Fuel Delivery: TPI to Carb Conversion

[88WS-6]

My guess is that it was removed, but I'd have to look.

[BonzoHansen]

I wouldn't worry too much about that yet.

[88WS-6]

Went to my parent's house yesterday to pick up my new seats. I installed the passenger seat and when I went to leave the car wouldn't fire up. It had plenty of power and the starter was cranking the motor, but sounded like no fuel. I got it going after 4 or 5 tries but it would only stay running if I was on the throttle. I got 4 or 5 streets out and the first time I popped it into neutral it died and wouldn't start back up. Definitely seems fuel related to me. There is no hesitation or misfiring and no bucking. As soon as my foot comes off the gas it immediately dies, it doesn't even come down slightly.

I got AAA'ed to my mechanic so best case scenario I pay an hour of labor for him to diagnose it. He won't do any work on it because it's not factory anymore.


Side note: Don't ever try to get on and/or off a flat bed with cut springs.

[chrisfrom nj]

why dont you get a tpi wireing harness and convert the car back to tpi

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by 88WS-6

Went to my parent's house yesterday to pick up my new seats. I installed the passenger seat and when I went to leave the car wouldn't fire up. It had plenty of power and the starter was cranking the motor, but sounded like no fuel. I got it going after 4 or 5 tries but it would only stay running if I was on the throttle. I got 4 or 5 streets out and the first time I popped it into neutral it died and wouldn't start back up. Definitely seems fuel related to me. There is no hesitation or misfiring and no bucking. As soon as my foot comes off the gas it immediately dies, it doesn't even come down slightly.

I got AAA'ed to my mechanic so best case scenario I pay an hour of labor for him to diagnose it. He won't do any work on it because it's not factory anymore.


Side note: Don't ever try to get on and/or off a flat bed with cut springs.

Yes, it does sound like a fuel issue, but it could be a bad carb setting as well.

[BonzoHansen]

or choke issue

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

or choke issue

Looks open in the pics of it running but yea, you never know.

I wonder how the system is vented, too. If it's all plugged up and doesn't have a vented gas cap that could be bad.

[88WS-6]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Looks open in the pics of it running but yea, you never know.

I wonder how the system is vented, too. If it's all plugged up and doesn't have a vented gas cap that could be bad.

From what I can tell there is no venting at all. No charcoal canister either.

My mechanic said, "sorry man, I don't even know where to start..."



After work I'll see if I can get it home.

[88WS-6]

Originally Posted by chrisfrom nj

why dont you get a tpi wireing harness and convert the car back to tpi

Previous owner yanked the in-tank pump and I think the factory fuel lines so I'd need those too.

[88WS-6]

I just remembered that the previous owner said he couldn't install a thermostat because the stock TPI waterneck wouldn't work with the new set-up he threw together. He said he put the t-stat in the center console so I'll have to see if it's in there. He said he was just running it and manually using the fans on and off...

Would this affect the carb's choke at operating temp? The car runs really well on cold starts and but I'm thinking that when it needs to switch cycles this fuel issue starts.

[PolarBear]

What year is this car? I have a mostly complete TPI from an 88 GTA that I have no need for. Have harness and everything. All you would need are fuel lines and new pump in tank

[88WS-6]

87. I have the stock TPI and the entire set-up on my 88 GTA too. I just wanted to get this car running correctly as-is because I figured that would be the cheapest option. Now I'm not so sure...

[BonzoHansen]

if you put tpi back on then you have to worry about the cam, etc, not jiving with the tpi.

you have the basics already. it just needs to be fixed

[88WS-6]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

if you put tpi back on then you have to worry about the cam, etc, not jiving with the tpi.

you have the basics already. it just needs to be fixed

Stock long block. He only changed the intake manifold, carb and distributor. And I have the originals (for sale).

[chrisfrom nj]

put all the stock tpi set up on get the tank and fuel pump and make it easy on you make the car stock again and you dnt have to worry about anything

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by 88WS-6

87. I have the stock TPI and the entire set-up on my 88 GTA too. I just wanted to get this car running correctly as-is because I figured that would be the cheapest option. Now I'm not so sure...

Originally Posted by 88WS-6

Stock long block. He only changed the intake manifold, carb and distributor. And I have the originals (for sale).

Well you really need a harness now Just an offer.

Since the engine wasnt really changed going back to TPI wouldnt be that bad, but it is up to you what you want to do.

[88WS-6]

What I would love is to have the car original with nothing cut and TPI on it. I would take you up on that harness in a heartbeat and put TPI back on, but it needs to be cost efficient. Like I said, I thought just getting it to run correctly the way I bought it was the cheapest way, but now I'm not sure.

What do you guys think is best? I do prefer TPI, and I basically need to re-do the entire fuel set-up.

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by 88WS-6

What I would love is to have the car original with nothing cut and TPI on it. I would take you up on that harness in a heartbeat and put TPI back on, but it needs to be cost efficient. Like I said, I thought just getting it to run correctly the way I bought it was the cheapest way, but now I'm not sure.

What do you guys think is best? I do prefer TPI, and I basically need to re-do the entire fuel set-up.

Based on the hack job stuff I'd go with the TPI. 3 fuel pumps, a botched intake install, who knows what timing, etc etc.

If money is super tight and you just want to go down the road you can debug the carb setup.

[88WS-6]

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

Based on the hack job stuff I'd go with the TPI. 3 fuel pumps, a botched intake install, who knows what timing, etc etc.

If money is super tight and you just want to go down the road you can debug the carb setup.

Money is rather tight. I have the TPI parts sans harness. New stock style in-tank pump is $52. How much would fuel lines be?

[BonzoHansen]

depends if you can find them used.

price gaskets too. do you have all the sensors? correct throttle cable?

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

depends if you can find them used.

price gaskets too. do you have all the sensors? correct throttle cable?

TPI gaskets are kind of expensive IIRC



**EDIT**

NM I was wrong less than ~$20 for the set

FEL-PRO Part # MS930351 $22 with the intake gaskets and TPI

[BonzoHansen]

He'll need intake gaskets too.
t-stat gasket.
air cleaner housing & parts.
might need the correct temp t-stat

he has to fix the fan wiring in either case.

[PolarBear]

You also need to change the distributor, that is a large cap so it is probably isnt going to be a TPI one

[BonzoHansen]

might be. check the module


but if he does he'll need a coil too. and whatever bracket hold it. and a coil wire.

[PolarBear]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

He'll need intake gaskets too.
t-stat gasket.
air cleaner housing & parts.
might need the correct temp t-stat

he has to fix the fan wiring in either case.

T-stat gasket is like $0.75 to $3

Fan wiring should be part of the TPI harness