An other weird question... LT1 ECU on a TPI???

[X-cabsquarebody]

Came across a 4l60e out of a 94 Camaro that I can get for cheap. I've been wanting to swap an OD trans behind my swapped TPI engine in my 80 Chevy truck. The Camaro had an engine fire, but the ECU might still be good. Will the LT1, 8051 ECU work the a TPI? It would be nice to get sequential injection control, newer style MAF sensor, and newer O2s. Already have the cables, and program to flash the 8051 ECU. Just not sure if the distributor would work in place of the opti spark. Any body done such a thing? Haven't found any info on it. An other option wood be a TBI ECU out of a 94 truck, which I do have one, and change it the run the TPI, and shift the trans.


Thanks

[steveo]

Just not sure if the distributor would work in place of the opti spark.

no, it won't work. the opti has completely different signalling. you would have to build a distributor with the proper signaling, probably gutting an opti for its wheel and sensor. it has been done; fit inside an hei distributor in place of the original ICM. this is probably not a project you'd want unless you're a decent fabricator.

a good tbi ecm should be way easier, and probably be WAY better in the end, ditching the maf and just working a good speed density tune out

alternatively a standalone transmission controller should work well

if all you want is overdrive, though, why not just get a 700R4?

[X-cabsquarebody]

I can get the 4l60e for $100. Starting to acumalate a lot GM harness parts and ECU. That's the main reason. And want to learn more about programing end of swaps.

Gluttent for punishment.

[lionelhutz]

It's probably too much work to convert. But then, I believe the LT1 timing chain cover will fit an older small block but can't say if the Opti will fit under an older water pump. You'd want the newer style cover and Opti though so you can just put a longer dowel pin in the cam to drive the Opti.

Go with the 4L60e anyways. Being able to program the shift points and converter lockup to work exactly how one wants will make one realize how shitty a 700R4 conversion is to drive in comparison.

[steveo]

it would actually be pretty easy to make a lil' DSP box to convert (and interpolate) various types of distributor signals...

a lower resolution signal could be faked into a working opti signal pretty easily. also an opti could pretty easily be converted back to a normal distributor.

i have a bit of experience with DSP, maybe i should do a bit more research. could be a little arduino box

does anyone have any good data on various timing reference signals that different distributors use?

[delcowizzid]

http://pcmhacking.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2913 like this steveo programmable ignition box for delco ecu's runs most things nissan multislot wheels etc as well

[steveo]

yep, something like that. cool project

[X-cabsquarebody]

I would prefer the LT1 ECU over the TBI. I got the ecu from the car that the trans came from. 94 can be flasted from the aldl port. Would love to know more on making it work.

On Facebook, a guy install a Vortec 454 multi port injection on an earlier big block. He had posted a video of first start up. I asked if he was running a marine ecu, and he said he got the wiring and computer from Temp speed shop. That it is a lt1 Corvette computer. He didn't have a crank sensor. He doesn't know enough to give any deals about how they made it work.
It looks like its been done, just can't find how its done.

[steveo]

the lt1 ecm requires encoded cam position pulses from an optispark for timing reference. it doesn't use a crank sensor. most other ecms use either a hall effect thing or a different type of encoder wheel; the optispark wheel is unique. again, you'd either have to gut an opti to get the proper wheel and sensor, or figure out how to convert signals, which is a huge job.

[buddrow]

It's probably too much work to convert. But then, I believe the LT1 timing chain cover will fit an older small block but can't say if the Opti will fit under an older water pump. You'd want the newer style cover and Opti though so you can just put a longer dowel pin in the cam to drive the Opti.

Go with the 4L60e anyways. Being able to program the shift points and converter lockup to work exactly how one wants will make one realize how shitty a 700R4 conversion is to drive in comparison.

The 700R4 isnt necessarily a horrible transmission, the 4L60E is internally the same aside from the addition of electronic controls. Now the throttle cable system in anything other than a factory setup is usually a joke as most aftermarket brackets and cables provide horrible geometry and never get set right so burnt trans is the norm. I will be upgrading my brothers '72 camaro from the 700 to a 4L60E after the completion of my trans controller project. Anywho, just my 2 cents.

Buddrow

[lionelhutz]

I would prefer the LT1 ECU over the TBI. I got the ecu from the car that the trans came from. 94 can be flasted from the aldl port. Would love to know more on making it work.

You can do it all bolt-on parts if the timing cover from a LT1 will fit on your engine. I have no idea if it will fit or not, but if it does you can then add the cam/cover/opti-spark etc to get the signals the ECU needs. Otherwise, you need to fabricate a pickup in the distributor or on the end of the camshaft that gives the correct pulses for the ECU.

[steveo]

you'd have to gut the opti and still run an ordinary distributor somewhere else, since a traditional SBC waterpump wont clear the optispark cap. then you'll find the LT1 waterpump can't be used to get around that, it's shaft drive and reverse flow...

[lionelhutz]

You can get water pump spacers.

[X-cabsquarebody]

no, it won't work. the opti has completely different signalling. you would have to build a distributor with the proper signaling, probably gutting an opti for its wheel and sensor. it has been done; fit inside an hei distributor in place of the original ICM. this is probably not a project you'd want unless you're a decent fabricator.

a good tbi ecm should be way easier, and probably be WAY better in the end, ditching the maf and just working a good speed density tune out

alternatively a standalone transmission controller should work well

if all you want is overdrive, though, why not just get a 700R4?

Steveo, I'm going to run my 4l60e and tpi off an TBI ecu. I saw a bin file for this very swap a few months ago and now I can't find it. Any searches came up empty cause I can't recall the title. Does anyone have a link to the thread and or the bin file. Thanks.