Hello all, I know i'm not the first to do this and end up with the results running the tpi but I need help and answers. First after the swap ruff idle no power sluggish throttle response. So I had two chips made one from hyperchip and I think scott hansen both maid it run better on the low end not so much on the top. problems I was having with both chips were hard start when hot and no top end power. So I got mad and took out the the tpi intake and stuck a carburetor on it, put a inline fuel pressure regulator and tuned it. Car runs good this way but now after not driving it for awhile 6 years I really would like to make it look stock and put it back to tpi and wondering what people might be running now days. I read about the EBL P4 Flash System it sounds good but I need help I live in north Idaho and theirs not many company's custom tuning tpi engines around here. So my questions would be keep the carb and don't look back, swap back to tpi or other brand of intake? I guess I'm hoping you will say scene my car has been in storage doc from back to the future made a black box the could finley be put back in place and not left on the floorboard..

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

The "make it look stock" is the hard part. The stock factory TPI hardware is marginal for a 305, chokes a 350, so you can guess what it does to a 383. You could get an Edelbrock base and runners, port the plenum, but it's still going to be marginal. A Holley Stealth Ram will handle it, but hardly looks stock. Nothing else will come close to looking stock.

The easiest answer is keep the carb. The "in-line regulator" worries me, because if it's a simple dead-head type without a return, it will eventually kill your in-tank electric pump. A more expensive return-style regulator is much easier on the pump.

 

I recently did the exact same swap and decided on FIRST Fuel Injection. It worked great and makes gobs of power. It also keeps a somewhat stock "look".

 

FIRST TPI intake seems to be the best choice for "stock" look with bigger engines. For those who have bought a FIRST intake recently, have Ken & Co started producing them again? (I think that was his name?) I was looking to buy one a while back but they were re-tooling after a fire in their workshop and hadn't begun producing them yet.

 

89firefird Whats the specs on your 383 how much hp and torque is it putting out and what fast unit did you buy? fast manifold without electronics, FAST EZ-EFI electronics, FAST EZ-EFI 2.0 electronics with full color touch screen or Electromotive Tec GT electronics?

 

Also wondering if there is anyone running the fast system that had a stock TPI efi camaro. I have all the electronics and wires under the hood was wondering if the fast system will need any of the components/wires?

 

I purchased a SP383 crate motor. With a carb it's rated at 435HP and 445ft-lbs. Not really sure what it produces with fuel injection, but it throws you back into the seat when you get into the pedal.

I just bought the FIRST manifold without any electronics. That's the beauty of this system, it works with all the stock TPI sensors and wiring (new chip). It does require some minor fabrication, but nothing too serious. There's another thread that goes through the entire install.

 

I found a couple threads but not much info. Can you like the one your talking about. Did you buy the chip from fast or from other? Are you using the stock ecu?

 

I keep forgetting about that option. Interesting website, you order by sending the guy an email.

Saw in another thread that they had a fire and have been out of commission. Don't know if they're back up and running.

 

I like their product but the website could use improvement. At least on Firefox the descriptions for items shoot way out into the margin, and the lack of an online shop is surprising considering how easy it is to set one up these days. I imagine they would sell a lot more units if they had online ordering.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...injection.html

Ken at First recommended a person to custom burn a chip. You tell him your motor specs and he'll get something really well matched. Same ECU.

I bought mine a few months ago, took a little while to arrive (couple weeks) but it worked great.

 

89FIREBIRD if you don't mind me asking what did you pay Ken told me the system with the FIRST Tpi starts out at $2450. The other does control timing and can be used with nitrous, turbos and supercharger applications. With this system you need to use the fast distributor and cdi box which makes that system end up around $3650, so depending on what you would need the price varies substantially.

 

I just bought the manifold from him. A little over a $1000 if I recall. You already have all the electronics in place from the original TPI. The main things you'll need are:

1. The intake from FIRST (includes manifold, runners, plenum, TB, and hardware)
2. Bigger injectors. I think I went with 26# or 28#. Ken can help you decide
3. Adjustable fuel regulator. Sounds like you may already have that
4. Custom prom matched to your motor. Ken has someone he regularly works with.

Once you have those things, you can start putting it together. You'll find a few places where you'll need to design the plumbing for the fuel lines. Also, you'll need to extend the wiring for the IAC. And lastly you need to put some kind of air cleaner with your MAF sensor.

I'd say for $2000 you should be able to easily put it all together.

 

Also, I think some of the confusion with Ken may have been that you're changing from a carb. He may not have understood that the car was originally a TPI car and has all the electronics already.

That's likely why he was quoting you the complete systems.