Howdy fellers,

I came over here from FSC (Full Size Chevy) Hoping to get some help. This coming tax season I am acquiring a 1981 GMC K20. I plan on doing it up as a typical 4WD (Which its all time 4wd) with some sleek styling, but I am big into truck pulls and I am wanting to make a very torquey engine. With that said, my name gives away what I want to do. I want to build a 383 stroker, using TPI (My mom had a 1986 Corvette, and I have the haynes manual for it still) and I was told by the guys over at FSC, that you can use LS1 MAF and Computer to run TPI, and its fairly easy. Which I like easy. I don't mind if I have to do some splicing or customizing of a harness, but I want to know is it as plug and play as they act? And what about sensors? Do I adapt sensors for a LS1 to a 350/383? Or what?

I was told to go this route cause a 0411 ECM with the 2002 GMC Express Tune would be a good starting point, and I could use HP tuner to tune it since i plan on putting a centrifugal supercharger on it. I am looking for all the info I can. I do all my own modifications, so all DIY stuff is appreciated.

Thanks guys!

 

....You have a LONG and costly battle ahead of you...



(ill leave you some links in the morning...)

 

Yeah you can do that and run ls ecm and stuff. I actually may do the swap as well. Basically need the express vortec van crab distributor and timing cover and a crank sensor with 24x ring. Tpi tps and iac sensors are different than ls1 but you can splice tpi sensors into the ls1 harness. That ls1 ecm should run them fine. My current setup uses ls1 iac and tps sensors on tpi ecm lol works good so reversing it should work too.

Check out eficonnection.com. They sell kits and wiring harnesses

Also look for obd II on tpi gen I sbc here in the diy tuning and other boards. There is a huge thread on the conversion done by s10wildside i believe. Some others too

 

Well I dont wanna spend a ton on it I want the most bang for the buck kind of thing, LT1 stuff maybe? Cause I have a feeling the timing cover and crank sensors and all that would be very expensive!

Well I read Wildsides's thing and went to EFI Connvection, and I cant justify forking out 800 bucks for a conversion kit to run a LS1 computer, and it seems like a bunch of hassel. I wanna run something thats sorta simple, so how about LT1 stuff? I want something that can easily be tuned to run a Centrifugal Charger.

 

http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/24x.aspx

If you are after torque then no problem with a TPI style intake on a 383 using a cheap TPI harness and ECM
Read
http://xtremecarzone.com.au/index.php?showtopic=386

But as you can see the HSR intake ( cheaper than aftermarket big tube TPI setup ) makes good torque as well as Hp
and you don't have a hood clearance problem

 

I have a 1978 Block which they say I need the aluminum cover for, and well that hole setup is 800 some dollars.

Also how hard is it to tune or get a TPI computer tuned? If its not, then I will go by route of all original stuff, cause I can get a Vette computer at work at a reasonable price.

 

I'm a fan of the LSx computer tech/swap, but I certainly don't consider it essential for what you're looking to do.

 

good reading here
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...-opinions.html

Im making the swap to the 4x setup on my lt1 using a
411 pcm , distributor from a votech setup. and my 96 timing cover and reluctor.
Z28ricer will be doing a complete plug n play harness for me.

Only reason 4x vs 24x is I have a distributor running my LT1 now on $59 code with NO optispark. So I only plan on single coil vs individual lsx coils.

 

Intake
$340 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WND-7540/
Fuel rails
$250 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLY-534-186/
or $210 with the non adj regulator
http://paceperformance.com/i-6108930...e-534-185.html

Complete used HSR setups( often with a TB and injectors ) run around $500 on here in the parts for sale dept

Any number of online tuners that can do you a custom tune
Simplest install is the MAP setup from a 90 - 92 F-Body ,used ECM run >$50
use a factory TPI harness
or buy a standalone aftermarket one ( no need to pull apart a old factory harness to get the only wires you need )
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990-92-TPI-...36a7ff&vxp=mtr

 

Well all I have is a 1978 engine, so I would be getting everything piece by piece, and I dont wanna spend tons of money in it. I read that post and thats what helped me back down to just running a old TPI setup. If I am going to spend a few thousand dollars, then I will just go with a really done up engine with a carb on it. Its more money then I wanna spend, so I may just go by route of a standard TPI computer.

I will probably just get a factory intake and all the stuff I can off ebay, speedwaymotors has a harness and I can get the computer at work for about 250 bucks.

 

Hell look on craigslist I see tpi stuff on there all the time. with how cheap LSX stuff is. TPI stuff goes for pennies on the dollar. Hell some toss it out. or give it away.

 

For what model / year ECM?
Nobody on here pays that much ; as I noted the TPI computers run $50 - 100
Check out the 3rd Gen for sale section.
Always guys parting out cars; you may get a complete working TPI setup with harness and ECM from one car instead of playing mix and match
around the junkyards

 

LSx PCM on ebay go for $90-125
165 MAF TPI stuff as said 50-100
the 7730 SD TPI stuff is getting expensive.$150+
at least the 350 tpi chip/memcal out of the ecm is. (now thats its discontinued )

 

Why not look into putting a LSx truck engine into the old truck and going from there?

A 5.3 swap is right inline with the LS1 controlled TPI retrofit SBC you're planning cost-wise and mod for mod will out perform the antiquated technology

If you're set on a TPI, read over the link fstfbdy posted several times

 

383 tpi will out torque the lil 5.3 any day of the week but would be more investment. My big 6.2l gen iv is around 370 tq to tires with a tune but a bolt on 350 Tpi with mild cam can make that. 383 will break well over 400 lbft if done right.

 

I agree with Pocket and would recommend a 6.0 LQ4 over TPI 383. The TPI is an outdated motor, yes you can update/upgrade(heads/cam/upper and lower intake/ecm. etc) for your needs but if you're starting from scratch, want to avoid headaches of tuning and spending $$$$ just swap in a 6.0 or 5.3 with one of Pocket's plug'n play harnesses + mail-order tune.

Bolt-on 6.0's make 350+rwhp, 360+rwtq w/o touching the internals + you can find anyone around town to tune it versus buying the software and having to tune it yourself.

Check out this forum... My Budget LS Engine Swap Guide <$1500 http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...de-1500-a.html


If you want to go forced induction, junkyard motors have handled 800+HP so your covered there as well.


http://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-ind...cam-4l80e.html


Whatever you do have fun with it

 

Just was at dyno where a stock 6.0 was dyno'd and it made 273 whp and somewhere in the 350 range for torque? I cant recall baseline but truck had cold air intake and muffler swap on stock manifolds. After tune it made 300whp and 370's torque. Very impressive.

My 6.2l L9H made only 331whp with tune on stock motor. Couldnt keep trans from downshifting early so torque reading was at 4400-4500 and still made 369wtq.

Most i seen with bolt ons like headers full exhaust and air intake has been 361 whp some betweeen 340's and 360. Maybe a 6.0 LQ9 LQ4 could do that but hard to say. They do make decent torque but its not down low its midrange 4000-4500 rpms where it peaks.

 

Since you're going with such an old vehicle, why not do the LS1 Carb swap? Ally ou'd need si the LS1 carb intake, carb and ignition. You can even take the LS1 out to 383CI and do it. Probably the cheapest option of what you're looking to do.

 

Just toss a stock TPI on it and have fun.

http://thirdgenranch.com/-strse-863/...tem/Detail.bok

 

Oh...that's cheap. I may look into that to replace the carb set up on my 84.