TPI Views.............?

[kidclassic]

I was wondering what you know about TPI.
I've Heard that its great for brake stands( ),
but I've also heard that they have no power over
3500 RPM.

I have a 305 that i'm gonna put in my Malibu
wagon. It came from an '86 Iroc w/ TPI.

I am going to put it on my motor so that i can
see for myself. but i would like to know more about
the system

Thank you

 

[madmaxx57]

i just posted my .02 somewhere else on tpi's... they make good torque..but if your looking for a hot street car..i dont think you'll be happy..i have 2 tpi cars...they just need air about 4-4500 rpm's...but if your looking for a nice dependable smooth cruiser..then the tpi's are good!...plus you have to have them tuned (ecm's) if you modify them..the mass air is more forgiving than speed density on mod's but in the end they will need tuning to get them to run the best...my 72 chevelle wagon with a 355 tpi smokes the 50's chirps 2nd nice and hard..but then its over..lol but it will sit in traffic all day, start and run like a dream..smooth as silk..but for performance they only go so far..unless you improve the tb, runners and manifold...those cost some coin..but hey what doesnt ..put it in and run it..or slide a 350 under the tpi for more grunt...hope that helps...i love the look of the tpi's

 

[TURNA]

I had 350 with a TPI setup in my Malibu about 18 years ago and it was great.

Fast as heck and tons of power reguardless of rpm.

Best mod I ever had on a car to this day.

Keep in mind I had all the upgrades, larger throtle body, runners, ford injectors tons of head work and port work, custom cam and chip.

I had a 700r4 behind it, and on the street it was just about untouchable.

It was pretty good at the track as well.

I ran speed density setup, at the time mass air flow was to restrictive.

Madmaxx57 would know more about whats out there now since I haven't touched one in a while.

Like I said I loved it. And would love to do it again,.......... if I could find one that fit a big block! :mrgreen:

 

[madmaxx57]

yes, Turna.. thats where i am now with the modified system..at a point where the dollars spent to add all those things you have listed..imho just not worth the money...if you have this system already..i would run it, see if you want to invest more in it?..i have had the modified system on for about 15 yrs..it does run good just not at its potential..it needs all those upgrades (altho i do have bigger injectors and all is ported)..imho i think carb/intake/cam technology has advanced so much that i think you can get where you want to go (performance-wise) cheaper?..i love the look of the tpi..looks very kool!..the wild card here is finding someone swapping from their modified setup that already has all the upgrades...if your on a budget just run what you got and see how far you can go until you need the hard part upgrades..if you dont have an efi tank you can run the inline pump made for this swap..its about 90-100..i might even have a spare..lol..i hope this helps you some

 

[JP86SS]

I liked mine allot before I started replacing the TB, intake, etc and went a bit more radical.
Ran a stock setup with 30# injectors and immediatly passed smog test with EGR and Canister removed!
If your going to do one though you should really buy some tuning equipment and do it yourself.
Nobody can mail order tune your car correctly. You'll always have complaints about the "little things".
Each car has fuel and timing quirks that can be optimized to your driving style for much better overall driving.
Getting the WOT stuff you NEED a wide Band o2. No ifs, ands, or buts. Otherwise your guessing and wasting allot of fuel
Also the cost is cheap compared to the LS stuff.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Like I said I loved it. And would love to do it again,.......... if I could find one that fit a big block! :mrgreen:

GM Makes it:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/NAL-12499249/


Or better yet, AZ Speed has a kit with the ECU & everything else needed:

http://www.azspeed-marine.com/45autpisywgm.html

Tommy

 

[TURNA]

Yea I seen those and there close, but i would love it if it had the look of the TPI with the curved runners.

 

[Doober]

I plan on TPI one day, soon as the wallet allows it. TPI/Vortec base: $400+, larger runners, $$$, injectors, $$$, EBL modified for port injection, $$$, etc. etc. etc.

Read an article (OMG not another publication :shock where they tested 4 EFI intakes with a mild cam, GM TPI, GM Ram Jet, Holley Stealth Ram, and a single plane Holley intake running port injection. The TPI was 460 or 480+ lb.ft./400hp and the others were about 450tq/450hp... the TPI was making this torque by 2600rpm where he others didn't hit their marks until 3500 or later. Of course that TPI setup had the Vortec base (basically stock Vortecs) and Accel runners. The engine was an 11:1 6" rod 355, cam was something like 212/220 or something like that.

*edit*
Ok, the cam is 210/220, .495/.513, 114ºlsa, installed at 108º (6º advanced). The heads got a competition valve job (278/210cfm), but far as I could tell they're stock GM castings. Power was 486tq/417hp with TPI. There is anoher cam they tested (226/234), but they didn't test the TPI with it. Power was farther up in the rpm band of course. After seeing this I definitely want TPI on the 383... the cam is close to what they tested, with a tighter LSA.

 

[art]

If you haveeverything for the swap , go for it. As has been stated, the look is awesome, the driveabilty is unequalled for cruising. I'm in the middle of the same swap after doing much research. I chose a 350 with mass air. Plus for the cost of the donor vehicle I got : a full serpentine accessory drive setup, A 26-1/2 wide radiator with dual electric fans, and the complete wiring harness. Plus some stuff I can sell, further off setting the cost.

 

[Davejs]

I Have a 383 with a Holley Stealth Ram A cam close to what was listed above with Dart Pro1 heads. It idled at 750 on the Dyno and came off with 450HP 465TQ and was done at 5800 with that small cam. The TQ #s on the graph show a solid pull of no less the 350 at 3000 peaking at 465 hitting in the 5000 range with slow fall off.
My With has a 92 Camaro with a 305 TBI that will get changed over to TPI from a unit I pulled off a C4. The Tpi units were designed for a 305 that was why they got stuck with a small runner. If all you did was drop a TPI on vortec headed SBC with the vortec manifold it would make power for you. Third Gen.ORG guys have all the info you need to help you get this done.