Pulling the TBI...then what?
The 454 project motor I just picked up out of an '89 1-ton pickup had TBI on it. The TBI manifold has a few problems (cracked bolt ears) so I'm going to be junking it during the rebuild and going the more traditional carb route.
I wanted to put the motor on my engine test run stand and fire it up, but without the computer and wire harness the TBI is useless.
So, I was thinking of pulling the throttle body off and possibly sticking a working quadrajet on the TBI manifold (adapter needed?) for the short test run.
Other than that, I'd need to stick on a mechanical fuel pump...
Possible, doable, not a chance?
Thanks,
Kurt
1 Attachment(s)
Fuel pump pushrod on '89 BB
Quote:
Originally Posted by tango
They sell cheap auto store 12V fuel pumps. Also your 1989 BB is not drilled for a mechanical fuel pump push rod . So you willl have to go with the 12V pump .
Hmmmm...so I went looking for the needed bolt holes to hook up a the mech. fuel pump on my '89 big block, and lo and behold, they're all there. Even a pushrod access hole (behind that plug).
So, what gives?
Casting date and # match up with the block being an '89 cast. So did they actually slip some of these out in 1-ton trucks? I thought that access for a mech. fuel pump was omitted on 454 blocks after '87 or so.
Kurt
2 Attachment(s)
How's your hole...pushrod hole that is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tango
The hole for the push rod is under that plate not the plug ? If it's there .
Well I pulled the plate and the plug and indeed the pushrod hole was behind the plug itself.
Pictured below are first, the configuration as depicted in Tom Wilson's book, How to Rebuild a Big Block Chevy...
The next picture shows how the holes are lined up on my block.
They look identical to me....
Which means, my '89 block was drilled out for a mech fuel pump.
Now to determine if I actually have a cam lobe to make a mech fuel pump do its thing, then find a fuel pump and pushrod combination that will work.
Thinking of just flipping the motor to one side, sticking a chopstick or wooden spoon handle into the pushrod hole, give the crank a few turns and see if it moves up and down.
If so, I think I can safely assume there is a lobe. If not, back to the electric fuel pump idea.
Kurt
'72 Elky in resto
Lucky, smart, good looking...you can't be talking to me?
Quote:
Originally Posted by R Pope
From the sound of it, somebody put the EFI on an older, carb'ed engine. Good thing for you! Chances are there's a lobe on the cam, too. Sometimes lucky is better than smart, or even good looking!
Ahh, the mystery continues.
Casting # on the block is 14015443, which translates to a 454, 87-90, 2 or 4-bolt, Mark IV, (Truck, Motorhome).
Block casting date is B039 (February 3, x9, or '89 in this instance.
And the old, crusty, intake serial # is 10052952, according to this website is for a 454, 88 Truck, Cast Iron, Oval Port, Lo-Rise, TBI or Q-jet carb.
All this adds up to the block having actually come from a '89 1-ton pickup - what the previous owner told me it had come out of.
Just another one that snuck out of the plant with the fuel pump/pushrod holes drilled.
I love unlocking the past behind a motor, don't you?
Kurt
10 bolt holes, no waiting
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHEVYBOY
How many bolt hold on your timing cover? Gen VI block have a composite cover with six bolts as opposed to 10 on the Gen IV
My baby has 10 bolts holding down the timing cover. So I guess I'm a proud papa of a Gen IV..meaning I won't have to put one of them newfangled oil pans on it to fit it into my Elky's engine bay. Whew!
Kurt
Wired vs. unwired for the dino juice
Quote:
Originally Posted by kitz
I would only go electric personally.
When this beast eventually does get plopped down into it's final home between my Elky's frame horns, I may end up going electric on both the water and fuel pump...depending on my checking account balance at the time.
But since all this fuss started as a "I-just-got-the-motor-and-want-to-fire-it-up-for-giggles-on-my-engine-test-run-stand" exercise, I'm feeling the pain of the cost of buying a zapped fuel pumper and busy work of hooking up yet another set of wires to my engine test run stand.
Verses...
picking up a $25 O'Reilly fuel pump and pushrod, lubing them up and running some rubber hose to feed the beast some dino juice.
That is..if my cam actually has a lobe to crank the mech fuel pump up and down...still need to determine that.
In the meantime, I may just hunt around for an electric pump to mount on my engine test run stand. Who knows what some intensive pricelining and ebaying may reveal.
To lobe or not to lobe, that is the question
Quote:
Originally Posted by DennyW
Did you check the cam for the fuel pump lobe yet ?
Other than sticking a wooden spoon handle into the pushrod hole and giving the crank a few turns to see if the spoon bobs up and down, I'm out of ideas on how to check for the existence of the appropriate lobe from the outside.
Anyone have one of those colonoscopy cameras mounted on the end of a long, flexible probe, complete with micro led light? Would come in handy about now.
But please clean it off before sending it please. I'd like to keep the innerds of my big block sorta sanitary...thanks.
Kurt
