Aftermarket Injection

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Anyone installed an aftermarket injection system on a factory carby Vette?

Just wondering how big the job was and if anyone had any trouble.

Also, did you make up a new air intake that feeds from in front of the radiator? I am interested in Edelbrock's setup, but wanted an air cleaner assembly simular to the original that feeds cool air from in front of the rad.

Cheers

Tony

 

[lone73]

F/I

This subject has been pretty thoroughly beat up in years passed. Might want to do a search. Several folks on this board have put F/I on a C3. I have an old Accel ECM computer on mine with a Street & Performance Tunnel Ram intake, Ford 24# injectors. It does fine but it is hard to tune it so that absolutely all the burps and coughs are eliminated when starting from a light. I have spent quite a lot of time trying to smooth mine out. Newer systems may be easier to tune to perfection but attempting to tune it w/out a wide band O2 and a dynomometer ($$$) you're going to be guessing at it.

I plan on switching over to a stock computer eventually. There is a guy on the east coast who sells a system that enables the stok computer to be tuned on the fly nowdays with a chip swap. I believe he swaps over to a flash or similar device in the ECM. Then it's tunable. All the advantages of stock plus the ability to try adjusting it yourself. Other systems are very expensive for my budget. This is one of the cheapest ways to get into it.

To answer you're original question, no, it isn't a really huge job, if you are handy with tools and work on your own car you should be able to get this installed in a couple of weekends. The biggest PITA for me (other than tuning) was trying to figure out how to deal with the fuel tank and line changes.

Good luck with it.
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[bossvette]

I used a Holley Commander 950 ECU its programmable with a laptop on a modified 91 Vette TPI
TPI Install pics a stock system is easier to install and systems and wire harnesses show up on Ebay often. I am doing a stock install on my Ole Yellow Truck and plan on doing EFI on my next project Vette.
The fuel system is about the only real hard part, but is nothing to worry about. Rock Valley Antiques makes/modifies just about any tank for an in tank pump.

BTW on your 81 you can use a 82 fuel tank with a late model pump for EFI

Check out 82 Col Edition

 

[KANE]

Anyone installed an aftermarket injection system on a factory carby Vette?

Just wondering how big the job was and if anyone had any trouble.

http://www.geocities.com/chiphihawk/page1.html

I went with stock TPI components optimized with custom tuning. I don't think I even had $1K in in the system. It was really cheap going through salvage yards.

 

[Crimson Thunder]

Check out TPIS they sell a complete kit.You can get a factory TPI or thier Mini-ram with injectors,harness, and computer with programming for one(not so)low price.

 

[lone73]

I used a Holley Commander 950 ECU its programmable with a laptop ...

BTW on your 81 you can use a 82 fuel tank with a late model pump for EFI

Check out 82 Col Edition

Now that's an EXCELLENT idea! Or maybe you could swap the guts from an '82 tank and install on yours, and save the tank cost.

bossvette, Are you satisfied with the tunability of your C.950 ? Are all the maps available to control or is it pretty much just lean/enrichment knobs on a GUI ?

thanks
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[bossvette]

there are maps on the Holley website that get you close then you can tune it on the fly. The manual is quite informtive and you can download it fom the website also.
The next project I do I will use the Stealth Ram

 

[KANE]

Check out 82 Col Edition

Hey BV- is the FIRST "TPI" still in production or has someone else decided to market the same system?

The reason I ask is that a TPI like unit with runners that large would do great to power a ZZ430.

 

[bossvette]

I don't think the FIRST system is still availabe, but check out the Stealth Ram the only downfall is it will not fit under a stock hood, therefore you need a L88 hood.
there are many different applications; they even have wide band O2 systems now.

 

[lone73]

My S&P Tunnel Ram looks very similar to the Stealth and it fits under a stock '73 cowl induction hood..
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[korvettekarl]

I have installed several (5) Edlebrock systems. I like them for the completeness of the system. They are dependable and easy to install.

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

I have installed several (5) Edlebrock systems. I like them for the completeness of the system. They are dependable and easy to install.

KorvetteKarl & Everyone else,

How about tuneability? Do you have any burps or farts in the system?
What sort of air cleaner housing did you use?

I do like the Stealth Ram system, but I am not really that keen on changing the bonnet. The reason is that I want the old 81 to look as stock on the outside as possible. By stock I mean that I have even changed the American Racing wheels back to stock steel Rallye Rims with 255/60/15 BF's just as the build sheet says.
I like the classic look of this 'no frills' Vette without code N90 Aluminium wheels.

However, that said, the engine bay and driveline can be modified, so I am looking at a serpentine belt system from March (Ultra Drive) and a set of thermo fans first up followed by injection at a later date.
I have just spent some $$$ on the matching numbers L81, bored out 20 thou, original crank, decked block, Larry Perkins race kit (pistons), shaved heads, 1.6 Yella Terra Roller Rockers & slightly lumpier cam (just over stock). That is about as far as I would go on the matching numbers block, any more and I would be better off buying a crate engine, besides the 2 bolt mains limit things.

Getting back to the mods. The March Ultra Drive serpentine belt system really appeals to me. I saw something simular on a 502 69 big block Vette here in Oz, and it looked really good. It wasn't all 'blinged up' with chrome, it looked practical and made good use of an already tight engine bay. This is on the shopping list and is in another post.

The FI, a long term shopping list item, but something I would consider. My Edlelbrock 1903 (795 CFM) carb has a major flat spot when you dump it, so I'll have to rip her down to me carby fella to have another look at.
I am not bagging the Q Jet, I reckon it is a far better carb than the holley that the previous owner had on there and it gives the old 81 a wake up call!
The next step is FI.

The question then is air intake. No use sucking hot air from inside the engine bay. I am interested in clean cooler air from in front of the radiator.

I'll check out any links you guys have, if you have any more info, please let me know or post.

PS Check out our Club website, I am not sure if the 502 was on there or not. www.corvetteclub.com.au

Cheers

Tony

 

[Art Jett]

Check out Affordable Fuel Injection on the internet. I am buying a complete TPI system from them for my '77. It comes with everything needed to install on the car, they even program the chip according to the specs of your engine. The price is around $2000.00 U.S. with a heated O2 sensor. Another plus is that it is all brand new! No used, reconditioned stuff.

 

[korvettekarl]

The tunability of the Edelbrock system is very good. I installed my first one on my 57 Bel Air about 10 years ago and was amazed at the throttle response with the ZZ3 crate I had in it at the time. As far as air cleaners goI used an aftermarket on it that was closed with a snorkel type system. Can't remember the name now but may have been Ram Air. Found it in the back of Super Chevy. P.S. Pretty cool your coming from Fairway here in Vegas,

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

P.S. Pretty cool your coming from Fairway here in Vegas,

We had some guys and girls over from the Las Vegas Corvette Association on an Aussie trek. They spent some time with us in the Queensland Corvette Club Inc, having a BBQ and then doing a Corvette run through Surfers Paradise.
They were also pretty chuffed about the fact that our Vette is a Vegas Vette!

Thanks for the FI tip,

Cheers

Tony

 

[korvettekarl]

Glad to help. One of these days I would like to get Down Under. If I do I will sure and let you know.

 

[THORIN]

In the 2004 "Vette Magazine" there is an article called "No carb Diet". They take a stock 81 and put an Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI systen in it. They go into good detail, and were overall pleased withe the ease of instalation and the results.

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

In the 2004 "Vette Magazine" there is an article called "No carb Diet". They take a stock 81 and put an Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI systen in it. They go into good detail, and were overall pleased withe the ease of instalation and the results.

I remember the issue.....now all I have to do is find the article.
Thanks for your post.

Cheers

Tony