ILMODC 2

A friend of mine wants to buy a 3rd gen, but wants to know which one? Which ones are mod friendly really....

He's looking for a TPI and wants to build up the motor. Which years had the VATS? Which years were MAF?

Any pointers?

DarthIROC

91-92 L98 motors are the fastest, and were speed density. All other TPI cars where MAF.

The MAF system is a litttle more weather friendly though, I think the SD is only faster in perfect conditions. Either way if you get an L98 motor (TPI 350) Avaliable in the 87-92 cars.

Alot of people I think regaurd the 89s to be the best, cause they have most of the upgrades as TPI advanced, the better tranny, and they are the last year that has the stronger rear end.

Zepher

Also, 90 was Speed Density.
89 was first year for VATS as well as elimination of the Cold Start injector.
I would go with an 89+ L98.
If you want T-tops and an L98, it has to be 87-89.
If you want a 5 speed, get a 90-92 TPI 305, they are about as fast as a 350

aklim

Speed Density is not as mod friendly. That said, if you are going to mod it, you might as well get a custom chip and not one of those that are off the shelf. Even if you use MAF, it would be good to mod the chip. As such, it is a dead heat.

82355

'88 or newer. Either 350 TPI auto (no 5 speed 350 cars) or 305 TPI 5 speed big cam, if '90 - '92 make sure they have RPO G92 (performance axle ratio) or they will have the small auto cam.

I prefer the SD engines to the MAF, but either are fine.

Martin

Pro

91 or 92 Z28 (you will still get called an IROC driver though).

If you want the classic-type (IE stock) get the L98 with it's auto and 3.23 rear gears. If you want a 6 speed later on then get a 5 speed Z28 (305 only).

Rare to see a nice 91 and 92 on the road. The RS and IROC are everywhere though.

ILMODC 2

Awesome. You guys are great.

I think he wants TPI and a manual tranny. He knows you have to get a 305 w/ that manual tranny too. He's got a 335 cu in stroker kit in mind (I think).

Anyhow - Thanks for the input gang.

Daniel

doug791

chances are if he tosses a 350 in with the T-5 5 speed hell blow the thing up pretty quickly although there are things that you can do to beef it up....the other option is to go with a t-56 either new or you can get am used out of the lt1 camaros ie 93-97 and its a fairly good bang for your buck and super simple install if you already have the t5 provisions.

DarthIROC

335 probbaly isnt worth the money spent. If hes gonna pull the motor to do work to it anyway, just tell him to buy a cheap 350 block somewhere along the line, and make it into a 383 if he wants. The stroker kit for a 383 will be less anyway. And then you can just do a direct swap rather than being without a car while your building the 305 block after you pull it out.

Also if he gets a T-5 and rags on it, or especially if he puts an even mildly powered motor in front of it, its gonnna come apart. When it does swapping over a T-56 would be the best option

Jim85IROC

88 was the first year for VATS, not 89.

A 335 is a waste of money. For less than that stroker kit costs you can buy a 350 block and a rebuild kit.

T5s don't *always* blow up like people seem to think they do. Mine's doing just fine behind my 350 in my IROC. If you don't do stupid stuff and you forget about speed shifting, a T5 will usually do just fine behind a 350.

If your buddy doesn't mind a roadtrip to Vermont, I've got a real nice 305 5 speed TPI GTA for sale.

DarthIROC

Yea but most people who get thrid gens, are young guys or even kinds under 18. They are not going to be resposible with it. Theres no way they arent gonna do *stupid stuff* with it.

You better off, just buying the stronger tranny, and make it a little more idiot proof

Zepher

Nope, it was 89, unless it was an option in 88, which I doubt.
Also, there is no VATS selection in the 86-88 prom code, which means no VATS.
My 88 Formula doesn't have VATS, niether does a friends 88 Formula. One of my friends 89 Formula parts car had VATS.

ILMODC 2

I mentioned to my pal what the census was on the board.

One thing he brought up was a stroker 335 will revv' up alot faster then a 383 or a 350. It will produce decent power, but rev higher and faster.

Is that true?

I actually have a 1987 305 cu in TPI. I was considering ditching for a Turbo Buick 3.8 V6. But with all the talk on a TPI build up, I dunno.

Any thoughts?

82355

No he is wrong. If you want an engine to rev fast you give it a big bore, a short stroke, a long rod, with a light weight rotating assembly. A 335 is a terrible idea at best, it has a 3.736 bore whereas the 350 and 383 are both going to have a 4.000 bore. They both beat it there. Then the 350 is going to have a shorter stroke (3.48) which is better and the 383 is going to have the same stroke (3.750), but it has a bigger bore and much more CID.

Tell him to toss the idea, the same as he should do with the 305 block if he is planning on an engine rebuild.

Martin

DarthIROC

As already stated he wrong about the 335 revving fsater. Yuo rev faster by giving a short stroke. A 335 would have the same stroke as a 383, just with far less cubes. Piston speed (and thus RPMS) would be the same.


Do you mean you want to drop a Turbo V6 in your car? Ive seen it done, but its not worth the effort in my optinion. The TPI motors offer some good opportunitys even though IMO the TPI base isnt realy that great. But you already have the harness and all in place, for you to drop in a stealth ram and be running pretty hot