85 C20 Partial Resto Opinions ?

[1972C10]

I have an 85C20 I currently have at the paint shop that already has new drivetrain and going to have all new seals and other weathering items.

I also plan on adding a TBI Fuel Injection Setup As Well As the one piece Belt And Relocate the A/C compressor

At The Moment I Can Do One Or the Other

To put the flat belt on i will need a new water pump since it turns the oposite direction And a new compressor and dryer

To put the TBI on I will need To Change Intake And Buy a 140 dollar Fuel Pump


What Im Thinking Is Since the dash and everything Is out I Should Mount My Ecu and run the wires trough the firewall and tie them back for awhile untill i can change the intake and mount a new fuel pump And Put the Flat belt on.

Or Do the TBi all the way and do the Flat Belt And A/C Later

Either way would cost about the same total Its pretty hot and A/C on a freshly painted truck would be nice but So would a little better fuel economy.

Let me know What yall think.

[1972C10]

Btw All My Stuff Such as Water Pump Fuel Pump distributor carb , and other age proned parts have been replaced .

[Russell]

I'd do both But since I am given the option, I'll have to go with the FI

Personally I am planning on installing parts as I get them, so when I am ready to switch over to my TPI, its a matter of bolting it on, and hooking up the electrical.

[1972C10]

Yeah Im Still thinking All i lack on this truck after i get the windows back in is getting new floormat and insulation , shocks , 3 ball joints on the front end and putting in a power steering gearbox worm seal and im done. anything else that moves and wears is either good or been replaced or rebuilt.

The fuel injection and the Flat Belt Will be nice touches but arent nessacarily needed i was going to go with the original 350 type brackets and use stock location ac with v belt but i have a truck im stripping for the harness with a good belt setup no smog pump so i may as well do the flat belt then do the ac.

[Jonboy]

FWIW, I deleted the smog pump on my 87 when I put the engine in it. No problem there. My A/C is a little weak, so I usually drive it with the windows down. Since we seem to be having a decently mild summer, I would say do the FI, and serp belt, then fix the A/C later.

I would also suggest hitting the U-pull-it on Davis in Grand Prairie. That would be a good way to score a fuel pump and sender, as there were about 10 87 and newer Burbs out there this weekend. You will also want to get an 87 tank, as they have the necessary baffles for FI in them.

[1972C10]

yeah i was trying to avoid putting the pump in the tank since i would need some wireing from an 87 w dual tanks I dont want to loose them I just put a new drivers tank in after the selector swap since it had a hole in it.

I have heard of a guy over in emory that does these Fi Swaps with the tbi and uses an inline in front of the switcher So i plan to try that If it for some reason woudlnt work i would get a single tank off an 87 and then go from there.


I put all the stuff back on the firewall today we had it tore down to base it in and i undercoated the wheel wells Im going to take the ac coil out and clean it tommorow and try to set the bed on for total paint.

Thanks for the opionions

[Russell]

Just remember that fuel pumps hate sucking gas, but love pushing gas... The closer to the tank, the better.

[1972C10]

Yeah Ive always heard and practiced that too putting the elec pump as close to the tank as possible.

Friend of mine bought a holley red pump awhile back and put it on the frame by where his engine mount pump was and it worked ! that amazed me

[aliencheyenne]

Hmm..Texas in July/August/September. Go with the cold air for 3 months then do the FI.

[1972C10]

Yeah Im kinda leaning towards the a/c I bought a new orifice today and cleaned up the high pressure line it will only cost me 40 for a new water pump 20 for a new compressor and 15 or 20 for a new dryer so i think im gonna do that.