A Closer Look at TBI conversion

Features and Benefits:

The real advantage of this TBI conversion is a great running car, easy installation, and a reasonable price. You don't have to build or alter an intake manifold. You use the existing carbs, air cleaners, linkage, and actually converting the carb portion of the set-up into fuel injectors can be done in less than an hour. Figure the complete conversion will take a full weekend. The process can also be reversed quickly as no parts have been damaged or altered. As you can see I'm very pleased and proud of the TBI set up.

The TBI setup is a wonderful upgrade in that it starts exceptionally well, runs beautifully while warming up, an all around smooth running car. Guess what I'm saying is that the TBI car runs great and doesn't need any further tuning unless you want to alter the engine with a cam etc. The TBI system is datalog capable, is programmable for fuel and ignition, and the GM ECM for TBI even has the ability to learn and adapt to your driving habits. Considering the alternatives for price and installation of different fuel injection systems out there, the TBI set up is the reasonable choice.

Service

Because this conversion is based on very popular GM components it can be serviced by your local garage. Components are available at your local auto parts stores from coast to coast. Not to say your mechanic might take some convincing, but the entire system is the same as the the GM cars and trucks that they service everyday. The car may look different but their test procedures, trouble codes, and equipment are all the same.

Performance and Fuel Economy

As the very short sports car season in Maine ended in October a few minor changes were made to the TBI test car. Aaron Cropley's pride and joy, a 1971 TR6, has been used as a test bed ever since this experiment started. The car runs great, better beyond original expectations. It starts easily and is immediately drivable without any of the normal carb issues. The acceleration is remarkable even at highway speeds and since the latest program update the fuel economy is far better than ever. This last chip update was designed to keep the same performance gains and increase the fuel efficiency. On a 5 hour trip from Brunswick Maine to Stowe, Vermont the car got nearly 30MPG, before these chip adjustments. And late in the season after reinstalling the chip with a new performance and fuel efficient profile in around town driving of about a 100 miles, the car went from 18MPG with carbs, to 27 MPG. The car is wonderfully smooth and a pleasure to drive. The profile for Aaron's car is just about as good as it gets for street use, not to say that if he were a serious autocrosser or racer it wouldn't require some adjustment.

The parts:

Sidedrafttbi.com's portion (that's me), consists of billet 6061 aluminum TBI carburetor conversion adapters with bypass block offs, a hardware package consisting of a mounting bracket and actuator for the throttle position sensor. I can also supply a new throttle position sensor.

Under construction Sept 2007

Both Affordable Fuel Injection and I guarantee our components.

Yahoo Message Board

A message board has been set up on Yahoogroups.com for discussion of TR6 TBI installation. I will monitor the board and will be happy to discuss TBI. The board is called TBI injection.

Feel free to contact me at rick@pattonmachine.com or on the message board. For technical questions I prefer the forum message board as others may have similar questions.