring of the under-hood wires, and it will work fine. I've done a few of them, and a few LO3 TBI RS Camaro's. There is a plethora of information on such swaps, and just simply ask for help with well thought out questions, and you will be very successful in your project. HTH's.

can you direct me to where where I can find specific information in regards to the re-pinning and harness mods required to do this. Please

to be more specific I want to swap a 91 tpi 350 into a 91 Caprice 5.0.
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Old Dec 17, 2019 | 08:29 AM
  #17  
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Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: TPI Caprice?

746 to 730 ?

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...d-density.html
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Old Dec 18, 2019 | 04:00 PM
  #18  
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From: New Jersey
Car: 87 Monte Carlo SS
Engine: 89 350TPI Transplant
Transmission: 2004r
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: TPI Caprice?

You should also check out a website named "chevythunder.com". Allot of TPI swap information there.

Good Luck.
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Old Dec 22, 2019 | 10:47 AM
  #19  
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Re: TPI Caprice?

Been there:



Done that:



The real benefits are better reliability, more consistent starting and running, more torque available for heavy bodies with lower (numerical) rear gearing, better cruising fuel mileage, and cleaner operation. Presuming the B-Body already has a TH700-R4 transmission, the low ratio first gear should help overcome almost any low ratio rear axle, and the OD range of the trans is going to help a lot with cruise economy. If the car has a TH200-4R (1988 may be a little late for that trans) the rear gears really need to be investigated.

If the car has a ridiculously low axle ratio, as some did, changing to 3.08 or slightly higher gearing will help the low end.
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Old Dec 24, 2019 | 07:40 PM
  #20  
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From: Hurst, Texas
Car: 1983 G20 Chevy
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 14 bolt with 3.07 gears
Re: TPI Caprice?

Originally Posted by Vader
Been there:



Done that:



The real benefits are better reliability, more consistent starting and running, more torque available for heavy bodies with lower (numerical) rear gearing, better cruising fuel mileage, and cleaner operation. Presuming the B-Body already has a TH700-R4 transmission, the low ratio first gear should help overcome almost any low ratio rear axle, and the OD range of the trans is going to help a lot with cruise economy. If the car has a TH200-4R (1988 may be a little late for that trans) the rear gears really need to be investigated.

If the car has a ridiculously low axle ratio, as some did, changing to 3.08 or slightly higher gearing will help the low end.
My 88 Fleetwood had the Vin 9 307 and a 200-4R with 2.53 gears.
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Old Dec 28, 2019 | 08:08 AM
  #21  
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Re: TPI Caprice?

So going from the tbi to tpi in the b body are the throttle cable and kick down cables interchangeable as well?
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Old Dec 28, 2019 | 08:05 PM
  #22  
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From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: TPI Caprice?

The cables will be to short.
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Old Dec 28, 2019 | 09:30 PM
  #23  
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Re: TPI Caprice?

Originally Posted by Tuned Performance
The cables will be to short.
where can I find appropriate cables?
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Old Dec 28, 2019 | 09:53 PM
  #24  
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From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: TPI Caprice?

For the throttle cable you might be able to use one off a thirdgen or lokar.
the throttle cable will be determined by year 85-88 or 89-92 wrap around style.
rockauto.com sells the tv cable or you can do lokar for both. The lokar uses a stud so if you use a throttle cable by them you need there tv cable.

Last edited by Tuned Performance; Dec 28, 2019 at 10:02 PM.
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Old Dec 28, 2019 | 11:31 PM
  #25  
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Re: TPI Caprice?

ANyone out there who has used the Lokar what lengths and or part #’s?? Please and thank you
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Old Dec 29, 2019 | 09:44 AM
  #26  
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From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: TPI Caprice?

For throttle cables they have 24 or 36 and are cut to fit if you want it shorter.

https://www.lokar.com/throt-cable-kickdowns.html

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