[V8Vairs] GM TPI question

[Tim Barrie]

George, Go to this site ( http://medusa.ih8mud.com/cruiser/Vortec.html ) for
more information on the engine and how to swap it into another body.
I believe that the anti-theft systems started in '97 when the VCM's changed
to silver. Up to that time the VCM's are black and no anti-theft. I'm told
post '96's are more of a challenge.
Vortecs were not offered in Corvettes so a program would not be available.
They have cast iron blocks and heads and were used in pickups - my engine
came out of a roll over. 
The software is the standard GM software used to run a truck. The VIN is
used to reference the data base which tells the computer which options you
have. That is why I chose a manual transmission as the computer will have
different idle settings for an automatic. I have a friend that works at a GM
dealership so he downloaded the software at work using the VIN that I gave
him.
I have not had any problems, or stumbles, but I just fired it up before
Christmas. There is 2 feet of snow here so I haven't left the garage with it
yet. It has run quite a bit to get the air out of the cooling though. 
I did take my time doing the wiring with the engine on a test stand and the
computer mounted roughly where it would be in the car. There are 60 wires
alone going into the computer. I had to figure out what I needed to keep on
the underhood fuse box as well and then tie it all into the body wiring
harness. You need to follow every wire and be careful and neat when changing
and wire lengths. The biggest challenge was fitting a standard GM in tank
fuel pump to a Corvair tank. The system uses the high pressure pump so I
thought that the most reliable would be a GM in tank system. When you have a
leak you know it quickly. Fortunately the pump only runs 2 seconds without
oil pressure.
I am re-building a Kelmark conversion that originally had a 327.
Contact me directly if you have any specific questions.
Tim 


-----Original Message-----
From: v8vairs-bounces at corvair.org [mailto:v8vairs-bounces at corvair.org] On
Behalf Of George Jones
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 10:21 AM
To: v8vairs at corvair.org
Subject: RE: [V8Vairs] GM TPI question


Tim,

Thanks for the info. It's nice to hear that the system is that forgiving. Is
your system a speed density, of a MAF system. I believe after 1990, all the
TPI systems went to speed density (and picked up VATS). I understand that
Speed Density is cheaper, much easier to use and is more forgiving of engine
changes, but the MAF system is much more accurate (efficient). I don't
understand why GM would have gone to a less efficient system when the
pressure is always on to reduce emissions and increase fuel mileage.

Maybe I'm just confused. Tell me more about the Vortech SPFI system...
How did you get past the anti-theft system? Was the truck download the only
one you could use? Wouldn't it have been better to use a program from a
Vette? Where did you download the firmware from? What were the stumbling
blocks you encountered?

Thanks,

George Jones
'65 Monza Convertible Crown V8




 --- On Mon 02/12, Tim Barrie < tbarrie at meritprecision.com > wrote:
From: Tim Barrie [mailto: tbarrie at meritprecision.com]
To: bubblehd at excite.com, v8vairs at corvair.org
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 09:27:14 -0500
Subject: RE: [V8Vairs] GM TPI question

George, I am using a '96 Vortec with the sequential fuel injection. I
usedthe original harness and computer and it was surprisingly very easy. I
wouldthink that the TPI would be just as easy.You need the wiring diagram
for the engine and access to a GM scan tool whenyou start it up.I just
pulled the pins out of the computer plugs for each sensor that Iwasn't
using. There are only a few that you must have to make it run. TheVSS isn't
required. I spent about 40 hours doing this as I ended up changingthe length
of every wire to accommodate the new placement of the computer.I didn't have
the original computer for the engine so I picked one up at thesalvage yard.
It was actually out of a V6 but my engine started up and raneven with the
distributor out by a tooth. I went on ebay and found a '96 truck for sale
with a standard trans. I usedthat truck's VIN to download the correct
program into the computer using thescan tool.  Started it up, it idled at
700rpm and all of the sensors 
checkedout with correct readings.I believe that you would only need the VSS
if you are going to retain CruiseControl and/or an automatic transmission
with electronic shifting. Tim-----Original Message-----From:
v8vairs-bounces at corvair.org [mailto:v8vairs-bounces at corvair.org] OnBehalf Of
George JonesSent: Sunday, February 11, 2007 10:26 PMTo:
V8Vairs at corvair.orgSubject: [V8Vairs] GM TPI questionI'm looking at the
possibility of replacing my Edelbrock Performer and 4160carb with a GM TPI
set-up. I've been doing some research on the conversion,and the only problem
I see is with the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). From whatI see, this is a
critical requirement to have the ECM function properly. Thequestion I have,
is; where, on a Crown drivetrain, can I install a VSS? Fromwhat I've read,
the normal location is at the output of the transmission,obviously difficult
to do on the Crown._______________________________________________Join
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