Whats up El Camino Central,

I have read through the CARB laws and I am not a mechanic by any means. I am considering converting from my stock carb setup to EFI or TPI. Either way I wanted get some advice on this addition considering CA laws. I don't want to replace my stock 305, shes still at only 80,000 OG miles:smileyb:. Any help or suggestions?:???:

You can call howell efi,theymake kits & harnesses that many other companies sell. Not sure if you need every last part the factory called emissions or not, which might mean pulling everything off a late 80's cal engine. Tbi is a simpler retro, but tpi puts out more hp, torque,& mpg. Neither are easy if your don,t have skills.
http://howellefi.com/

If you transplant the emission control devices associated with your choice of fuel delivery system, i.e. ECM, evap, etc., you'll be fine. You may run into problems regarding EGR and Evap, because you're old set-up may require and the new set-up may not.
For simplicity, If you're looking at OEM transplant... look for a 305 with the set-up that you want, copy it to your ride, and call it an engine change
You'll have to obtain a referee label the first time you smog but after that, you're good to go!
Good luck!

Yeah Ive check out Howell and there TPI setup looks good. I just wanted to know the best route of doing the swap since under CARB the parts aren't approved. As long as I can get slightly better mpg and reduce the rich running carb setup I got, I happy. So, lets say I ask a shop to do the TPI install, do I have to convince them or since it doesn't pass CARB, you think they will still do it?

Officially... No CARB approval, No smog cert!
You have to be able to prove that your modification did not LOWER the vehicle's TOTAL emission output. Meaning.... without CARB approval, you must provide documentation that your modifications pass US EPA and CARB standards for your year make model. Make sure your choice is CARB approved... and get the CARB EO number first.

I don't know if it is still the same but I wanted to change my 83 C10 a few years back to FI(aftermarket unit) and the ARB informed me that to do so I would have to change mine over to a newer model with FI and have it tested then I could then change over to the approved aftermarket unit and retest to make sure it is still within tolerances and then it would be tested every year for five years without any emissions failures to go into normal testing schedule.
Before doing anything I would call the C.A.R.B. to be sure of what your options are.
As for the rich condition you say you have have you talk to an emissions specialist because if it is out of spec he should be able to adjust the metering rod solenoid to correct it ,that is if the solenoid is working correctly.

Ian, doing an FI swap is not cheap. Mine cost me nearly $2K, and I did all the work myself. To have a shop do it, with an aftermarket wiring harness, would probably run close to $4k. Once done, then ongoing maintenance will be problematic if you don't know the system yourself- you'll always have to have a mechanic work on it, and it will be a hybrid system so finding and keeping a mechanic will be an issue.

A properly tuned and operating Quadrajet is as close to FI as you can get with a carb. There have been many times I wished I had stayed with the the Qjet. There is just not enough difference to justify the cost, strictly on mileage or performance. You can get a fully rebuilt carb for about $300, if the carb is the issue. There are a bunch of us here that can help you troubleshoot your issues and see if we can get you back to par with the carb, if you want to go that route. As an example, running rich ( which results in bad mileage) could be as simple as changing a defective O2 sensor.

Now yer talking, Mike!

Im with Darbysan on this one... I did the TPI swap and the end result is PHENOMINAL!!! It cost me about $800 for the full swap by restoring the old TPI parts and buying some new ones... Took a week for the full install (doing it all by myself with some SMALL bits of help). Benefits included jumping from 15city/18freeway to 20City/26freeway (CANT MAKE THESE NUMBERS UP!) and having an amazing amount of bottom end torque... heres my before and afters

BEFORE

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/320939_10150315034239444_716834443_7787335_1091717 833_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/293108_10150315035474444_716834443_7787345_4082883 07_n.jpg


AFTER
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/296071_10150363625619444_716834443_8042353_6018766 39_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/303194_10150363624614444_716834443_8042349_1746044 630_n.jpg


I've cleaned up alot of this since these pics were taken right after the swap in october... I also switched to serpentine versus v-belts when i did this... making for a smooth install... Hope this helps a lil bit... Please excuse the nasty CAI... still gotta fix that...

the efi conversion is very legal and easy you can go several ways if you want to keep the original engine.tbi or tpi are your two options.the tbi is the simplest system.the hardest part is the fuel tank.the efi tanks are different fron the carb modles,while the efi tanks are available the sending units which are also different isnt available.i just finished a conversion for a friend on his 85 and it flew through the ca.bar ref first shot with no issues. i am doing a lt1 conversion on my 86 ss and am going to use a tank from a roadmaster wagon almost a drop in and has the correct sender for a efi system. i used to work in the high desert for a shop that did legal engine conversions and am very well versed on whats legal and whats not going to fly.if you want any help or info contact me and i will give you my #.your is a very easy one to do

A couple absolutes:
Federally, an engine setup must be equivalent to the same year or newer. (that doesn't mean an 86 setup might not test out okay in CA in an 87 Elky since 86/87 TPI is nearly identical. But by the letter of the law, 86 specific parts aren't legal. I'm sure I'll get an argument on all that...)

An engine setup needs all the emissions equipment by the letter of the law with very few exceptions. Usually, your best way to accomplish this is by salvaging everything emissions and EFI related from a recently-running vehicle. Not one that was already sitting in a junkyard for a couple weeks that's missing a few pieces. This is actually not tough to do when swapping TPI from a third gen Camaro to a 305 Elky.

You should pick up the JagsThatRun .com swap books. The TPI / TBI book is a great reference, even for those of us who have done a few swaps. Order it now, read it, then start making up a list of questions to ask here. The S10 V8 swap book is even interesting to read.

Converting the fuel system to the TBI sender with return line is just as much work to do TBI as it is TPI, so you may as well do port EFI.

Aftermarket harnesses don't benefit you if you are doing the work yourself and give half a hoot about learning the car so you can service it. You can get the wiring diagrams of donor and recipient, line up the parts that are the same, re-route those that are pinned differentely and add those that need added. Just take your time.

Don't expect TPI to be an end-all if your power goals are big. It's a good intake and system for drivability and torque. Not high RPM and peak horsepower.

one more word of caution dont use a truck ecm. the trucks idle in open loop and will fail the function test. and as stated above must it must be the same year or newer. you must use all the computer controled emission equiptment from the fi motor and have a closed air cleaner.