Ed Varon Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 Would be all I need to fix my car once and for all..... It was great seeing everyone and also want to thank Al Fernandez and Mike Plum for thier help! It is really good to know that the Buttonwillow incident is in the past. I have to say the this was a very disappointing weekend. I can accept being knocked out of racing due to some machanical failure but this was the FREAKIN security system that disabled the car and we still haven't addressed the high speed misfire that was the original problem!. I think a carburator is going to be in my future. The electronic controls on these GM cars are not a good match for racing. It was great seeing everyone and also want to thank Al Fernandez and Mike Plum for thier help! It is really good to know that the Buttonwillow incident is in the past. I hope to see everyone at Sears! Rant over Thanks you for listening... -Ed Quote
Kevin Hall Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 Ed, You're just reinforcing our decision to go with what we knew as well as simplicity. However, we have had the mid 70s HEI just flat up and die on us. In Blythe, of all places. Of course, it was right as the boy was going to line up for qualifying. Following what may have been the world's fastest run to Autozone and distributor swap, he managed to rip off a good qualifying run. I recommend getting the HEI distributor from Autozone-they are the cheapest, and since we have to run stock parts-go with the the lifetime warrantee, so you get a new one when the old one stops working. I've also struggled with A/M tune up parts in my old circle track car. On the advice of my Crew Chief at the time we went with all new Delco parts, and we finally got my old Chevelle to run decent. The one that died in Blythe was a new "Accel" unit from Summit, I've had problems with that and their wires, and so have pulled all the Accel stuff off the cars we run. Let me know how things go switching to the Carb and HEI, the Z28 is the third one we've put together. If you are in SoCal maybe we can lend a hand. Kevin Quote
gold chains and oakleys Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 Ed: I can not agree with you more...everyone said how reliable the chevy's are, and I am not seeing it..My car mechanically ran great for two races, but after that the car has been a nightmare..I ran into the same damn VATS problem you did..twice..I still can not believe there is no way of dis conecting it.. My car will not go over 4700 rpm...It just stop..no misfires, no missing, it simply stops...it is crazy.. Anyway, if I find a fix, I will tell you, and visa versa..I am just getting sick and tired or working on this car..It sould be much more simple. B Quote
Kevin Hall Posted July 14, 2004 Posted July 14, 2004 MidAmerica Motorworks has a plug in VATS bypass for 86-89 cars that may help. It's part number is 601-116. They say its for Corvettes, but they can probably tell you if it will work on your Camaro. The price is $24.99. MidAmerica's number is 800-500-1500. I got nothing on the rev limiting. Quote
Tony G Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 I know how to fix all of your guys problems... Drive a Mustang!!! The Blue Oval rocks!! I never have had a problem with my car..at least fuel injected related,or even electrical. Sorry, but I just had to piss you chevy guys off just a little,and you want some revenge,then bring it on to Infineon!! Tony Quote
cmc38camaro Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 Ed and Brady, I've been through my share of problems with the TPI systems and they are a pain in the butt to fix, but when they run, they run well. The beauty of the TPI is the decent torque they make. Ed, I can send you a prom with the VATS disabled if you would like, it would be illegal for CMC use, but it would help you work on the high RPM problem. Email me at home if you want me to send it out. Tony, I would much rather deal with a miss here and miss there rather than a blown blue oval engine. Cheers Mike Quote
Ed Varon Posted July 15, 2004 Author Posted July 15, 2004 Brady: I'm waiting on Mike Arnhieters Dyno #'s , he is in the middle of the TPI to Carb conversion. If the #'s are decent I'm going to follow and will let you know about cost if you are interested. Mike: Thanks for the chip offer... Is the chip illegal due to custom programing? I may take you up on it if I don't go carb. Kevin: I will check out the Vats bypass....(if I don't go carb) thanks! Tony: I have to agree with Mike, how many Chevys blow motors? Plus the suspension is waaaay better on these bowties! -Ed hoping to simplify my set up! Quote
Richard Pryor1548534703 Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 I just don't understand it....we've been racing TPI engines since 1989 with absolutely no problems that weren't easy to find...the key to TPI electronics is to make sure all your connectors are tight and heat shielded, you have multiple grounds (this is extremely important), you change your plug wires annually and heat shield them (we use Magnacore and have never had a cracked wire), and replace your battery cables every two years (we've seen cables that looked great on the outside but were corroded inside and failing to deliver full power), we remote mount the computer and vibration dampen it, replace coils every two years and vibration mount and heat shield...and so on....if you just do simple prep and maintenance a TPI will never let you down...it's such a simple and efficient system...to prove it I'm going to borrow one of my old Camaro TPI racers for the Sears Point event in October and finally teach that crazy Mustang supporter, Tony Guaglione, the superiority of the GM products...as long as it doesn't rain and the temperature is under 90 degrees I'll be there Saturday for a one-on-one three lap shootout at noon....loser pays for the entire CMC's dinner that night at Chevy's (see they named it after a winner)....so even if you're not racing that weekend, check out final answer to who is faster: GM or Ford...and get ready for some Tony Stewart style racing...exciting...see you there Quote
Tony G Posted July 15, 2004 Posted July 15, 2004 Richard, Great, bring anything with a bowtie on it,and then watch as you dissapear in my mirror,and that's after I give you a HUGE head start. And lets make it on the Sept 11/12 event..I know you can make that one. Tony Quote
Richard Pryor1548534703 Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 Hey, Tony, I'll even wear a nomex bowtie...a huge headstart? really?...I was planning on giving you one! Say are those umbrella girls going to be there? It's about time CMC got some class...and do I get the Senior Citizen rolling start option?...this is going to be fun...now where's that NOX bottle...rp Quote
cmc38camaro Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 Ed, The binaries I used to create the chip with VATS diable came from an aftermarket source and not from GM. The memcal and the PROM contained in it need to be genuine GM parts to be legal in CMC. Regards Mike Quote
ToTheLimit Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 Richard been around in SSGT racing even longer than I have. A properly working TPI engine is just AWESOME ..But for simplicity and easiness to fix poor running car...Well nets see..carbs been around since like...Stone age.. FYI..my #88 will have Fuel Injection Per Quote
Kevin Hall Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 TPI does run great, but let's recall the power pulled out of pretty much every saturday night oval racer comes from our dear old Holley Carbs. Besides, how can I not run a Carb? My wife, Holly, would hit me upside the head if I wasn't "Holley equipped". Of course, I wish I could run the 70's Quadrajet I have in the garage. It has much better top end than the 600 CFM Holley I ran on my Chevelle. Quote
Lady in Nomex Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 Kevin, that is too funny! My Impala buddies have always been jealous I live on Impala Place. Too bad I am moving to a non-car name street in two weeks! Speaking of Q-jets, Pete (hubby), a journeyman GM mechanic, got ahold of a '72 Camaro RS with a 350 auto, one my favorite body styles. We got it for very cheap as the non-mechanically inclined owned could not get it running well. Pete found an in-the-box original Q-jet for it stashed away in the back of a local parts store. He had that sucker purring! Another funny story is my first couple years with CMC running a Q-jet. This carb does not like to road race; you get a big hesitation when accelerating at every apex! The Holley is soooo much better! Quote
Steve Graves1548534707 Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 Yep, it's a Holley for me forever. Me and automotive electrical have a hard enough time as it is. Fortunately, all my electrical problems over the years haven't had anything to do with the engine, just lights and other miscellaneous connections. The #'s haven't been the greatest, (216 h.p. and 285 tourque) but I'll take that over the TPI "Gremlins" anyday. The engine's been in now for 1 year and 9 months. Pray it stays there for that much longer. Not bad for an $1800 engine. Esse' # 81... P.S. Ed, let me know if Mike Arnheiter wants to get rid of his TPI unit, I have a friend that's looking for one for a street rod. Quote
Lady in Nomex Posted July 16, 2004 Posted July 16, 2004 Esse, you have 285ft-lbs tq? I can't get past 270! We'll have to talk.... Quote
Kevin Hall Posted July 20, 2004 Posted July 20, 2004 We've got a whopping 200 and 250! However, the car does run cool, and Brad can't even make snide comments about not going fast enough to get the engine hot. Too bad he wasn't driving a Mustang, so I could join the debate elsewhere on the message board. I'm not sure I'm totally convinced on Holley greatness, as we've been fighting with a 4412 on Thomas' FrankenChevelle. Fortunately another racer (who happened to be the boy's boss) shared his spare, and he had so much power he couldn't keep from spinning the tires. Wish I had that problem in the Camaro. Julie-that '72 Camaro sounds like a great Street Stock Project, if you and the hubby ever think about turning left all the time. Quote
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