I am planning to convert from TBI to Carb. I would prefer to do this in stages so I can work through any suprises one at a time. Also, it is easier on my budget to do things one at a time.

My questions are:

Can I disconect my 700R4 from my ECM and install a converter lockup kit like the one from TCI and still temporarilly retain the ECM to control the TBI, ignition, etc?

Then, can I replace my ECM controlled distributer with a vaccum advance HEI unit and still use the ECM to operate the TBI?

If these things are possible I can ease through the conversion one project at a time.

Any Help will be greatly appreciated.

 

yes

i dont believe so. could be wrong on this one though

 

Does anyone else know if a vacum advance distributor will work with the TBI and ECM? I really want to phase out the ECM.

 

It potentially could work if you wire up the tach signal to the distributor reference wire for the ECM. I wouldn't recomend ti though. You'll need to get into PROM burning to tune the TBI anyway, so just take care of the spark curve in there. You can do MUCH cooler stuff in the ECM spark tables than you could dream of with a mech. dizzy.

 

You could save your self a huge headache by swapping to carb and old style HEI at the same time, I can think of no reason why you would have to do that in two steps unless you like to drive yourself insane.
I'd also save to money and not buy the lock up kit and just wire it to lock up automatically in fourth using the existing pressure switches.