TPI complete transplant, 83 k10

[Brocksdad1]

Ok fellas
New thread, here is the history of the truck,
I bought it about 2 weeks ago. Truck seemed to run good but it smoked on start up and acceleration. After little under 200 miles after owning the truck I checked the oil and it had leaked and burned nearly 2.quarts.
Now the PO said it was a replacement 350 out of a car.
It eventually started to run really rough and not start after warm.  Finally started valve train noise and some bottom end noise.
I decided to pull the heads at least.
I had to dig the end two inside head bolts out of the crud build up. Several valves looked like they are hanging a bit.
Well come to find out it's a 305. And is toasted.
So I started doing research on 350 4bolts, and looking for vortec heads.
I went to a salvage yard that I have felt with for 20 years that specializes in older cars and muscle motors.

They had a 89 vet that ran and drove. I drove it and played with it for around 4 hours. No smoke, started easy, and very complete.

I struck a deal for the entire engine, harness, comp, accessories, everything for 1500 cash pulled.

I thought it was comparable money, because I was going to be on a carburated 4bolt with decent heads at least that. And not have the reliability, ease of start in cold weather, or fuel mileage as the Vet TPI.

So I'm starting this thread as a complete retrofit from a 305 gen1 to a Vet TPI 350.

I have found one website called Chevythunder that has a wealth of information about the TPI and doing retrofits. But it's for a 70's camaro. But great information none the less.

I hope to help people with future installs with this thread. So any info you can share on the topic is greatly appreciated.

Here are a few pics of the truck and of the gunked up head off the 305.
And one of the donor TPI.



Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[LTZ C20]

I see you took the vette engine. Cool. Check out a place online called Howell Engine Developments.  They have all kinda of cool stuff for the TPI system including parts. You would probably learn some more and find some things you will like or would like to have. I got an entire fuel injection swap kit from them directly and I tell you what it is amazing and I love it.

[Brocksdad1]

Yea Im super pumped about getting it this week. I spent the last two days cleaning my garage of a decade of collected junk. Now I have room for my truck. Actually has given me hope for my boat now. I have a 17 tracker that the power head went out on. I have a new power head but my shop has been so cluttered I haven't wanted to work on it.

Anyway the guy is supposed to have it to me by Wednesday.  But we ate getting 3-6 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow so Im not sure it will happen.
My mother has been a GM service advisor for 20yrs. And she said that the have paper issues of service manuals for the vets and trucks in these years that I can have. She is going to look into them this week.

Bryce

[LTZ C20]

Cool. I work in a Chevy service department too. Make sure you take pics and keep us updated.

[Brocksdad1]

Here are just a few more general pics of the truck. Cab,interior, engine compartment

As you can see it needs cleaning really bad and some new interior parts.

[LTZ C20]

You know I just thought of something. What transmissions do your truck and the vette have? If truck is stick and vette is auto your ok or both are stick your ok. If truck is auto and vette is stick or both are auto then you got some extras do deal with.

No matter what trans each vehicle has there are gonna be parts needed, such as possibly a torque converter or clutches or what not. Things to think about but not my point haha.

Auto transmissions of that period have a lock up torque converter that require some elcetrical info to be going to and from the transmission. Depending on the setup for the transmission and or engine to fully benefit you, there maybe be some electrical that needs to be added and or removed. Earlier I mentioned Howell Engine Developments, they could possible make the necessary additions or deletions to the system that you need.

My TBI kit I got, I ordered with some extra features. I had them add the needed wiring and programing in the ECM for air conditioning,  speed sensor signal,  lock up torque converter,  and I got one of their speed sensors for the 89 muscled up 700R4 I put behind the engine. Along with the standard ALDL connector for diagnostics and a Check Engine light. You may find yourself needing some of these things, they could probably create a PROM chip for your new ECM that would add or delete curtain features.

So explain what all extras your truck and the vette both have, transmissions,  ac, cruise control? With that we can figure what your gonna need.

[Brocksdad1]

The truck is 700r4, has power brakes, power steering, and A/c
The vet is automatic with all the same attributes.

I'm staying with serpentine belt setup,
And I and receiving all the accessories on the car. Aswell as the computer,and OBD port.

If it's wiring that's needed that's cool. Extra parts is gonna suck.
I already have to buy a electronic fuel pump. And a few other things. I hope I don't need a new comp. I would think it would work coming with a running engine.
Isn't the trans lockup controlled by vacuum or am I wrong.  I'm not much up on the 700


Thanks for all the help. I've got that company saved in y bookmark on my tablet. I'll call them tomorrow with my transplant info and see what they have to say.

Bryce 
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[LTZ C20]

What year is the truck and vette info?

Read this first then explore the site, especially the TPI section.

https://howellefi.com/gm-tpi-products.html

[Brocksdad1]

The truck is 83 and the Vet is 89.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[LTZ C20]

So, luckily for you, this will be relatively easy because both vehicles have 700R4's. Both also have lock up torque converter, however, your truck uses a mechanical driven speedometer and the vette is electronic.  Not really a big deal because that can be fixed with a few cheap parts. BUT, the early 700's where not the best transmissions in the world, the later versions like what's in the vette are much better, that's actually what year my 700 is, 89.

If the car is running and driving I would suggest highly considering getting the transmission also, this will have the facilitate that you make sure the lock up, and shifting of transmission is done properly. The 700 uses what's called a throttle valve cable to input fluid pressure to make shifting and operation decisions, if it's setup wrong then it can damage the transmission. 

If you got both engine and trans from the vette, you would have just about everything you need for the system to work properly. For speed sensor signal and speedometer operation, you can pull the speedo gears out of the trans on the truck and remove the reluctor wheel on the vette trans and install speedo gears on the vette trans, then purchase a a speed sensor signal converter from howell, (this is what I did), that should plug directly into the factory harness for the speed sensor.

The serpentine setup is also a lot better than 3 belts by a country mile, I also did this but from a 95 350 with ac and power steering. Also, the vette trans as a few internal parts that are better than a standard 700 because it's for a "performance vehicle". Parts such as a standard servo and corvette servo, (mine has the vette servo). Removing the speedo gears and stuff on both trans is very easy as they are at the back under the tail shaft housing and that's only got 4 bolts holding it on.

And I just realized that the truck is 4 wheel drive so your gonna have to pull the tail shaft off anyway to mate the new 700 to the transfer case, in which case you can use the speed sensor adapter right on the transfer case because on 4x4 trucks, the speedo cable is driven inside the transfer case not the transmission.  I'm hoping another member will chime in on this because I'm not sure what year 700's have the same or different tailshafts. My truck is 2 wheel drive and the slip yoke from my old 350 trans fit perfectly on the output shaft of the 700. So I think it should be a direct swap.

This project sounds like alot but it's really just making sure that if your gonna do it do it right and you should never have a problem and it should work great, I'm very pleased with the end result of my swap that's for sure.

[LTZ C20]

Also, don't forget the oxygen sensor(s), needed to maintain proper air fuel ratio and the electric fans on the vette, controlled by the ECM for proper cooling and ac use. If you get the fans too then you don't gotta mess around with making all that work, just mount fans to your radiator, plug in and be done. You might be able to pull the vette engine and trans out as one unit and drop them in your truck as one unit, just pull the radiator out of your truck and pull the accessories of the front of the motor so you have a little extra room to work with. Might help to have a buddy or 2 there also to help with instalation and lining up motor mounts and stabing the trans to transfer case.


Heck, if your so inclined, yank the whole core support off and you can load the motor in the truck like a shell into a shotgun, straight in the front. As opposed to going up and over the core support at extreme angles and then trying to swing it down and into position.

[Brocksdad1]

I've looked into the VSS from summit.
The trans in the Vet is leaking out of the pump. I'm glad that every thing is kinda falling in place.
My only other concern is the fuel. Should I go frame mount pump or will the 87 in tank for a k10 work. And if so are the tanks the same 83-87.

I do need to change the Speedo gear for the speedometer. It's off by 7-8 mph.
I have 4:11 gears witch I hate. I drive to Barkley lake often and would like a better highway gear for more speed. It only liked about 65-70 when I drove it home.

So Im also on the hunt for a complete set of axles.

Another thing is, do I need electric fan or can I bolt a regular fan to this engine.

I also found Jagsthatrun. They have parts to make your own cold air.
Is there any aftermarket kit that comes close to working that I could modify.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

On the serpentine setup it looks like the AC lines will line right up. The ac pump is on the pass side of the car. And line ends are the same. So all I will need is a new drier.

[fitz]

One thing you have to deal with is the VATS (vehicle anti theft system) on the vette.
Its the little black resistor on the ignition key.
You can gave a new chip burned to eliminate it.
Just one more thing to think about.
I'm a huge TPI fan.
Looking forward to reading about your swap.

[Rich84]

The best setup would be the 87 tank and sending unit with a TPI pump instead of the TBI pump.  I have an inline pump for 3 years on my 84 with no issues sucking fuel thru the stock sending unit.
You can use just about any electric fan that covers most of the radiator. I have a Taurus fan and it works great. The wire in the harness is only a trigger from the computer. So you need to supply the relays, power, ground etc..

Vss that the speedo cable hooks to available at Jags that run, howell, or TPIParts.com

Good luck with you swap! 

[Brocksdad1]

On the tanks.
I've been looking around and seems they are the same 89-87 is that correct.
And all I would need to do it put in the sending unit for a 87.
Then run an electric pump.

As for fans I think the Taurus fan is one of the best junkyard fans. I was into rock crawlers for years and they move a ton of air for 10.00.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk