Scavenging parts for TBI conversion - missing something?

[cruiser enthuiser]

My FJ40 has a carb'ed Chevy 350 in it from PO with very low miles (about 4k). I want to add EFI and after some research it seems like TBI is the most affordable and easist option.

A local guy here is parting out a '88 Suburban with a 350 TBI that has a spun bearing - he's asking $100 for engine. I may pick it up this weekend.

If I take the complete engine with computer and harness what else should I grab off the donor truck?

Thanks for your help and advice.

 

[badass]

thats a good deal, get entire engine harness, computer, RELAYS, ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP, miscelanaous sensors, there's more but if you have knowledge to install tbi, than you should know what you need. good luck

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

No person in their right mind would say I have knowledge of TBI systems or conversions - just desire for it on my rig. I found this article while researching on the web.

How to install GM TBI on any Chevy V8


It makes the conversion sound relatively straight forward provided you get the Painless Harness which I had planned to do. Picking up the engine tomorrow.


Can anyone who has experience with TBI chime in here? I am interested to know if this article is way oversimplifying or if it's accurate.

 

[terrx]

Get the charcoal canister, probably mounted to the fender or firewall. Some suburbans had a cold air intake with dust pre-filter (?) that you might be able to use. Air cleaner.

Get the fuel lines from frame rail to throttle body. Usually they're steal at back of throttle body with flex section down to frame, threaded into another section of hard line. Might take a hack saw and cut the section of hard line about 6" rear-ward of the threaded joint. It can be inserted into 3/8" flexible fuel line, with hose clamps, then run to an in-line fuel pump, with soft line again to the cruiser tank. Or get as much of the hard line as you can and cut to length later. A good in-line pump is over $100 (walbro 155 liter/hour), maybe the stock in-tank pump can be used but I don't know how. If it has dual tanks get the controller/solenoid probably somewhere down on the frame rail. Probably would have 6 lines to it - supply & return to each tank and to motor.

Eventually you'll want a vehicle speed sensor. I don't know if the one on it can be salvaged and used. Maybe others know.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Get the charcoal canister, probably mounted to the fender or firewall. Some suburbans had a cold air intake with dust pre-filter (?) that you might be able to use. Air cleaner.

Get the fuel lines from frame rail to throttle body. Usually they're steal at back of throttle body with flex section down to frame, threaded into another section of hard line. Might take a hack saw and cut the section of hard line about 6" rear-ward of the threaded joint. It can be inserted into 3/8" flexible fuel line, with hose clamps, then run to an in-line fuel pump, with soft line again to the cruiser tank. Or get as much of the hard line as you can and cut to length later. A good in-line pump is over $100 (walbro 155 liter/hour), maybe the stock in-tank pump can be used but I don't know how. If it has dual tanks get the controller/solenoid probably somewhere down on the frame rail. Probably would have 6 lines to it - supply & return to each tank and to motor.

Eventually you'll want a vehicle speed sensor. I don't know if the one on it can be salvaged and used. Maybe others know.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck.

Thanks for input...I wouldn't have thought of the charcoal canister or the controller for dual tanks (not sure yet if it has). I am hoping to salvage the VSS...I know their expensive to buy - we shall see.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Here's the donor parts for my TBI. Gonna start tearing it apart this weekend.