Well I'm considering to do some mods to my 89' 350tpi. My question would be here, what mods are senseful, are really enhancing the performance of the car? Only little things I intend to do, like air filter and such stuff... Any suggestions?

 

Welcome new member

What mods??? Hmmm, your going to need a lot to get that thing as fast as i would like. But to start. Get some k&n air filters, then take the screens off your maf (sensor between your airfilters and Throttle bodie) Get some good headers (Slp's, or hookers) do not get edelbrocks, ive had them before and they suck. Do you want to stay smog legal? Get some aftermarket runners, port the plenum, an air foil would be good. But on the TPI system the heads and the base of the intake is very restrictive. Go to www.TPIS.com for some good parts or arizona speed and marine is another good TPI mod company. Let us know what exactly you want to know.

Bobby

 

If you are into acceleration, I would look into some STICKY tires. We all know these TPI engines make nice torque right off idle and it's not hard to spin any street tire. I love my Nitto Drag Radials and if I was still running a 16X8" IROC-Z rim, I would buy the 245/50/16 sized Nitto Drag...If you ONLY drive the car on nice days and at the track, then I would get a set of 26" tall, 11.5" wide Mickey Thompson Et Streets made for your 16" diameter rim...They fit nice and wow are they sticky! A hell of a lot stickier than the Nitto Drag tires...

Then I would have a shift kit installed by a good transmission shop. I always hear good stuff about the TRANS-GO shift kits and never had a problem with mine.

If the transmission is in good working order, I would then have an aftermarket torque converter installed in place of the stock piece. If you find a company called Precision Industries, they can custom make you an extremely tough torque conerter that will get your engine into the powerband much quicker than normal...Resulting in much quicker times and since you would already have ET Streets(tires) on the car, traction will not be a problem. If the transmission doesn't shift nicely, I would have it rebuilt ONLY by a company like Pro-Built or Rosseler...

Then I would install a set of Hooker Long tube headers and a custom Y-Pipe...into whatever 3 or 4" exhaust of your choice to make it all sound good.

Along the way, I would do the cheap stuff too like removing the Mass Air sensor screen closest to the engine(The rear screen only), I would remove the intake plenum and smooth out the openings behind the throttle body(There are 2 small "walls" that need to be removed with a die grinder and a carbide bit). Install a set of K&N Air filters and remove/cut out the plastic area UNDER the air filters so that they are exposed to cold air.Possibly fabricate a cold air system so the engine can breathe the coldest air possible!..Then I would get a set of SLP Intake runners and port match them to the plenum..then install an adjustable fuel pressure regulator so you can "tune" the car slightly to see if it runs better with more or less fuel pressure(Don't forget to buy a fuel pressure guage too...)..Goodluck!

 

I like AutoRoc's suggestions.

 

Skip whatever i said and do what AutoRoc said, hes got much better advise. With those mods your looking at a great street car.

BTW: i run regular 245/50/zr16 BRG comp T/A's on both my cars, they are great tires (not made any more though) but i have an extra set of rear iroc rims with the 26/11.5 mt slicks. They are nice and are really sticky. Great Track tire.

 

Since nobody has asked the all important question, I'll ask it:

How much money do you want to spend?

 

Aklim,
Money is no object! haha jk

Anoher suggestion that a lot of people hate as much as the "Swap in a 350" idea...I would change the entire intake manifold to something..better. I'm sure Aklim would suggest doing the LT1 intake conversion. As far as aftermarket intakes go with their pretty hefty pricetags, an LT1 swap is the only worthwhile thing out there for the normal car guy that doesn't want to spend loads of cash.

Once that's on their with some sweet heads and a killer camshaft, your torque converter will get sent back to Precision Industries for a rebuild to match the new powerband!

cough3.73s!cough

 

Im a big fan of the TPIS mini ram and LT-1 intake, i dont know why ?? The lt1 intake is pritty cheap but i think the mini ram would be a better way to go. If money isnt a problem then do the Mini Ram. I personally have had the accell super ram on my car too. It made good power but was a PITA to install. I dont want to ever do it again. But yeah, i wouldnt stay with the long runners anymore. Get a new intake and your for sure to drop half a second in the 1/4.

 

I can R&R the intake in 4.5 hrs. You need to know a couple of tricks.

1. Slot the bolts at the end. That way, you could use your fingers to position the bolt and turn with a small driver and get it till it is snug. Use a 1/4 in 12 pt wrench and tighten.

2. Drill out the threads on the flat surface where the runner meets with the box plenum. Helicore the hles. Screw the bolts in and tighten. YOU MUST USE LOCKTITE ON THE BOLTS

 

Actually I was thinking of the lightened wheel and the 8 gerbil option instead of the standard 6.

I don't think you get it, Autoroc, if money was no object, I would have him spend money on getting me a Vortec supercharger.

 

If only I was the smart one...Grrrrr

 

i'm sorry that it took me so long to get back to the board, but 'surfing' the web with a 33k modem is a really kind of slowness.

the suggestions ofrom autoroc are some kind of confusing, since its a looong list of special phrases, some of which i cant translate
i dont want to spend all my money on the car i have first ordered new air filters now.
has anyone experiences with a power chip, like those from hypertech?
i only want to do some small mods, nothing world moving.

when changing air filters, whats to be specially note? any common problems? i dont screw around with cars that often.

thanks all!

 

Just remember to remove the old ones. And be sure to close the hood all the way. Ya can never be TOO careful

Sorry if my explanation of modifications was not helpful. I'll try again.

Get STICKY tires and a good(aftermarket) Torque Converter installed in place of the stock one. Possibly one from Precision Industries or Yank

Goodluck!

 

god it WAS helpful! i just need some time to translate it
and for the tips with the air filter, i always thought with the hood open the engine gets more air and better cooling???
luckily we have an US car service near if it won't work

thanks again