The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop TBI TO CARB

I have a 95 chevy van with auto and Id like to slip this powertrain into my 51 stovebolt. How much trouble will I encounter trying to use this 305CI TBI setup. Im conserned that the TBI eng and trans will be troublesome to adapt to my 51.

You've got four options I can think of:

1) Adapt the van's computer and wiring harness. That's probably a lot of work and not a good idea if you aren't comfortable figuring out what wires are what.

2) Buy an aftermarket harness and computer. I've seen them offered but don't recall where. Someone else may come along with that info. Or search for TBI here and read old posts.

3) Convert to a carb, non-computer distributor and a different transmission.

4) Find a different motor.

If it were me I'd go with options 2 or 4. That computer controlled automatic is going to be difficult to make work right doing it yourself, and running it with a carbed motor is going to be even harder.

My two cents, someone else will have different ideas...

Been there done that. If you can keep the fuel injection, do it ! They are reliable, start easy, and look so great in an old car or truck. There is an outfit in Arkansas called Street and Performance. Get their number from their web site and talk it over with them. They will give you a real live technician to talk to. A new wiring harnesss comes with their computer. Hardest part of the F.I job will be the new fuel return line you will need to run back to the fuel tank (all FI's recirculate fuel) and an electic fuel pump (since the one in the van stays with the van in the van's fuel tank). Since the engine is coming with the original trans., the trans TV cable and the linkage should all be the same, so the trans should work like it did in the van. In fact, you could pull the computer out of the van along with the wiring harness to it and shorten or lengthen the wires to fit your need. I don't know how mechanically tough it will be to mate the trans to the '51 drive line, but that will be an issue regardless of whether you use F.I . or carb. Come along into the 21t century and go for it.

Another option to do #1- I seem to recall that Painless Wireing makes a harness that allows for use of the original computer without having to use the whole OE harness.

Thanks for the advice guys...Im tempted to go for the FI but I need to keep the CURRENT project from getting out of whack, not to mention the fact that I have a perfectly good 350ci and turbo 400 patiently waiting for its turn to power the 51 3/4 ton beauty. On the other hand Im getting this 95 cargo van for free! WHAT TO DO...WHAT TO DO...I guess I could have worse problems.

I wouldn't think that if that TBI is coming with a 460LE it would be simple or cheap to get an aftermarket wiring harness and you might be better off switching it to a 700R4.

Hey, if I lived closer I'd help you out and take it off your hands

FWIW the swap to FI isn't too tough but the biggest challenge is likely to be in the fuel tank / pump. I built a new sender for the OE tank in my '57 which contains the pump just like in a TBI application. This works ok, but because the tank is in cab there's a problem with vapor handling as the fuel in the tank warms up. You might want to look into using a tank from an EFI application to make life easier.

BTW, I see you're in Amherst. As long as the weather holds out I'm planning to bring my truck to the swap meet / flea market this Sunday.