changing crossfire C4 to carburation

I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire fuel injection to
a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.

The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question is I have been
told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is this possible? If
it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is this correct also.

thanks for any help.

Art

"Art" > wrote in message
...
>I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire
>fuel injection to
> a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
>
> The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question
> is I have been
> told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is
> this possible? If
> it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is
> this correct also.
>
> thanks for any help.
>
> Art


been there, done that...

actually you will be getting away from most of the computer
and emissions.
(hope you know where you can get an inspection)
you will be changing a lot more than just the HEI
distributator, intake, carb and linkage.
the stock exhaust manifold is set up for the smog pump and
the cross-fire.
you will have to modify the exhaust manifold, plugging up a
number of holes that will no longer be needed.
you will also have hood clearance problems with the intake
and carburetor and will have to use a short intake.
the breather element will have to be very short.
Edelbrock has a short breather for their carbs. it not that
good of a breather though, but without a custom made
breather, its the only choice.
an Edelbrock carb is really the only choice you will have. a
Holly carb is too tall...
(you do have the choice of adding a hood-scoop)
you will be better off keeping the crossfire.
I found out later that my cross-fire could have been
modified to become better then it was.
I wish I would have gone that route !

g'luck
--
'Key
=====

Art wrote:
> I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire fuel injection to
> a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
>
> The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question is I have been
> told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is this possible? If
> it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is this correct also.
>
> thanks for any help.
>
> Art
>
>
The '84 HEI only had 'limp home' advance built into the module...not
intended to provide any performance.

You'll need some scheme for advance (vacuum and/or centrifugal), like
the earlier HEIs had.
--
pj

Thanks Key, but my options are very limited, the crossfire intake has a
crack and must be replaced, I replaced the exhaust manifolds a long time ago
with short headers and have removed most of the unecssary stuff. Edelbrock
has recommended a #2101 intake along with a #1406 600 cfm carb which they
advised will fit under my hood without alterations, I enjoyed the cross
fire, but do not have a lot of options. The ignition is a major problem
with me as I have never 'messed' with them and cannot find any procedures on
how to change over to carb from cross fire.

Thanks for any additional assistance you can offer.

Art
"'Key" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Art" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire
> >fuel injection to
> > a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
> >
> > The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question
> > is I have been
> > told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is
> > this possible? If
> > it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is
> > this correct also.
> >
> > thanks for any help.
> >
> > Art
>
>
> been there, done that...
>
> actually you will be getting away from most of the computer
> and emissions.
> (hope you know where you can get an inspection)
> you will be changing a lot more than just the HEI
> distributator, intake, carb and linkage.
> the stock exhaust manifold is set up for the smog pump and
> the cross-fire.
> you will have to modify the exhaust manifold, plugging up a
> number of holes that will no longer be needed.
> you will also have hood clearance problems with the intake
> and carburetor and will have to use a short intake.
> the breather element will have to be very short.
> Edelbrock has a short breather for their carbs. it not that
> good of a breather though, but without a custom made
> breather, its the only choice.
> an Edelbrock carb is really the only choice you will have. a
> Holly carb is too tall...
> (you do have the choice of adding a hood-scoop)
> you will be better off keeping the crossfire.
> I found out later that my cross-fire could have been
> modified to become better then it was.
> I wish I would have gone that route !
>
> g'luck
> --
> 'Key
> =====
>
>

Thanks pj, are you recommending changing the entire distributator to an
earler one (example a distributator from a 78 'vette that had carburation)
and add vacuum advance unit to the engine. Will the tach and other
instrumentation work if I do that? What else must be done to accomplish the
changeover?

I appreciate any additional insight you might be willing to give me.

Thanks,
Art
"pj" > wrote in message
...
> Art wrote:
> > I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire fuel injection
to
> > a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
> >
> > The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question is I have
been
> > told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is this possible?
If
> > it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is this correct
also.
> >
> > thanks for any help.
> >
> > Art
> >
> >
> The '84 HEI only had 'limp home' advance built into the module...not
> intended to provide any performance.
>
> You'll need some scheme for advance (vacuum and/or centrifugal), like
> the earlier HEIs had.
> --
> pj

Art wrote:
> I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire fuel injection to
> a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
>
> The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question is I have been
> told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is this possible? If
> it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is this correct also.
>
> thanks for any help.
>
> Art
>
>
http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/pts/494076053.html
http://tinyurl.com/2dz3yg
http://tinyurl.com/22ehsm
http://tinyurl.com/2bx6p9
http://tinyurl.com/2786hd
http://www.crossfire.homeip.net/cftest/policy.asp

Art wrote:
> Thanks pj, are you recommending changing the entire distributator to an
> earler one (example a distributator from a 78 'vette that had carburation)
> and add vacuum advance unit to the engine. Will the tach and other
> instrumentation work if I do that? What else must be done to accomplish the
> changeover?
>
> I appreciate any additional insight you might be willing to give me.
>
> Thanks,
> Art

Suggestion is: don't do this. Instead, take a look at Wayne's post
and build a shopping list to restore the Crossfire.

Also, try a post for Crossfire improvement suggestions in the C4 Scan
and Tune Forum: < http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zeroforum?id=82 >.

Maybe I'm reading the situation wrong but, think you're looking for
'off-road' experience where emission control is not an issue.

I think the carb conversion will make for more complications, more $$,
less rear-wheel horsepower, and more fuel consumption. OTOH, a new cam,
redoing the hood profile to accommodate a larger intake etc. etc.

There is a tach signal from those old distributors but it's a pulse from
the 12-volt module. Your current tach signal comes from the ECM and
it's a digital signal.

Another distributor issue is the weak advance curves in the 77-79 HEIs.
You'd be starting out from square zero, building an advance curve.
Ten years ago, I rebuilt my '79 HEI -- mess of red oxide inside and
lower end had suffered a lube failure. Expect most salvage distributors
to look the same.

hth

--
pj

On Dec 2, 4:50 pm, "Art" > wrote:
> I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire fuel injection to
> a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
>
> The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question is I have been
> told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is this possible? If
> it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is this correct also.
>

Carb/intake won't fit under the hood.
Your HEI distributor won't work at all.
Fuel pressure is too high.
4+3 manual won't work.
Converter lockup won't work.
TV cable won't work.
Cruise control won't work.
Not U.S. emission legal.
Less power.
More gas.

If you've given up on the Cross Fire, have you considered upgrading to
TPI fuel injection?

Raid a junkyard Camaro or Firebird (look for '85 or '86) for all the
hard parts. Add a PPI wiring harness, new injectors, and a booster
fuel pump. The existing sensors in the car will wire right in (even
the wire colors are the same) and the new computer will work with the
transmission.

You'll get more power and better gas mileage. It should be legal just
about anywhere (not sure about California). Parts match and it will
look stock.


Or, perhaps a 2-barrel TBI intake from a late model small-block would
adapt. It would be better than a carb.

Your biggest problem is going to be the ECU, not the HEI distributor.

Your removing a lot of stuff that the ECU needs to inputs from, mainly items
that do not exist with a carb. The ECU is set up for TBI not a carb. Biggest
show-stoppers items are TPS, IAC, and MAP

Code after code after code will be set if you can even get it to run without
the above.

What's wrong with the crossfire,

That you want to butcher the car by removing it?

RK

"The Reverend Natural Light" > wrote in message
...
> On Dec 2, 4:50 pm, "Art" > wrote:
>> I need just a little advice about changing from crossfire fuel injection
>> to
>> a carburated engine on a 1984 C4.
>>
>> The intake and carburator shall be Edelbrock. My question is I have been
>> told that I can continue to use the HEI distributator, is this possible?
>> If
>> it is I only have to change intake, carb and linkage, is this correct
>> also.
>>
>
> Carb/intake won't fit under the hood.
> Your HEI distributor won't work at all.
> Fuel pressure is too high.
> 4+3 manual won't work.
> Converter lockup won't work.
> TV cable won't work.
> Cruise control won't work.
> Not U.S. emission legal.
> Less power.
> More gas.
>
> If you've given up on the Cross Fire, have you considered upgrading to
> TPI fuel injection?
>
> Raid a junkyard Camaro or Firebird (look for '85 or '86) for all the
> hard parts. Add a PPI wiring harness, new injectors, and a booster
> fuel pump. The existing sensors in the car will wire right in (even
> the wire colors are the same) and the new computer will work with the
> transmission.
>
> You'll get more power and better gas mileage. It should be legal just
> about anywhere (not sure about California). Parts match and it will
> look stock.
>
>
> Or, perhaps a 2-barrel TBI intake from a late model small-block would
> adapt. It would be better than a carb.
>