Has anyone out there heard of taking a carbureted 2bbl 283 and converting it to a throttle body fuel infection system from an early 90s vortec V8?Providing you install an 02 sensor and the fuel filter system , the vortec distributor and computer ,......... can it be done?I imagine the intake should bolt right on to a 283 ?.?.There's lots of these FI systems in the auto wreckers right now.Got me thinking,.. can it be done?
First of all, the early TBI units were not Vortecs, just the '96 and up CMFI engines....
Heard of doing the swap! I know of someone......... ! Yes, it can be done....... I did my '67 Rag in '95 that had a 4bbl eqibore F202D 283ci.... I just took the basic top end off of a 305 or 350 and bolted it on there... At the time, I drilled and tapped a hole in the manifold for the O2 sensor but you can run it downstream in either pipe if you wish just the the injected vehicle it comes from.
Only thing was, the 283 was just too soggy for I wanted with the 4-speed... The original 327 was MIA. I pulled all the top off the 283 and installed it on a Target old style 350ci....... Whole new car, for me!
Yes, you need to run a fuel return line, as I did.... I fabricated a pump assemble out of a '90's style pickup and one out of a Pontiac 6000 as they had the same size opening as my '67-'70's. And with me working for GM, I used ALL GM gear!
No, you do not need a baffle but you will starve the pump if the level is low and you accelerate too fast or go around turns to fast! She will fall flat on her face till fuel is returned!
I did my '70 in '92 when I was 25 years old with a 350 and then I put the 454 in there in '94. I did my '84 T-10 with the 2.8 in the mid 90's and my '67 Coupe in '97.... I changed a '67 Chev pickup in the eary 2000's and an '84 K-10 p/u in that time frame as well......
And to be honest, it wasn't about making the conversion funny, it was proving that it could be done! 20 years ago, I am sure I was was one of the first people to do it. Especially when a vetern (older) GM tech told me that it CAN'T be done! That was all the more modivation to do it! It was cool back then to tell people that my old car had EFI!
With the SES (service engine soon) light, as well called it back then, in the dash, with the VSS (vehicle speed sensor) buffer built into the speedo head for the speed signal and the DLC (data link connector) under the dash!
When I start my cars from sitting over the winter, I turn the key on, fuel pump primes, it fires up, put it in gear right away and go......... No pumping till your foot falls off, no choke no stalling.. BUT, that being said, I still appreciate my non injected cars too!!!
If you have any questions, if you want, I will do my best to answer them!
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Thursday 19th of April 2012 11:09:29 AM
Thank you very much for the information! It gives me something to consider. I'd always thought that the someone must have tried this FI conversion if was even remotely possible. So if I understand your post correctly,.. you were able to convert to FI WITHOUT changing heads? Correct?
If I may ask a few more questions,...
How difficult was the wiring, with respect to computer, 02 sensor, etc,..
What would you say was the most difficult part of the conversion?
You will have to use the heads as well or possibly, I haven't checked, you may be able to buy a kit..... Holley use to offer it years ago and I am sure still do......... But, I wanted to keep it all GM!
When you get the harness, you will have to remove what is NOT needed as both the computer side and the regular vehicle wires run together! So, an actual GM Fuel and Emissions manual would be a must if not a great help! With that in hand, I customed my harness to length where I needed and didn't need it....
Neatness and looks would be what I consider the hardest! Wiring always came easy for me!
Here is my '70. This one being first, it is not as neat as the later ones..... I had manys changes, updates and "Campaigns" A.K.A recalls on my own stuff that I did different in the next conversion!
This car got all the new stuff first........ Was a 6cyl THM350 , then a carbed 350 and a 4-gear Saginaw. Then EFI with the Saginaw, then a Warner after that.... Then to the 454EFI with the Warner and finally to the 454 and a 5 gear out of a 1/2 ton with the GM hydraulic clutch set up.
**On a side note, I am liking the fact that "inserting" you pic now gives a full size view without having to post from photobucket.**
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Thursday 19th of April 2012 06:17:16 PM
Thank you very much for the information! It gives me something to consider. I'd always thought that the someone must have tried this FI conversion if was even remotely possible. So if I understand your post correctly,.. you were able to convert to FI WITHOUT changing heads? Correct?
If I may ask a few more questions,...
How difficult was the wiring, with respect to computer, 02 sensor, etc,..
What would you say was the most difficult part of the conversion?
if drivability is the only concern, dont store them drive them year round. a hibrinating vehicle is not a happy camper in the spring, our fuel today separates very quikly today gumming up the works
That looks fabulous sitting in an old engine bay! How many total hours do you estimate that you put into one of your more recent FI conversions ? (inculding wiring, fuel mods etc)
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
The 283 is still in the engine bay and running for now. Just don't have the time to drop in the BB. I actually had the 409 up for sale for a while ,.. but you know how it is,.. every "potential" buyer claims to be a rockstar and wanting to buy a 409,.. until you ask him to "play guitar"
Use your stock heads and intake. Just fab up an adapter for the throttle body.Easy peasy. Theres a 261 in a '51 Chev around here and he is running a 4.3 throttle body setup. Anything is possible.
__________________
1960 Pontiac Laurentian 2 door post 2003 GMC Sierra 4.8 2wd 1990 Honda Civic Winter-Rod 1988 Honda Civic ice racer
Use your stock heads and intake. Just fab up an adapter for the throttle body.Easy peasy. Theres a 261 in a '51 Chev around here and he is running a 4.3 throttle body setup. Anything is possible.
That's intresting to find out. It's exactly what I've been wondering. I realize all the rest has to be in place as well, 02 sensor, fuel system etc. A custom adaptor for the intake should make the throttle body a bolt on to the non-FI intake. (although I'd never heard of it before). After all,.. the intake on a 4.3 or 5.0 from a 1995 vehicle is a "normal" intake with a fuel delivery (throttle body) sitting on top.? Correct? There's lots of the 4.3 FI systems in the auto wreckers, you can pick up for next to nothing. In other words,..if you did the following:
1) Make all gas tank mods
2) 02 sensor, computer, and related wiring
3) Adaptor plate to allow bolting a 1995 chevy FI throttle body onto a early 70s quadrajet intake.
4) Change distributor and related ignition from same 1995 Chevy
Then it is possible to make any early SBC (like a 327) fuel injected without changing heads??
