Hey peeps, I have a '87 IROC Z. It is a TPI. The engine it has is a 350 that is not stock. I don't know much about it except it has a performance chip.

I want to put in a ZZ 383 with a BBK 58mm throttle body, edelbrock hi-flo manifold base and runners.

I was just wondering if this is possible and how big a pain it is gonna be. Will my current computer and the intake work with this engine? THX for your input!

 

You're going to need a custom tune. I would ditch the 58mm TB and spend your money on something else. The stock TB flows plenty for what you're doing. I'm not a big fan of crate motors, if you can afford it, get a local shop to build you one.

 

Well as you can probably guess, I don't know much about engines so I wouldn't know where to start in ordering parts. That is why I want to go with a crate motor, easier that way. =] Besides I think the 425hp would be plenty for me, really the only reason I want to change the motors is because my current engine is making noise. What do you have against crate motors anyho?

Is that custom tune thing a big deal? could a local shop in a BFE town do it?

 

Crate motors are mass produced. They're just slammed together and there is nearly no attention to detail. If you have a local shop build you one they'll build it for YOUR car and they'll take care of ordering all the parts. Crate motors aren't blueprinted and typically aren't internally balanced either. A motor built by a reputable shop that knows what they're doing will make more power, run stronger and longer.

 

Oh, well every stock motor in every car is mass produced. I'm sure it couldn't be as bad as you make it out to be. I can see if you know a lot about engines and knew someone who could build it how it might be kewl to build your own, but in my case, I think I would rather have GM build one than some local dude I don't know.

Jegs.com says the engine can be retrofitted for L98/ LB9 TPI systems. What's L98 and LB9? It also says do to the fly wheel, it is to be used with a manual transmission. Does that mean it will not work with a 700R4?

 

I'm not making them out to be bad, it's just that they don't make as much power. If you're building a high performance engine, trust me, you want the attention to detail. If you're happy with a 350hp stroker motor, then a Crate deal is for you.

L98 is a TPI 350, LB9 is a TPI 305. The deal with the flywheel probably has to do with how it's balanced. Find out if the rotating assembly is internally or externally balanced and buy the right flywheel.

 

K, thx for the info, it is kinda making sense now

GM says the ZZ383 puts out 425hp with a carb intake. That is more than I would ever want. I am more of a show car guy. It won't ever be on the track, but maybe a few street races, which I only lost one street race with what it has in it now and that was with a mustang with slicks. He beat me pretty bad tho Around here most people have imports and V6's.

I have been doing some research and I am thinking of going with the Holley Stealth Ram instead of the edelbrock intake. It cost more but I wouldn't have to get it chromed later on.

 

Get a mini-ram. The Edelbrock base sucks.

 

I kinda like the looks of the stealth ram better. The performance is good too.