Smog legal (CA) TPI swap

[stingerssx]

I'm sorry for bringing this up again, but there are some things I'm not too sure about. I'm just trying to get as much information as possible. I have a TPI motor, harness, all acc. (AIR pump, p/s pump, alt, compressor, brackets) from a '92 Camaro. I'd like to put it into my '81 Elco, but I live in CA, and the smog police aren't fun to deal with. I don't have a lot of $$$$ to drop into it, but it's sitting in the driveway and I need to get it going.

Currently it's got the 3.8l backed by the thm350. I would like to put a 700r4 into it, but I had to sell that. So I can stick with the 350 for now. I'll just get another one with the v8 bolt pattern.

I know that the harness is too short for the G-body, but will the Painless harness work for smog applications? I've heard that there's something with the VSS, like it's bypassed or something. And I know that with the thm350, I'll have the mechanical speedo sender. Will that be an issue?

Also, what about the harness for the dash? Will that be plug and play, or do I have to put a different cluster in there?


I know that I'll have to run a return line for the fuel, and that I can just get the sender and pump from a 4.3l, but what about the line that comes from the tank. It's on the left side near the frame. Do I need to extend that or get an adapter?

I know that there's a lot of info out there, (Google) but not much in the way of smog legal swaps. Unfortunatley, they haven't gone back to the whole 30 years old-off smog thing. So if I want to do this, then it needs to be legal.

The only reason I don't keep the v6 is that the transmission is going, and the smog equipment is old, and there is so much there. I'd have to replace all of it, and the "antique" parts are not easy to find. Plus I think I need another computer, or chip or something. CEL is on and says the prom is incorectly seated. I pulled the prom out and saw some of the pins were bent. Straigtened them, reinstalled the prom, and still, the same CEL.

Thanks for any help that I can get.

 

[joe_padavano]

I'm sorry for bringing this up again, but there are some things I'm not too sure about. I'm just trying to get as much information as possible. I have a TPI motor, harness, all acc. (AIR pump, p/s pump, alt, compressor, brackets) from a '92 Camaro. I'd like to put it into my '81 Elco, but I live in CA, and the smog police aren't fun to deal with. I don't have a lot of $$$$ to drop into it, but it's sitting in the driveway and I need to get it going.

Currently it's got the 3.8l backed by the thm350. I would like to put a 700r4 into it, but I had to sell that. So I can stick with the 350 for now. I'll just get another one with the v8 bolt pattern.

I know that the harness is too short for the G-body, but will the Painless harness work for smog applications? I've heard that there's something with the VSS, like it's bypassed or something. And I know that with the thm350, I'll have the mechanical speedo sender. Will that be an issue?

Also, what about the harness for the dash? Will that be plug and play, or do I have to put a different cluster in there?


I know that I'll have to run a return line for the fuel, and that I can just get the sender and pump from a 4.3l, but what about the line that comes from the tank. It's on the left side near the frame. Do I need to extend that or get an adapter?

I know that there's a lot of info out there, (Google) but not much in the way of smog legal swaps. Unfortunatley, they haven't gone back to the whole 30 years old-off smog thing. So if I want to do this, then it needs to be legal.

The only reason I don't keep the v6 is that the transmission is going, and the smog equipment is old, and there is so much there. I'd have to replace all of it, and the "antique" parts are not easy to find. Plus I think I need another computer, or chip or something. CEL is on and says the prom is incorectly seated. I pulled the prom out and saw some of the pins were bent. Straigtened them, reinstalled the prom, and still, the same CEL.

Thanks for any help that I can get.

The simple answer is that in Calif, it is legal to swap a newer (and thus cleaner) engine into an older car. You MUST also swap ALL of the emissions equipment that goes with the newer engine, including catalyst, EGR, A.I.R. (if so equipped), evaporative system, etc. You will likely need to go to a referee station for them to certify that the swap was done correctly.

 

[Clutch_Grabwell]

Not sure about Painless, but Howell offers a smog-ready harness for G-body. There's one in my '86 Monte.
About your VSS: Up to '89 the TPI VSS signal was the same as your car. Stealth Conversions offers a VSS generator that runs off the speedometer cable and will send the correct signal to your ECM.
Your fuel system will get complicated. I chose to run new lines up the driver's side to mate up to the the fuel rail connections. This may or may not be an option for you. And don't forget to upgrade the rubber hoses near the tank to EFI hose.

 

[stingerssx]

How much is the Howell harness? And how about the VSS converter? How much for that? What did you do to your car? As in what type of motor, and what year was it from? How did you get around the fuel pump? Did you use a sender from the fuel injection tank? And sorry for all of the questions, but how did you run your fuel lines? I mean what type and size line did you use? Oh, and what about the charcoal canister? Did you use the original, or the one from the donor? Were the vacum lines the same?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Clutch_Grabwell]

How much is the Howell harness? And how about the VSS converter? How much for that? What did you do to your car? As in what type of motor, and what year was it from? How did you get around the fuel pump? Did you use a sender from the fuel injection tank? And sorry for all of the questions, but how did you run your fuel lines? I mean what type and size line did you use? Oh, and what about the charcoal canister? Did you use the original, or the one from the donor? Were the vacum lines the same?
Thanks for your help.

The Howell harness was a few hundred $$. Don't recall excactly, it was several years ago. Be aware that they offer emissions and non-emissions harnesses.
Check here for your VSS: http://www.jagsthatrun.com/V8-chapters/ ... ensors.pdf
I used an '89 motor (L98) which requires the same VSS signal as the original motor. No changes were needed.
Out back, there's a EFI Monte tank with a Turbo Buick sending unit using a TPI Camaro fuel pump. A set of Buick fuel lines (with a custom made larger return line) terminate on the drivers side for a stock-appearing connection. Your El Camino has a longer wheelbase and those lines won't fit. I've heard that Corvette TPI fuel rails connect on the passenger's side which would allow you to use your existing feed line while having to fabricate a return line.
The canister came with the donor. The vacuum lines look nothing like the originals (this is an '86 recipient).

Good luck getting started. :wink:

Here's a few pictures but not many details... http://www.cardomain.com/ride/193316