Years of donor vehicle for TBI conversion

[ramack]

I am in the very beginning stages of doing a carb 2 TBI conversion on my '79 350 manual K5. I'm not clear what model years I can use for a donor vehicle. From the web and different forums I have 3 different model year ranges that can be used for this swap:
87-91
87-93
87-95
Obviously, the first at a minimum, but the last would be good as there isn't much left in salvage yards, so four more model years helps in selection and availability.

Anything special need to be done in allowing for a manual trans? Most donors are auto trans.

Thanks.

 

[Bent77]

87-89 is my first choice, then up through 91.

7747 computers are the easiest to tune, most flexible to adaption
A TH400 model will not use a torque converter lock up, so using it in a standard is no issue

Read lots in the injection section
Also there is a recent thread there with @az_762_nato doing a swap

 

[az_762_nato]

I just did mine on my 73 last week. I grabbed a harness and 1227747 ECM from an 89 burb, ordered a new distributor for an 87 k5, throttle body from a 95 truck, and the tps connector from the 95. All the rest of the new sensors except tps were ordered for an 87, the tps was ordered for a 95. Don't forget to grab things like fuel pump fuse holder, fuel pump relay, and speedo with vss buffer (my speedo is 91 burb)

 

[ramack]

Thanks guys!

 

[bigblock72]

I am in the very beginning stages of doing a carb 2 TBI conversion on my '79 350 manual K5. I'm not clear what model years I can use for a donor vehicle. From the web and different forums I have 3 different model year ranges that can be used for this swap:
87-91
87-93
87-95
Obviously, the first at a minimum, but the last would be good as there isn't much left in salvage yards, so four more model years helps in selection and availability.

Anything special need to be done in allowing for a manual trans? Most donors are auto trans.

Thanks.

The square body donors are the easiest to convert over, but anything will work. Even the 93-up auto trans setups work fine, just make sure the donor is a 350 and grab as much as possible. Distributor, throttle body, diagnostic connector, ESC module, knock sensor, coolant temp sensor, fuel pump relay etc.
A vehicle speed sensor is handy but not necessary. An in-tank pump is a good idea and will save a lot problems especially if you get in the higher (7,000 ft.) elevations.

 

[dyeager535]

The square body donors are the easiest to convert over, but anything will work. Even the 93-up auto trans setups work fine, just make sure the donor is a 350 and grab as much as possible. Distributor, throttle body, diagnostic connector, ESC module, knock sensor, coolant temp sensor, fuel pump relay etc.
A vehicle speed sensor is handy but not necessary. An in-tank pump is a good idea and will save a lot problems especially if you get in the higher (7,000 ft.) elevations.

If you go with the later ones, you end up having problems with the ECM's due to the "E" trans, no?

 

[bigblock72]

If you go with the later ones, you end up having problems with the ECM's due to the "E" trans, no?

They will set codes but it won't effect any of the fueling or spark functions, it is also easy to delete the codes when burning a new chip if a person wants the check engine light to function properly. I actually prefer the later PCMs over the earlier 7747 style ECMs, since they have a lot better/bigger fuel (VE) maps, faster data speeds for a lot better datalogs etc. etc.