Hello, my name is Jeremy Mitchell and I'm from Gillette, WY. I'm helping my brother get his '82 Impala running again. It is a very nice low mileage car and he is the 2nd owner. It has a SBC 305 V8 with the 700R4 overdrive transmission. The only mods to the car right now are an Edelbrock Performer intake and carburetor, which replaced the stock intake and Rochester Quadrajet.

Unfortunately the car has never run right ever since my brother installed the parts. I don't fault Edelbrock, but you have to understand my brother isn't exactly a car guy.

So here is where I come in.....being the car guy in the family, I'm hoping to help him get the car running again. I want NOTHING to do with a carburetor and would very much like to convert the car to a TPI setup atop the original 305 motor.

I have done a lot of reading on the subject in the past few days and have decided a '90-'92 Corvette TPI setup would be best, although I would still appreciate some input. I'm basing this decision on the fact that I:

1. Would rather have a speed/density setup for ease of install and less headaches.

2. I think I would be better off with the forward-facing fuel lines from a Y-body.

3. With a later model, I would not have to deal with the 9th cold-start injector and deleting emission stuff like EGR might be easier. (?)

4. I have found cost-effective MAP-based wiring harness solutions on eBay.


Any and all help is welcome. The primarly goal here is to convert the '82 Impala to MPFI for better drivability. Secondary goals are better MPGs and a decent HP bump over the Q-jet. I would like to do this as cost effectively as possibly, so I'm waiting for a really good deal to show up on a TPI setup. I'm wanting to hold out for a Corvette setup, because I hear that they will bolt up to the early SBC heads because of the center intake bolt angle differences, and I like the forward-facing fuel lines better for this car.

I'm not quite clear on what to do about an ECU or memcal. Right now I'm thinking I would like to mount the ECU under hood. I would also like to find a memcal that does away with VATS and EGR, and will work with a 305, but I don't know where to look for that. Thanks for all the help and I hope to post pictures of this project soon.

 

One other thing I also thought of is the fuel system...

I've been looking a a replacement fuel tank from Rock Auto for, say...any '89 Chev Caprice with the 4.3L. I would think that would have the 'slosh bowl' in the tank for an EFI pump? I'm also looking at a fuel sending unit from the same car, and outfitting it with the proper pump for a TPI setup. Gotta love Rock Auto! This stuff is so cheap!

I have a Racetronix fuel pump relay harness in my '98 Buick Regal GS (3800 S/C) and I've been thinking of getting something like that for the Impala as well.

 

You can mix n match parts from different sources,
You can use any available ( cheap ) TPI parts and just fit the Vette fuel rails.
For retrofit apps ,some even cut the stock hardlines off and weld -AN fittings direct to the TPI rails for flexibility of plumbing

If you find a late F-Body TPI base with the wrong bolt holes you just elongate the 4 center holes like the aftermarket does with a intake that fits both style heads.

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/Streetstories/choosetpi1.htm
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/Streetstories/choosingtpi2.htm

Do you require EGR ?
A main difference between the Vette and F-Body bases is how the EGR is sourced.

SD TPI only gives you 2 CM choices.
The common under dash mounted '730 ECM or the rarer but functionally identical weatherproof '727 version mounted under the hood of the Vette.
I believe you will not find a aftermarket harness for a '727 as the connectors are completely different to a '730 and that ECM is little used for retrofits