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Necoa #: 3869
Location: 2(CT,MA,ME,NH,RI,VT)
Joined: Aug 30, 2004
Posts: 147
Year: 1987
Model: El Camino
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: need info on putting TPI 350 in 1987 305 SS
Hi everyone, just picked up a complete 1989 5.7 TPI motor from a Firebird GTA. Included the whole harness and computer. Was checking out this site and seems this has been done by several of you already. Here's what I need to do (let me know if I'm missing anything)
1. install a baffled 22 gal fuel tank for a 1987 4.3 fi motor.
2. install sender & fuel pump from a 4.3 tbi car (or will an S-10 one work? need to know correct one needed)
3. use fuel lines from 4.3 tbi car (will these fit the TPI intake?)
4. hook up 5.7 with all wires on factory harness and electric fans on radiator.
5. I will be reusing my present TH2004r tranny instead of the 700r4. Will this plug into the stock harness for the tcc?
6. Will need AC lines on passengers side for serpentine style compressor, will Cutlass ones bolt right up or are F-body lines needed?
Am I missing anything?
Please let me know if I need any other parts that I have not considered. Want to figure out exactly what I need to buy, and any left over money will go to upgrading the cam and maybe getting vortec heads & tpi intake.
Thanks,
Dave _________________ 1987 El Camino SS Choo Choo customs package w/ Monte Carlo SS tranny, 3.73 rear end, sway bars, alloy wheels & exhaust system, SS dash & S-10 dual piston brakes - Soon to come - 350 roller cam... all emissions legal!
2. tbi fuel pump is low pressure, get a tpi fuel pump and it will fit the tbi sender.
3. I got straight fuel line from local parts place and bent to fit. Takes a little time and patience, but it came out OK. Also mounted fuel filter on the frame gusset above the rear axle.
6. I got new hoses custom made at an air conditioner shop. Fit better and cost less than factory.
Then you'll need to figure out an intake. I used the factory elbow from the throttle out to the MAF meter, and a chrome elbow and cone filter from Pep Boys.
Necoa #: 594
Location: 13(TX)
Joined: Feb 03, 2003
Posts: 287
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject:
1)Yes but.. All tanks are baffled the same. The difference is that there is a pan in the bottom that fills from the bottom to feed the pump at all times.
2)Use a TPI fuel pump and a sending unit from an FI elky
3)make your own fuel lines and or tap into the existing lines. I used the existing feed and vent line and added another line.
4)yes make sure you have a wiring diagram as it helps.
5)plug and play
6)Cutlass condenser works best along with the cutlass liquid line. TPI compressor hose assm.
Replace all relays with brand new ones. This is mandatory. _________________ Robert Adams
http://gparts.freeyellow.com
84 Conquista
Necoa #: 594
Location: 13(TX)
Joined: Feb 03, 2003
Posts: 287
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject:
Nahh. I mainly do a couple mailing lists and check here every so often. I just go through and respond to a bunch of posts then I'll be back in a month or two etc. Primarily because the activity is pretty low on this board unfortunatly. I have been on the chevelles BB since it started but rarely check it anymore as the guys I knew at the beginning are pretty much all gone.
I don't do those one line waste of bandwidth posts just to get my numbers up. Really don't care what they are anyway. Just anwsering questions, trying to inform others and just help out fellow elky owners. _________________ Robert Adams
http://gparts.freeyellow.com
84 Conquista
Necoa #: 594
Location: 13(TX)
Joined: Feb 03, 2003
Posts: 287
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject:
I knew he was messing with me.
Dunnow why but it's not the first time it's done that. The server has been doing goofy things while posting replys. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the server to reply and other times is comes up with an error message and you have to go back and submit it again. Will see if I can delete the duplicates or at least edit out the text to shorten the page. _________________ Robert Adams
http://gparts.freeyellow.com
84 Conquista
Thanks for responding. Looks like I figured. Unfortunately a lack of funds has forced me to change my plans, although I will still have a great engine combination (IMO) I will be using my L-98 shortblock, adding my ZZ4 cam & Corvette 113 heads, an Edelbrock 2101 intake without EGR, and running the stock CCC distributor & Quadrajet. I will switch to the serpentine setup & electric fans since I already spent my money on these, but will be selling the TPI intake, harness & computer, using the original LG4 stuff with a ZZ4 chip. Since the ZZ4 is rated at 350 hp, I figure with CCC carb & all emissions stuff I should be around 300 hp and still be able to pass emissions (still will have cat & air pump, just removing EGR)
Seems the TBI tank & sending unit costs more than I paid for my entire engine!
Well that's all for now,
Dave _________________ 1987 El Camino SS Choo Choo customs package w/ Monte Carlo SS tranny, 3.73 rear end, sway bars, alloy wheels & exhaust system, SS dash & S-10 dual piston brakes - Soon to come - 350 roller cam... all emissions legal!
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: Re: Thanks Robert!
dave1987SS wrote:
Seems the TBI tank & sending unit costs more than I paid for my entire engine!
I honestly don't think it's manditory to put in a baffeled gas tank and intank fuel pump. When I dropped a TBI 350 in my 79 El Camino SS I reused the original gas tank and sending unit. I installed an external fuel pump along the frame rail. _________________ Ernie
87 El Camino
"To be Old and Wise, you must first be Young and Stupid"
Necoa #: 594
Location: 13(TX)
Joined: Feb 03, 2003
Posts: 287
Year: 1984
Model: El Camino
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:
You can use an external pump. Just make sure you don't run the tank below 1/4 tank. Shouldn't run any FI car below 1/4 tank anyway.
I have had a few ideas for a add in bowl to convert a regular tank to FI the hard part is coming up with a way to hold it in place...
The price of FI sending units is flat ridiculous. Also if you are interested in selling that TPI I know someone that would be interested if it was cheap enough. PM me or shoot me an e-mail and I'll give you his info. _________________ Robert Adams
http://gparts.freeyellow.com
84 Conquista
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Ok, I get it, you think us old farts are deaf! 
