IROCtheZ28

http://www.golenengineservice.com/sp...83_460_mr.html



It's a direct fit for TPI equipped vehicles. This caught my eye and affordable for me after reviewing budget. I'm seriously considering tackling this project and all input is welcome. Then I saw the 500HP engine, one cannot stop wishing? Oh well.

I'm considering this engine for the warrior, my '88 IROC Z28. Question is the streetability aspect with the 3000 rpm torque stall requirement vs stock. I figure I will be sucking fuel like no tomorrow.

It also recommends the following quick reference which is a copy & paste below.
Recommended parts for Chevy Fuel Injected Engines
- TPIS Big Mouth lower intake, large tube runners, 58mm throttle body, adjustable fuel regulator and 30lb injectors.

- Stock GM MAF (Do not use aftermarket MAF of any kind)

- Performance cold air intake and filter unit.

- You can use your stock plenum but will need to clean the inside of it up with a Dremel tool.

- Stock GM TPI distributor will work along with a performance MSD coil

- MSD Super Conductor spark plug wires, these work great.

Use only AC Delco O2 sensors if you are going to replace them.

- Custom computer tuning from PCM For Less, tuner Alvin Anderson. You can reach him through his website - http://www.pcmforless.com

- Aftermarket long tube headers, Hooker Super Comp 1 3/4 primary with 3" collector work great for making power.

- Aftermarket exhaust with high flow muffler, Random Tech high flow cats if needed.

- Aftermarket stall converter for auto trans applications, 3000rpm for 450HP, 3000-3500rpm for the 500HP.

- Aftermarket clutch for standard transmission applications.

- Internally balanced flex plate or flywheel to match crank balancing.

- 3.73 rear end gears work best with these engines on the street.

- Autolite AR3924 spark plugs for naturally aspirated engines, Autolite AR3924 for supercharged engines.

- Valvoline VRI racing 20/50 oil for break in (first 3000 miles).

- Wix or AC oil filters (Do not use Fram, they have a collapsing problem).

I'm heading off to work soon and looking forward to your replies this weekend! This site has made my decisions more informed. Talk to you all later.

rik89gta

That motor is expensive! check out the motors at T & L Engine Development. They have all forged 408's that cost almost $2,000 less that are dynoed and backed with a warranty. Their almost done building my motor.

1989TransAm

Maybe. I think the motor would be hard pressed to make that power with the stock Edelbrock intake manifold and the long tube runners. With a worked over intake manifold and shorter runners it would have a much better chance.

Duke

That motor doesn't sound like too sweet of a deal, honestly if you're trying to make power then get rid of the TPI alltogether.

Kevin91Z

TPI can make great power, but its strength is in its low RPM torque, in city driving where you use it the most. Replacing the long tube runners with a pair of short tube runners will get you the horsepower above 4500 rpms that stock TPI engines dont have.

My engine went from 317 RWHP at 4800 rpms to 355 RWHP at 5300 rpms with a set of siamesed SLP runners heavily worked over. But it was still making 350 RWHP at 5800 before it fell off.

IROCtheZ28

Yes I agree it is very expensive and looked around for more options. Cant help the shiny TPI set up atop a 383.

I believe BBK is finalizing their own version with this...
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http://www.bbkperformance.com/produc...-manifold.html Just curious about hood clearance though.

mdacton

just put a carburator on it and blow the TPI out of the water and never look back.....

Thats what I did a long time ago on my tpi...swapped the intake and carb on, went from 15's to hi 12's... never touched anything else

Kevin91Z

I find that hard to believe, considering there isnt a carb'd thirdgen anywhere close to the 12's here in our SoCal club. It's all about the TPI. You must have had something wrong with the TPI, like a bad computer or a bad injector.

mdacton

well back then there wasen't any tuning or anything like there is today.....

onebadponcho

The 460hp engine used a TPIS MiniRam intake (basically an LT1 style manifold).
If you use the TPIS Big Mouth base and large tube runners, you're probably going to be missing AT LEAST 60hp, and camshafts the size of the one that's in this engine don't normally work well with long runner TPI setups.
Sooooo......
If you want the 460hp or close to that, make sure you use the MiniRam manifold, or something similar such as a Holley Stealth Ram.
If you're dead set on using the long runner TPI setup, you'd probably be better off using a milder camshaft, and don't expect anywhere near 460hp out of it.

ws6transam

That's really really close to what I built myself in terms of engine specs, and mine yields ET's of low 12's at 114 MPH. I've got less cam by six degrees, and less volume on the heads. I also get 23 MPG on the highway, with 3.73 gears and a T56 transmission. About 14 - 16 around town.
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Kevin91z is pretty much Mr. TPI though... I haven't seen too many other people wring the kind of power out of a TPI like he has. I'd trust his combo.

onebadponcho

That looks like a SuperRam knockoff with less plenum volume. I wonder how BBK will price that piece.