Hi everyone. Recently bought a 1987 Z28. I have a 1969 K10 with a Vortec headed crate motor that threw a rod and was recently put back together with a slightly larger cam, new pistons, and rods. I have had a holley 650 and an edelbrock 650 on it in the past few years and would like to put the TPI set up on the 69 K10. The camaro I bought has the 5.0 not the 5.7 unfortunately. I bought the car running and driving for a grand so im not in it much. I love the look of the TPI set up as well as the good reviews people have posted. My question is, besides new injectors, a distributor,my 69 has a large cap HEI, and the intake from Scoggin Dickey for the vortec heads, what else should I plan on buying? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. After the 305 is out of the car im thinking i will put a big block in it and have some fun. But that is a later project.

 

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You are putting the motor in the truck or the car ?

 

As for the install, it could take a bunch of fiddling. I have a spreadsheet on my website that gives all the parts I bought and used. This would be a good starting point for you. There is also a bunch of other files there that will be good knowledge. Do a lot of research, and keep good notes. A 3-ring binder is a good tool.

https://sites.google.com/site/darbyselky/home

 

Thanks for the help. The TPI off the z28 is going on my vortec engine in my 69 chevy k10. The z28 will more than likely get a big block with a carb. I will probably part out most the the z28, stuff i dont need. 10 bolt, 700r4, etc...

 

Are you going to use the Camaro ECM and wiring harness or go with a standalone harness ?

 

Havent decided on that one yet. My truck has a "hot rod wires" harness in it, stand alone would be cleaner/the only wires I need correct? Taking the harness off the camaro and using it would be more difficult or?... also i have been trying to decide which size injectors to go with. My engine was dinoed at 364 hp and 397 lbf tq with the 650 holley. Open to suggestions on both if not the whole deal Thanks again.

 

The stock harness has many wires that can be removed but obviously a standalone harness is cleaner.

Cleaner still install is a MAP '730 ECM from the 90-92 TPI cars that does not require the MAF sensor installed on the ducting in front of the TB.
Can run a pod air cleaner direct on the TB if you are that way inclined and the standalone harness for that setup (MAP ) is cheaper than for a MAF setup
Compatible pricing for the ECM's so should be zero cost to swap the ECM over if you sell your '165 unit

 

Your leaving out a ton of information, Camshaft specs, compression ratio. if the hp rating is at the engine get 30#hr injectors if its at the rear wheels get 36. You will need to tune your ecm for best performance/economy.

 

Cam intake443/exhaust465, duration 214 intake, 224 exhaust. Cast Aluminum pistons, 9.5:1, sorry it took so long to get it on here. Thanks again

 

Sounds like you're using the same Summit cam that I'm using on my Vortec headed 350 TPI motor.

Aside from the chip tuning (moot point if you go with aftermarket ECU), there's nothing really "unique" about using TPI on vortec heads instead of standard heads.

I have a thread here that chronicles my entire upgrade from "normal" heads to Vortec heads and the subsequent installation of the motor into my GTA. The motor installation isn't completed yet, but everything associated with the head swap is. Perhaps it will be helpful:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...tpi-build.html

 

Jim, great looking car! Like I said before I hate to take a running car apart but it's 305 is tired. Maybe when I'm finished with my 69 truck for awhile I can do the z28. But I'm looking for suggestions on a few things. Wiring harness, I think a stand alone harness for me would be the best. The camaros harness is butchered and I don't need everything from it. Also, I have a brand new hei distributor on my 69. Anyway I can reuse it ? And finally know anyone selling a manifold that will fit my heads? I saw sdpc has one for 400 but u know how tight money is. Thanks !

 

A stand-alone harness will cost you a fortune. It will be much more cost effective to repair yours or buy one from a parts car. While you may not need "everything", chances are you'll use at least 80% of it. My car has no emissions equipment on it, and there are only a couple unused plugs on my harness. EGR, coolant diverter valve and maybe something else are all that aren't used. Rather than strip them from my harness, I chose to leave them there incase I decide to sell the car to somebody that may need to reinstall that stuff. They're easily hidden from view.

There's no simple way to use the HEI that's in your 89 that I'm aware of. That distributor uses vacuum advance, and doesn't have the connections necessary for the ECM. The stock Camaro distributor you have is perfectly adequate. There's no reason not to reuse it.

Vortec TPI manifolds don't pop up too often on the used market. SDPC and Edelbrock (they're both the same manifold) are your only option. They do occasionally show up in the classifieds. I got lucky and found mine on a craigslist posting halfway across the country, and the seller was willing to ship.

 

Well thanks for the info. For some reason most of the connections in the harness have been cut and spliced. Not a big deal just wonder why. Possibly a swap from a 5.0 to a 5.7 from a previous owner? I'll have to look for the engine numbers. Also it is a 5.0 engine in the camaro and my 69 is a 5.7. Could the distributor still work?

 

5.0 & 5.7 are still a "small block". All parts interchange except for pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft and externally, the knock sensor.

 

Well that's good to know since it's a new distributor. Thanks for your help. I will get some pictures up asap. Maybe y'all can give me some ideas as To what I should do with the camaro.

 

Rods and Crankshaft interchange just fine, provided the crank is balanced for the 305 or 350.

My 4-bolt main 305 had "X" rods in it from the factory and a steel crank.