5.7 TPI conversion

[cforcht]

OK i have a 1996 starcraft with 5.7 2bbl alpha one. am considering swapping in a TPI setup from a similar year trans am. what things do I need to consider or be aware of if I choose to go this route or is this something that will give me more grief than its worth?
thanks to all.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

OK i have a 1996 starcraft with 5.7 2bbl alpha one. am considering swapping in a TPI setup from a similar year trans am. what things do I need to consider or be aware of if I choose to go this route or is this something that will give me more grief than its worth?
thanks to all.

Ayuh,.... That is correct,....

Though a few of the pieces are the same, the System on a car, vs. a boat is Entirely Different,...

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

If your skilled with FI and able to write your own tune it can be a intresting project..but the fact that you ask probably means you do not. Marine motors use open loop and cars closed....It would be much simpler and by far less expensive to bolt up a carbed system..with the same results.Now if you could find a way to implement the os sensors into the wet exhaust system and they could survive yes it would be easy...But as of yet its not happening...with any long term reliability.


Google

 

[jkust]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

I would swap the intake and carb to a 4bbl before ever considering TBI. Take a look at the Boating magazine article where they did just that with your same exact engine. Basically it was done to show the large increase in power available for cheap as compared to the then more expensive TBI. Are you looking for HP or the other benefits of TBI?

 

[cforcht]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

after posting the question I went on to do more "research" I was looking for a little more power but also the ease of starting associated with the TPI VS carb. after more reading I have found that the "car" injection system is like you said the wrong type, nor is it the safest alternative in a closed space like a boat. not being CG approved is also something I never considered and if it were just me I might consider it but I have a family I would rather not put at risk. nor anyone else at the local boat ramp in case it should do the roman candle impression. I think the 4bbl option is looking better all the time. besides I can rebuild and tune them unlike a FI system. thanks to all who chimed in. and if all else fails I could always repower with a big block thanks again fellow boaters.

 

[cforcht]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

I would swap the intake and carb to a 4bbl before ever considering TBI. Take a look at the Boating magazine article where they did just that with your same exact engine. Basically it was done to show the large increase in power available for cheap as compared to the then more expensive TBI. Are you looking for HP or the other benefits of TBI?

can you point me to the article? thanks.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

I would swap intake and carb at a minimum. you can do it for all new parts for under $800.

add a cam and lifter kit and you're into the total project for less than 1.5 BOAT units.

 

[jkust]

Re: 5.7 TPI conversion

can you point me to the article? thanks.

I googled it and couldn't find it but have posted the full text in other posts back when. Boating Magazine has since been bought and renamed something else I seem to recall. I've seen the 4bbl swap done on both the 5.0 and the 4.3 with very minimal to no improvement and that article always stayed in my head because they reported such drastic improvement.