HEI Distributor In TPI Manifold?

[3/4 Ton Blazer]

Will an HEI distributor fit in a TPI intake manifold? It is from a 1985 Corvette if that makes any difference. I will be using an aftermarket fuel controller, so I won't be using the computer controlled distributor intended to be used with the TPI system. This is what my intake looks like for example...

 

[Pvt. Maggot]

I don't believe it will, but I could be wrong. If you have the manifold, see if you can fit the dist in, I thought the dist was in or under the manifold, but I never got the chance to work with one of those motors. good luck though!

 

[dyeager535]

I wonder if you can make a small cap HEI into a non-ESC setup? The modules look like they are physically the same size, so I don't see why they can't be swapped. Keep non-computer specific parts from the small cap distributor, (pickup coil) add the module from a non-computer app?

Any reason you aren't going with something like a megasquirt to get both timing and fueling accomplished? Would seem easier than going with a standalone fueler and mechanical/vac advance that you have to build.

 

[Russell]

A regular big cap HEI will bolt straight in. The distributors are the same less how the timing is controlled.

 

[Pvt. Maggot]

Well, I learned something new as well. hah

 

[Russell]

Thats alright, many times I've heard something, repeated it, then was told that it was incorrect too

 

[Hossbaby50]

There are 2 dists with TPI. Small cap & large cap. Most older Vette TPI used large cap just like most all our Chevy motors used with the incap coil. Later vette & most Firebird & Camaro TPI had smallcap dists.

I personally have/like the small cap. It is hard enough to work on the small cap dist behind that hi-rise TPI manifold. Having a large cap TPI would make that even worse.

You stock large cap dist should drop right in to a TPI setup but you will need to modify it to figure out how to get the module in the dist and take all the timing advance crap off.

Harley

 

[dyeager535]

A large cap in my truck would make it almost impossible to monkey with, that is for sure.

Doing any sort of drivetrain work where the engine might move, you'd have to take the cap off, or it would certainly hit the firewall. Small cap gives a bit more wiggle room.

 

[Hossbaby50]

I agree about the cap and firewall thing. I just did a trans swap and when I had the trans tipped back to get the top bolts even my small cap was pretty close to the firewall. A large cap would have had to been removed or it probably would have been damaged.

Harley