TPI worth it for SBC 40?

[bikersmurf]

Have an opportunity to buy 1985 TPI with a painless harness, computer, distributor, manual, etc for a cheaper price.

How big a headache? How big a headache?

Things to look for?

Will economy be better than a 1406 edelbrock carb?

Will it be happy on a ‘72 350 with 9:1 compression and an RV cam?

Will it run at 500 rpm?

 

[Dynosoar]

I love my 350 (5.7) TPI in my 60. That set up has a ton of low end power. I get 12 mpg city and 15-17 Hwy MPG. Fuel Injection is the way to go.

Dyno

 

[jim land]

More 700 - 900 rpm at idle

 

[jim land]

I run an 87 350 tpi in my 40 since 2010 and like it for the easy start and good power

 

[jim land]

But if you carb setup is running fine , keep it that way and save for a newer LS later

 

[bikersmurf]

How easy/hard would the swap be onto an old engine?

 

[jim land]

Knock sensor , vss, programing , electric fuel pump, wiring and other things
I think its best with a complet engine

 

[tdskip]

@bikersmurf

I don’t think you want a 1406. I installed Edelbrock AVS series since it is designed for off-road use and the 1406 needs to be modified. This was on the SBC 350 older crate engine.

My AVS was a bolt on and no adjustment neeed - great product. It literally was a 10 minute swap including electric choke.

Performance Aluminum Intake Manifolds - Edelbrock, LLC.

Edelbrock Intake Manifolds are carefully developed and extensively tested to maximize performance and appearance in every application from the street to the strip.

www.edelbrock.com

 

[lcwizard]

How easy/hard would the swap be onto an old engine?

They're not super picky. I pulled a throttle body, harness and sensors off a 5.0 Camaro and dropped it into
a GM Goodwrench 1st gen 350 cheapo motor. Thaty was 20 years ago and it's never stopped running. Better driveabilty and
mileage than the Quadrajet that was on it. The RV cam shouldn't be an issue, they aren't really a lopey cam. If it runs smooth now
at idle it's probably a pretty mild cam. I didn't mess with a chip , just put all pieces back in that went with the system. You can drop the air pump and cat if your jurisdiction allows. Unless you're running a auto with lockup or cruise control you don't really need a speed sensor even though some will argue that you do.

 

[bikersmurf]

@bikersmurf

I don’t think you want a 1406. I installed Edelbrock AVS series since it is designed for off-road use and the 1406 needs to be modified. This was on the SBC 350 older crate engine.

My AVS was a bolt on and no adjustment neeed - great product. It literally was a 10 minute swap including electric choke.

Performance Aluminum Intake Manifolds - Edelbrock, LLC.

Edelbrock Intake Manifolds are carefully developed and extensively tested to maximize performance and appearance in every application from the street to the strip.

www.edelbrock.com

I’m not looking for a new carb... especially for more that a complete TPI system would cost. The new 1406 I’m running was given to me by a friend. It runs perfectly.

If I want another carb, I’ll rebuild the stock quadrajet and call it a day. A part of me has wanted fuel injection for years... however another part of me prefers to keep it simple.

 

[bikersmurf]

They're not super picky. I pulled a throttle body, harness and sensors off a 5.0 Camaro and dropped it into
a GM Goodwrench 1st gen 350 cheapo motor. Thaty was 20 years ago and it's never stopped running. Better driveabilty and
mileage than the Quadrajet that was on it. The RV cam shouldn't be an issue, they aren't really a lopey cam. If it runs smooth now
at idle it's probably a pretty mild cam. I didn't mess with a chip , just put all pieces back in that went with the system. You can drop the air pump and cat if your jurisdiction allows. Unless you're running a auto with lockup or cruise control you don't really need a speed sensor even though some will argue that you do.

It has more lift, but it’s smooth as silk. The engine is a clean 1972 350 4 bolt main small block. Other than a dual roller timing chain... it has about 165 psi across the board.

Sounds like it should be relatively plug and play based on your experience.

 

[tdskip]

I’m not looking for a new carb... especially for more that a complete TPI system would cost. The new 1406 I’m running was given to me by a friend. It runs perfectly.

If I want another carb, I’ll rebuild the stock quadrajet and call it a day. A part of me has wanted fuel injection for years... however another part of me prefers to keep it simple.

Ah, sorry.

 

[lcwizard]

It has more lift, but it’s smooth as silk. The engine is a clean 1972 350 4 bolt main small block. Other than a dual roller timing chain... it has about 165 psi across the board.

Sounds like it should be relatively plug and play based on your experience.

The biggest issue I've found with the TBI is that most of the aftermarket electronic pieces are imported junk. But I suppose that will be true with all the computer related peripherals. The IACs, MAPs, dizzys and ignition module, etc are mostly cheap Chinese made parts.
It took three Autozone distibutors to get one that worked more than a year. The first one made about 1/4mile before the module
crashed. The OEM units last forever. If yours has a stock dizzy, keep it. The IAC motors and TPS can be wonky from batch to batch.
You can buy three IAC motors and the idle characteristics are completely different between them. I have to say , the best running motor
I've ever had in a Cruiser, including the 2F that cam in by brand new 1978 FJ40 , was the 1990 TBI that I transplanted into the 40.
IN '90 I got hold of a 1990 gmc 1/2 ton that had been t-boned at 8000 miles so I had access to every part that came from the factory.
I ran that for nine years in a 40, moved it to a 55 for 5 years and now it's in a 60. I freshened up the valve seals in '05.
I got 16~18 on the highway with the 40, 14~16 with the 55 running 4:88s and 35 swampers. About the same in the 60.
I once lost a water pump running the Hole in the Rock trail with the 40 in Utah. I cut the belt and drove the 80 some miles back to Blanding, expecting to stop every few miles to cool the motor. It never overheated as long as I was moving. It would hover at 200 on the straights and hit 210 on the hill climbs. The water just moved from the cool radiator to warm block through convection.
Only my 84 minitruck with the 22R impressed me that much when it came to cooling. I ran a whole summer in Phx before noticing
my radiator cap was missing the rubber gasket completely. My wife said she had checked the water a few months before and
noticed the cap was rattling but didn't say anything. By the time I found it the water was still full to the fill neck.

 

[tdskip]

What is the cost difference between the TBI (all in) and a Sniper unit?

 

[bikersmurf]

What is the cost difference between the TBI (all in) and a Sniper unit?

No idea on a sniper unit, but asking price is about $450 usd for the complete TPI setup with custom Painless harness, computer, manual, and all the bits and pieces. I suspect I’ll need a fuel pump, but that remains to be seen.

 

[too tall]

I have a couple of bins of Chev TPI parts you are welcome to if you run into any missing bits. I am fairly familiar with the system. Do you know if it setup as speed density or mass air?

 

[tdskip]

No idea on a sniper unit, but asking price is about $450 usd for the complete TPI setup with custom Painless harness, computer, manual, and all the bits and pieces. I suspect I’ll need a fuel pump, but that remains to be seen.

That is attractive, turn key Sniper set up is around $1,400.

 

[jim land]

Speed density (map) start in 1989
85-88 is masse air flow (maf)

 

[bikersmurf]

I have a couple of bins of Chev TPI parts you are welcome to if you run into any missing bits. I am fairly familiar with the system. Do you know if it setup as speed density or mass air?

What about fuel pumps? Have an external or one you’d recommend?

In tank wouldn’t work as well with two tanks. There may be one included, but I don’t know yet.

 

[too tall]

Not sure about external pumps? I prefer to run in tank pumps.