"OnAllFours" K1500 TPI Conversion (MAF)

Owner: "OnAllFours" - Senior Member at www.chevytalk.org

Original threads describing the conversion found at Chevytalk.org:

March 19, 2005 http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/94804/  Hey all! This is just a quick update to let everyone know that as of today, the TPI in my K1500 runs perfect! My reworked harness from Howell came back on Friday so this afternoon I got to spend a couple hours putting the harness back in and I must say, Howell did a fantasic job because everything plugged right in and looks completely factory.

Video of MAF running

I'll post back sometime in the next few days with completed pictures and a video.

Just a summary of costs for the swap:

1987 Pontiac GTA 5.7L TPI complete with ECM - $500
1989 Chevy Camaro serp bracket setup - $140
Truck's factory harness rework - $450
Engine rebuild parts - $300
Fuel pump - $50
Electric fans and electronics - $200
Misc parts - $100
TOTAL COST - $1740

Now this doesn't include the cost of my new flywheel and clutch but that normally wouldn't be required for the swap.

I don't have enough time for a detailed post but I'll follow-up in a day or two.

Anyway, IT RUNS!

March 22, 2005

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/95084/

Well it's sitting in the parking lot this morning at work. Ran awesome! My rich idle cleared up when I set the timing and put a few miles on it for the computer to learn the characteristics of the motor. MAF systems really are quite amazing and adapt to change much better then the trucks factory speed density system. The difference in power is hard to explain, but it has much more low-end torque and is virtually stall-proof (getting used to new clutch) but pulls hard all the way up to 4000 RPM where I let off until it's got a few hundred miles on the new rod bearings. I snapped a few pictures before going in, attached is one of them. I'll grab the camcorder during lunch and take a short video of it idling or something.

You can see on the firewall where I added the MAF power and burn-off relays, and behind the junction cover I mounted the knock/ESC controller.

The air cleaner is a $25 Advance Auto part that fits on the MAF sensor perfectly, but it's only temporary until I come up with a more permanent solution (cal induction hood). Had I used the mechanical fan the air cleaner would have been more of a pain. I never had the right fan shroud for this truck, and the cost of the new electric fans was the same as a shroud....so. Right now I only have one fan connected. It's controlled by an adjustable fan control mounted on the pass fender and kicks on around 200F (needs to be set higher). The second fan will be controlled by the ECU and enabled when the engine reaches a set temperature (235 or so) or when the A/C is requested. I'll probably wire it so when the ECU requests the second fan, the primary fan comes on too so I have 2 fans running when the A/C is requested.

Hmm, what else. Oh, the EVAP can isn't connected yet. I need to figure out if it uses full or ported vacuum. I think it's supposed to use ported on the truck, and full in the Camaros, vacuum because my truck didn't come with a purge solenoid and the cars did at least I think they did. I only have one ported port, and it's used by the EGR valve so I still need to do more research on how I should hook it up.

The belt routing is a little different because I left the air pump off. The TBI belt fits perfectly so that worked out really nice.

Well I guess that's about it for now! Enjoy the pic and let me know what you all think!