what all i need to chance my tbi to tpi?

Question

i have a 305 5spd camaro 91 but its not enought power and i dont have themoney to do a nice 350 so i wanted to know what all i would need to get more power out of it?

Answer 1

Yikes. The intake manifolds, computer, engine wiring harness, sensors, and smog controls.

A very good book on that swap is
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Chevrolet_TPI_TBI_V-8.html
You will also NEED the factory (Helm) shop manual for your year car and the year of the stuff you're putting in. (for simplicity's sake better to stay all '91.)

You'll want to buy that stuff from a junkyard that REALLY knows their stuff. It is very easy to hopelessly screw up this swap. Mainly in the area of the junkyard shorting you essential parts (or worse, mismatching!) and then you spend hours and dollars chasing around trying to get the right parts, if you can even figure out what's wrong.

You'll get a much quicker, smoother swap if you just swap the entire powertrain (engine tranny harness computer etc.etc.) Yes it's more money, but not that much more, and waaaaaaay cheaper than sinking dollars and hours into a thing that never runs.

Do NOT go '93+, it's 100 times more work than you can possibly imagine.

'91-92 should pass smog fine. Do NOT go '90- if you ever need to pass smog, ever. The book I mention covers that at length.

Answer 2

A thing to consider is that by the time you get all that you need for a TPI switch you're going to be close to the price of a 350 anyway. On Ebay for a nice TPI setup with computer and wiring harness you're looking at the $1000 range anyway. A new 350 from GM is$1200-$1600 depending on what you're willing to adapt to your car. Not to mention plumbing,fuel pump,and the other small items that creep up $$$.
If your engine is running good a camshaft change my freshen things up good enough. I've seen it happen before-makes a big difference.