my 82 still has the crossfire injection motor with all the computer components, it runs great. fires up immediately whether the outside temp is 100 or 20 degrees.
That was the era of hoses and wiring completely covering the engine, to the point of not being able to see the engine.... and taking a half hour to remove the air cleaner housing....lol. I remember working on those systems when they were new. I thought back then they were bad, time has proven that they are horrible. The Q-jets are good carburetors, just not the emissions one, like that 81 used. By the way, I liked the blue on that car.
Hey Ben, I believe I had that carburetor on my 81 Z28, everything worked good on it I didn’t keep up long enough to see the longevity, I love the noise that it made when the secondaries kicked in👍
The 80s chevy trucks and some passenger cars used that same HEI and alot of people would cheap out and reuse them things all the time when they swapped carbs and it would have 0 advance so if you set it to where it ran good it would try to tear the starter off the block when starting or if you set it to where it would start easy then it would be extremely gutless. Back then it was a bit difficult and expensive to find another hei where today you can just order a brand new one from ebay for $40.
Good info! I have a 81 and ran into the computer cleaning up wiring in the car. I also noticed all the extra wiring/plugs in the engine bay. Now I know why, thanks!
Did this to my 81 convertible (custom made). Edelbrock carb and intake, aftermarket heads and cam etc. Bought the distributor from JEGs. Really woke that car up!
I have a 1980 Corvette with a 305 that was factory computer controlled. The carbs were adjusted at the factory with a machine using freon but you could buy the tool from Snap On if you needed to rebuild one. They are a pain. I replaced mine with a Edelbrock carb,intake and cam. I was told that the 305 was the first one controlled by a computer. They were in California only Corvettes (2000 produced). Its the only one I've seen so far.
California cars from 1980-82 were strange. Heck they started emissions stuff there earlier than other places and ive seen crazy stuff if the car was sold to CA
@@TheCorvetteBen I always had trouble getting it thru the smog test before freshening the motor. After I changed the cam, intake, carb and having real dual exhaust put on it always passed smog (with no catalytic converter. there is no reference to the motor in the factory shop manual.
That is correct. Some 305 (RPO code "LG4", VIN code "H") cars were all one could get in some markets in 1980 (California being one of them), and they had C-3 (Computer Command Control) early on. My 1980 Trans Am turbo 301 has a vacuum advance distributor and a non-feedback Quadrajet, but does have a spark control computer due to the turbo engine option.
Thanks for the info on the 1981/82 distributor, I’m looking at rebuilding my distributor (81) and of all the videos I’ve looked on internet your’s is one of the best to explain what’s going on inside ( no advance weights) I’m wondering if a video on how to rebuilt HEI distributor is in your plans? It would be nice to know what components absolutely need to be replaced and others you can live with depending on their state. 👍🏻
Great video! My 82 still has the stock one with the cross-fire setup. Be careful, Jegs and Summit will sell you replacement HEI distributors but they do not have the extra pigtail for the computer hookup.
my grandmother is still using the factory fuel cross fire injection system on her 82 honestly they are a pain in the ass but not so much so as to rip them off you just need to understand how they work and the thought behind the tbi injection gm was doing back in the day because ones they are set and working like they are supposed to boy it works very well for the tech of the day i have to say it’s amazing what the system can do but when it’s wrong oh it’s way wrong lol i wish i had the money to update to a new sequential multiport system but stock is good
Ironically this gets recommended to me, my name is Ben, I own and daily drive an 81 (I know I’m crazy). I’ve replaced the old carb with an edelbrock 650 cfm. I also converted from that computer distributor crap, to a mechanical one. This 100% is recommended, my car runs wayyyy better over the last few months. Although, you may need to change the ignition module in the aftermarket distributor, if it’s not made by GM/AC Delco… it’s not gonna last lol. TH-cam knows too much about my real world activities 😂
Did you remove the computer from yours? What did you do about the lock up torque converter? I have an 81 and want to remove the computer controlled q-jet but wasn’t sure what it would do to the lock up torque converter. It’s also controlled by the computer.
I love the crossfire system... The real issue is it's inability to run with any vacuum leak. Most times it's the EGR or the top intake gasket by the EGR that leaks. Once you repair the leak the run very well.
I have the original dist (no vacuum, no weights) with a Holley carb and edelbrok intake. My timing adv numbers are: 12 deg@900 rpm, 24 deg@2000 rpm and 30 deg@3000 rpm. So I guess the ECU is able to do some timing advance without the q-jet info...???
Thanks for the Tech tip it's very simple but at the same time probably would have never thought of it hahaha but man that beautiful car I love that blue is that old school enki rims on it
So I’m going through this right now.. I swapped intakes and carb of course.. pulled the old HEI distributor out and put a vacuum advance one in.. soon as I plug it up the housing gets red hot.. is the distributor bad?? Is there something you did different to the wiring to run the other distributor? I’m dumb founded on why this is happening
My girl decided that she wanted to have a summer car too! She picked out a 81 vette I found at a chicken farm under a tree for a decade. I normally build C4's, but gotta make her happy, so 81 it is lol. I didn't know about the computer night mare! Found out the a/c runs thru it, and the electric fan for extra cooling, and a few more items. Thinking of running a 1980 wiring harness inside and the engine bay to delete the computer. Need your expertise on this idea. Replacing all the wiring harnesses so it won't catch fire from the mouse eaten originals. I am using a Haynes manual and have the factory assembly manual to help routing and placement of everything. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Ive had my 81 vette for around 20 years, all stock since I live in California and have never had an issue with it. Passes smog fine just routine oil changes. Hope your girls 81 turns out good for you both👍
My 81 is a 68000 mile, but rode ruff the last decade. Dirt roads at 50, them up a goat trail of a driveway. Shook her bad, doing some rebounding. That and she sat under a tree for about 7 years, maybe longer.
Those computer controlled Q-Jets were a joke. I had a brand new 81 Trans Am with the 301 with all that garbage on it and it never would run right. Because the dealer wouldn't send his mechanics for training on the system they never could fix it. It was so bad that I hit a big water puddle one night and the car immediately started running rough and because the carb was dumping so much extra fuel that the catalytic converter overheated and started the carpeting on fire. I only had kept car about six months before I got rid of it
Rebuilt computer was $82 at AutoZone and factory repair manual is straight forward. Keep the sensors, carb, dizzy and torque converter operating properly. Dump the AIR system and pump.
The computer controlled stuff is decent if its absolutely 100% intact down to the air cleaner tube, and all the smog stuff still hooked up. I would just take the smog pump belt off and leave the system alone and only repair as needed. The biggest problem is that almost all of these systems have been tampered with and if it's missing any of it, trying to find the exact replacement can be next to impossible to find that's why most people just rip all of it off an put on an aftermarket intake and carb.
@@briang4470 you don't need the AIR system. Removing it cleans up the engine nicely. Same with the EGR and most of the vacuum lines. Keep the sensors that the computer uses and it will happily control the carburetor, distributor and torque converter.
I have an 81 that I’m looking to remove the computer controlled q-jet. I have a non computer controlled q-jet and a regular HEI. Should that be all I need to convert mine? I also have a non lockup turbo 350 transmission from a 72 Camaro in case the torque converter lock up is an issue.
Good tip! I have indeed such an 81 with replaced carb. Will check tomorrow on the distributor but knoe that was replaced too! BTW what is that blue color named? I intend to repaint my car and this is a nice one. Factory color?
I have an 81 headers no cats just in process of removing smog. Gonna keep carb ,distributor, ecm , what do I do about my coolant temp sensor leave it in same position the yellow and black wires gi into thebig harness that all the smog relays come out of. What do I do with this signal if I had no computer. Thanks `much
PS I'm just wondering if I can eliminate the entire elec buses to carb and A.I.R. INJECTION RELAYS AND PULL THE TEMP WIRES FROM THE BUS and run a coolant temp to a relay somewhere. OR TO THE GAGE ITSELF?? Any help on this would be great. I see the car in this post has had the coolant temp sender moved, its usually right behind smog pump next to thermostat housing ....Any Ideas on where he sent this signal on that 81 ?? Any help much appreciated....
I'm replacing my 81 stock turbo 350 that had chunks of clutch plates at the bottom of the pan. I got a turbo 350 that uses vacuum converter lock up, rebuilt with racing clutch plates(heavy duty), and a 5 prong oiling race, for better oiling. Should work fine, thinking of putting on a shift kit for extra hitting power during shifts.
European car manufacturers offered fuel injection so many years before GM. The Big 3 allows followed the European lead from engine, safety, and lighting. Tesla finally breaking that trend!
While this was not one of your trademark "scare the daylights out of us" vlogs, it's still a vlog where one's eyes get wider and wider as you go on. *slaps self* OF COURSE it won't advance. It's all about the universe of information a person has to have in order to think things through. Blame it on the dyslexia.
Me happy to see a new CorvetteBen video 😁, then me seeing that it’s less than 4 minutes long 😩
my 82 still has the crossfire injection motor with all the computer components, it runs great. fires up immediately whether the outside temp is 100 or 20 degrees.
Same here, took it through the mountains last week and it surprisingly did well with the altitude
Welp I spoke 2 years too soon, now it runs like shit
@willp8547
😅😅😅😅😅
Not laughing at your demise just lol with you...if you are lol
Are you going to replace or repair?
I was happy to see that this car is going through a lot of progress all the way
Thanks Ben, I didn't know that about the 81. More content when you get time
That was the era of hoses and wiring completely covering the engine, to the point of not being able to see the engine.... and taking a half hour to remove the air cleaner housing....lol. I remember working on those systems when they were new. I thought back then they were bad, time has proven that they are horrible. The Q-jets are good carburetors, just not the emissions one, like that 81 used. By the way, I liked the blue on that car.
My favorite C3 Corvette! Thank you! Thank you GM for finally getting your act together for the 1985 model year.
Don’t worry about a short video Ben, sometimes they’re very helpful. Good job getting right to point.
I’ve had 2 1981’s back in the 90’s. In 1982 we used to call the new Cross-Fire injection - MissFire Injection. :)
Hey Ben, I believe I had that carburetor on my 81 Z28, everything worked good on it I didn’t keep up long enough to see the longevity, I love the noise that it made when the secondaries kicked in👍
The 80s chevy trucks and some passenger cars used that same HEI and alot of people would cheap out and reuse them things all the time when they swapped carbs and it would have 0 advance so if you set it to where it ran good it would try to tear the starter off the block when starting or if you set it to where it would start easy then it would be extremely gutless. Back then it was a bit difficult and expensive to find another hei where today you can just order a brand new one from ebay for $40.
Good info! I have a 81 and ran into the computer cleaning up wiring in the car. I also noticed all the extra wiring/plugs in the engine bay. Now I know why, thanks!
Just got a 81 as a stable mate to my 93 40th anv. I'll be sure to check that carb out.
How’s the C3 man. Still have it?
My 86 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham had a computer controlled carb on the Olds 307. Works great when it works, an expensive nightmare when it doesn't.
Did this to my 81 convertible (custom made). Edelbrock carb and intake, aftermarket heads and cam etc. Bought the distributor from JEGs. Really woke that car up!
Always does!
I have a 1980 Corvette with a 305 that was factory computer controlled. The carbs were adjusted at the factory with a machine using freon but you could buy the tool from Snap On if you needed to rebuild one. They are a pain. I replaced mine with a Edelbrock carb,intake and cam. I was told that the 305 was the first one controlled by a computer. They were in California only Corvettes (2000 produced). Its the only one I've seen so far.
California cars from 1980-82 were strange. Heck they started emissions stuff there earlier than other places and ive seen crazy stuff if the car was sold to CA
@@TheCorvetteBen I always had trouble getting it thru the smog test before freshening the motor. After I changed the cam, intake, carb and having real dual exhaust put on it always passed smog (with no catalytic converter. there is no reference to the motor in the factory shop manual.
That is correct. Some 305 (RPO code "LG4", VIN code "H") cars were all one could get in some markets in 1980 (California being one of them), and they had C-3 (Computer Command Control) early on. My 1980 Trans Am turbo 301 has a vacuum advance distributor and a non-feedback Quadrajet, but does have a spark control computer due to the turbo engine option.
Great informative video as always. Have you been doing much with Cady lately?
Thanks for the info on the 1981/82 distributor, I’m looking at rebuilding my distributor (81) and of all the videos I’ve looked on internet your’s is one of the best to explain what’s going on inside ( no advance weights) I’m wondering if a video on how to rebuilt HEI distributor is in your plans? It would be nice to know what components absolutely need to be replaced and others you can live with depending on their state. 👍🏻
Great video! My 82 still has the stock one with the cross-fire setup. Be careful, Jegs and Summit will sell you replacement HEI distributors but they do not have the extra pigtail for the computer hookup.
My 82 also still original crossfire ...still running good !!!
I have an 82 didn't run to well changed the tps sensor and cleaned the iac valves and it has been running great since hope u enjoy yours
my grandmother is still using the factory fuel cross fire injection system on her 82 honestly they are a pain in the ass but not so much so as to rip them off you just need to understand how they work and the thought behind the tbi injection gm was doing back in the day because ones they are set and working like they are supposed to boy it works very well for the tech of the day i have to say it’s amazing what the system can do but when it’s wrong oh it’s way wrong lol i wish i had the money to update to a new sequential multiport system but stock is good
Thanks for the video I have an 82 still all factory I didn't know that would affect the distributor advance
Ironically this gets recommended to me, my name is Ben, I own and daily drive an 81 (I know I’m crazy). I’ve replaced the old carb with an edelbrock 650 cfm. I also converted from that computer distributor crap, to a mechanical one. This 100% is recommended, my car runs wayyyy better over the last few months. Although, you may need to change the ignition module in the aftermarket distributor, if it’s not made by GM/AC Delco… it’s not gonna last lol. TH-cam knows too much about my real world activities 😂
Did you remove the computer from yours? What did you do about the lock up torque converter? I have an 81 and want to remove the computer controlled q-jet but wasn’t sure what it would do to the lock up torque converter. It’s also controlled by the computer.
I love the crossfire system... The real issue is it's inability to run with any vacuum leak. Most times it's the EGR or the top intake gasket by the EGR that leaks. Once you repair the leak the run very well.
Glad to see you live in Orlando Florida has a 76 stingray no reliable mechanics they all out to make money
good tip I did not know that,but we own a 79 Corvette. ;-)
Ben love the videos but need to be longer content poor favor. 😁
Love the rims on the blue '81! Very period!
Hehehe he said stone age fuel injection... love it brother, thanks for the tip... great to see ya again...
It is an easy fix. Swap in a vacuum advance HEI. Also applies to Camaros and Firebirds thru 87 with computer carb.
I have the original dist (no vacuum, no weights) with a Holley carb and edelbrok intake. My timing adv numbers are: 12 deg@900 rpm, 24 deg@2000 rpm and 30 deg@3000 rpm. So I guess the ECU is able to do some timing advance without the q-jet info...???
Good info to know, although I have a ‘79.
Ben knows the good,bad and ugly of the used Corvette ...
Great vid! Where (manifold??) do you hookup the vacuum hose? Thanks
That's interesting! I never knew they did that with the Q-jet. Damn those mice, the bane of car owners everywhere!!!
Huh?
Whah?
I have an 81 with the comp cont quad. Runs pretty good, but is bone stock so its all there and working.
Well this can be a project for tomorrow
Thanks for the Tech tip it's very simple but at the same time probably would have never thought of it hahaha but man that beautiful car I love that blue is that old school enki rims on it
Makes sense....This is what happens when Bubba gets involved...
I knew that the computer controlled carbs were a thing in the 80's but i'd never seen one.
Me who has a 1980 Corvette: *wipes brow* crises averted
I have an 80 vetted thanks for the info.
So I’m going through this right now.. I swapped intakes and carb of course.. pulled the old HEI distributor out and put a vacuum advance one in.. soon as I plug it up the housing gets red hot.. is the distributor bad?? Is there something you did different to the wiring to run the other distributor? I’m dumb founded on why this is happening
Man you're genius big fan from iraq
Can you get rid of the computer too?
I have all the sensors and stuff on mine. What all does the computer control after changing the carb and distributor? Are the O2 sensors needed?
i have an 81 and didnt know they made fuel injection in 81. and mine is one of the last ones
Very interesting. Thanks for the info.
I have a 1980, is there any chance it is like that 81?
My girl decided that she wanted to have a summer car too! She picked out a 81 vette I found at a chicken farm under a tree for a decade. I normally build C4's, but gotta make her happy, so 81 it is lol. I didn't know about the computer night mare! Found out the a/c runs thru it, and the electric fan for extra cooling, and a few more items. Thinking of running a 1980 wiring harness inside and the engine bay to delete the computer. Need your expertise on this idea. Replacing all the wiring harnesses so it won't catch fire from the mouse eaten originals. I am using a Haynes manual and have the factory assembly manual to help routing and placement of everything. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Ive had my 81 vette for around 20 years, all stock since I live in California and have never had an issue with it. Passes smog fine just routine oil changes. Hope your girls 81 turns out good for you both👍
My 81 is a 68000 mile, but rode ruff the last decade. Dirt roads at 50, them up a goat trail of a driveway. Shook her bad, doing some rebounding. That and she sat under a tree for about 7 years, maybe longer.
Do you have a video of the crossfire system?
Those computer controlled Q-Jets were a joke. I had a brand new 81 Trans Am with the 301 with all that garbage on it and it never would run right. Because the dealer wouldn't send his mechanics for training on the system they never could fix it. It was so bad that I hit a big water puddle one night and the car immediately started running rough and because the carb was dumping so much extra fuel that the catalytic converter overheated and started the carpeting on fire. I only had kept car about six months before I got rid of it
If it’s a computer controlled spark can a loose battery kill the car? Or it’s it just computer controlled advance?
Rebuilt computer was $82 at AutoZone and factory repair manual is straight forward. Keep the sensors, carb, dizzy and torque converter operating properly. Dump the AIR system and pump.
Maybe, but nine times out of ten all that stuff is long gone and it’s expensive and difficult to replace what has been removed
The computer controlled stuff is decent if its absolutely 100% intact down to the air cleaner tube, and all the smog stuff still hooked up. I would just take the smog pump belt off and leave the system alone and only repair as needed. The biggest problem is that almost all of these systems have been tampered with and if it's missing any of it, trying to find the exact replacement can be next to impossible to find that's why most people just rip all of it off an put on an aftermarket intake and carb.
@@briang4470 you don't need the AIR system. Removing it cleans up the engine nicely. Same with the EGR and most of the vacuum lines. Keep the sensors that the computer uses and it will happily control the carburetor, distributor and torque converter.
I have an 81 that I’m looking to remove the computer controlled q-jet. I have a non computer controlled q-jet and a regular HEI. Should that be all I need to convert mine? I also have a non lockup turbo 350 transmission from a 72 Camaro in case the torque converter lock up is an issue.
I hated my 81. I still regret to this day trading my 4 speed red/oyster 1980 for the new 1985.
Cross fire was on 84 vette too bro i know cause i had one back then with a 4+3 standard transmission and it was the worse car i ever bought
Helpful! Thanks.
You answered my question
Hey Ben can you tell me what kind of rims are on that 81. I have a 1980 and I think it would look awesome on my car!
No idea but I bet the owner of this car would sell them to you
And that newer distributor doesn't require vacuum correct? It had an ECM?
I didn't Know that!
Good tip! I have indeed such an 81 with replaced carb. Will check tomorrow on the distributor but knoe that was replaced too! BTW what is that blue color named? I intend to repaint my car and this is a nice one. Factory color?
great video
When you replace the disturbtor with a normal HEI one, do you know how the tack hook up is wired, I replaced min3 and the tack isn’t working
You need longer video's ben !
Is it also called the feed back carburetor???
I have an 81 headers no cats just in process of removing smog. Gonna keep carb ,distributor, ecm , what do I do about my coolant temp sensor leave it in same position the yellow and black wires gi into thebig harness that all the smog relays come out of. What do I do with this signal if I had no computer. Thanks `much
PS I'm just wondering if I can eliminate the entire elec buses to carb and A.I.R. INJECTION RELAYS AND PULL THE TEMP WIRES FROM THE BUS and run a coolant temp to a relay somewhere. OR TO THE GAGE ITSELF?? Any help on this would be great. I see the car in this post has had the coolant temp sender moved, its usually right behind smog pump next to thermostat housing ....Any Ideas on where he sent this signal on that 81 ?? Any help much appreciated....
Do you still have an 81 parts car you'd sell parts on? I just got a 81 stingray I need a few things for if you're willing to sell a parts car.
The torque convertor wont lock up if the computer is disabled also.
I'm replacing my 81 stock turbo 350 that had chunks of clutch plates at the bottom of the pan. I got a turbo 350 that uses vacuum converter lock up, rebuilt with racing clutch plates(heavy duty), and a 5 prong oiling race, for better oiling. Should work fine, thinking of putting on a shift kit for extra hitting power during shifts.
What vacuum line do you connect to the vacuum advance?
Same problem with my 82 Trans Am.
I'd bet ot has the big silver(metal clipboard )ESCM behind the dash.
They are behind the seat
👍
European car manufacturers offered fuel injection so many years before GM. The Big 3 allows followed the European lead from engine, safety, and lighting. Tesla finally breaking that trend!
You know they had fuel injection in the late fifties right?
Is it really OK to keep these parts cars out in the open?
While this was not one of your trademark "scare the daylights out of us" vlogs, it's still a vlog where one's eyes get wider and wider as you go on. *slaps self* OF COURSE it won't advance. It's all about the universe of information a person has to have in order to think things through. Blame it on the dyslexia.
4 barrel computer controlled also on the 81 turbo TRANS AM .
Still sitting in the closet !
Is the 75 done??
I love your channel, I really love your old caddy!! I just started my channel with episode 1 check it out TheRustyMark