63moredoor

Hi all, I am new here and I am looking to do something that seems a little out of the ordinary. I want to put a TPI system on the 283 I am building for my 63 chevy II. I am just looking for a good reliable cruiser with good mileage and hope that this set up will do that for me. Here are the details

283 bored .060 over
Performer cam
9.5 compression
305 TPI or possible Vortec heads
700R4 or T5
3.55 gears

I am totally new to working on fuel injection and don't really know where to start so I need some advice. I already have a 305 TPI setup complete with harness, computer, heads and distributor from a 86 camaro. Plese give me some pointers on where to go from here. The only thing I really know so far is that I want to be able to just hook up a laptop to do the tuning, I don't want to have to mess with a bunch of chips. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

bigbrother

my .02 is to go with an aftermarket standalone system like megasquirt, or one of it's derivatives.
it'll be tunable on the fly and less clutter in the engine bay because you can eliminate unneeded sensors and wiring (AKA emission control BS)

63moredoor

I thought there was a way to do that with the stock ECU as well, am I wrong? i would honestly like to stick with the stock system for now as I learn so that if by chance I mess up the computer entirely I can easily get a replacement. Is that a poor choice of action for a beginer?

1989formula355

iTrader: (2)

i'm thinking this will run pretty well with the stock tune. i'd say get it running, see what complaints you have drivability-wise (if any), and then go from there.

1991CamaroRslow

iTrader: (3)

With a stock tune it should work just fine. You need to keep your cam duration small and the LSA needs to be 112 or more 114 would be better. I'm not sure what you mean by Performer camshaft, if you could post up the specs we could tell you more. The engine should run just fine if you keep the 02 sensors. I'm not sure you can mount the knock sensor. I do believe you should be able to bypass it. Other than that the compression and size of the engine looks appropriate.

63moredoor

Sorry it is the Edelbrock performer cam. http://store.summitracing.com/partde...2&autoview=sku

Where does the knock sensor mount?

IROC315

iTrader: (9)

Lower bottom of the block. If the block is equipped.

bigbrother

It's a 283, it's not equipped for squat!
yes it will run fine on a stock chip as long as there are very few mods, however you will hit issues with needing extra sensors and things.
Personally I'm considering swapping out my stock ECU for a Phantom (Megasquirt w/usb) unit, depends on what my direct cost is.

63moredoor

Is the knock sensor mandatory for running TPI? What other sensors mount into the block, and which are required?

bigbrother

if you eliminate any stock sensor, the computer will set off the check engine life and possibly activate it's limp home mode.

1989formula355

iTrader: (2)

you can just screw the knock sensor into one of the block's water jacket drains.

63moredoor

Okay. Any reccomendations on a tuner. There seems to be a lot of different ones and I am not sure what I should look at. I want to stay with a stock style computer and have the ability to hook up a laptop directly to do the programing. Don't want to have to mess with the chips. Which ones should I consider?

patsy1

tpi chips.com he will burn u chip make anything work

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

I don't understang WHY people wount just answer your question. So I will.

No matter what your gonna have to atleast burn ONE chip. no big deal there.

You can get something like this....
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=54

and hook it up and use the realtime emulation to knock down your tune and everything before you burn a chip to put in the ecm and leave it there.

I think a nice ported stock tpi would be good on a 283 with mild work. Esp since lik eyou sai dyour looking for something to cruise around it.

Good Luck and lets see some pic's of it in the bay!!

63moredoor

Sorry guess I should have been more specific. I know that I would have to burn one chip but the real time emulation was what I had in mind and just couldn't think of the right term. Thanks for the link. It will be a long time before the engine goes into the car. Right now the car, engine, trans, TPI parts are scattered in about 10 different places around town until I can get a chance to move everything to the new house. The car is just a shell so it will be a long time before it drives anywhere.

1991CamaroRslow

iTrader: (3)

That cam, stock 305 TPI tuning, no knock sensor, it'll run just fine. I truly believe even an SD setup would run ok with that, I know a MAF setup would. My knock sensor has been unplugged before and it caused no ill effect aside from the inability to pull out timing. You definetly SHOULD have at least 1 chip burnt for the car but I believe you could stick it together and the motor you built is so close to the stock TPI 305 it would run fine.

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

Just use a 305 knock sensor screwed into the passenger side block drain. The block drain IS the mounting hole for the knock sensor on the newer engines.

63moredoor

Thanks for all the replies, the encouragement helps me not think I am totally crazy for trying this on the small SBC. If I understand right the t5 should hold up fine behind this combo but I will probably go with the 700R4 since I already have it. I don't plan to run any emissions equipment but is there anything that is required for the TPI to work right?

Fast355

iTrader: (2)

This is probably one of the best TPI swap pages I have seen.

http://www.djgaston.com/scramzilla/tpiswap.htm

I think you can hit close to 300 HP with a TPI 283 and the right complementing parts.

I would build your engine at 9.5:1 compression

Ported 14022601 casting 305 heads with 1.94/1.60" valves
Crane 2030 Compu-cam (204/214 @ .050, .423/.446" lift, 112* LSA)
Tri-Y headers and a decently sized exhaust
Port the intake base and clean up the plenum

I think that will put you on target for about 300 HP @ 5,000 rpm and about 315-325 ft/lbs of torque @ 3,600 rpm.

scuzz

I had a friend that put 305 TPI intake/heads on 283 a year or so ago and it worked great as is.
He did no tuning whatsoever.
It might not always come that easy though.
It seems every project I do, something happens out of the ordinary.
Ron

StreetRoc85 350

honestly you might want to consider just putting a 305 in there. same dimensions externally, no one would know the difference. and it would be a lot easier than trying to make your 283 compliant with TPI. it would probably make more power too. 305s arent in very high demand. they can be had for a dime a dozen. i gave mine away for free

mnorton

You could stroke it to make a 307..... bored .060 over would gain you another 6 or so cubes as well.