Cascade Crew

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:04 pm Post subject: Lets build a badass TPI

Here is the deal, I'm working with a good friend of mine, Dan, here in texas with a 1990 Iroc Vert.

Awesome car but it needs a new motor, BAD. He needs to hang with me in the LT1 and our other good friend with a foxbody cobra. Basically he needs to be into the high 13's

He has a 1999 Tahoe that just blew the motor and after looking into the rebuild costs wants to build it for the IROC instead. We are thinking of using the block and heads from the Vortec and slapping the TPI intake on it but are open to a few suggestions. I have another friend here who has with good success modded the TPI base/vortec heads to match on multiple occasions so that isn't as much an issue. I know there is also an issue with the Timing cover on the vortec blocks but a swap timing cover is an easy fix.

Here are the stipulations,
1) it needs to stay TPI. He has a love afair with the look of the intake and will not compromise on it. Don't ask Rolling Eyes

2) and our budget is $1000

3) he wants a decent roller cam with a lopey idle

Let me know your thoughts

~JAKE

DBL_TKE · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:53 pm Post subject:

Drag radials and a 2500 RPM stall will most likely touch the 13's. Assuming it doesn't have 2.73's

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 2:06 pm Post subject:

Forgot to mention its a 5 speed. The goal is to do it without swapping tires, keeping it for stoplight grudge matches.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

This is in Texas right? Have him buy a gun.

Leejo2005 · Member Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 466 Location: Kennewick

Does he already have anything done to his car? I've read that a good exhaust on a thirdgen can knock quite a bit off the 0-60 of a stock one.

fiveoformula · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 2:59 pm Post subject:

If you guys end up using Vortec heads with any more than .450" lift on the cam, you'll need to get the valve guides cut down, and have them drilled for screw-in rocker studs. All this machine work will take a few hundred out of the budget.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject:

Don't forget the cost of tuning supplies.

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject:

All very good points guys. Thanks for the heads up D, that's the problem you had with your vortec's right?

Exhaust is all done. Headers, y pipe, 3 in exhaust, flowmaster.

Tuning is a snap. We have all the tools and prom's needed.

Will he need bigger injectors, he has 19# now?

-jake

Ps, this is texas, of course he has a gun. They practically give you one when you cross the state line! Lol

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:51 pm Post subject:

Just tell him to save a few more dollars, and get a procharger.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject:

19lbers? oH GOD. We're trying to make a 305 hit high 13s? And keep up with a LT1 and MOdded Foxbody?!?!

Going to atleast need an adjustable fuel pressure regulator to bump the pressure up.

I'm with Dewey. Rather than all the extra BS, get one part and be done with it.

91RSVert · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:02 pm Post subject:

The vortec to TPI base is expensive. If I remember the figures right, he will spend half of that just on the base intake.

Next is runners. The stock suck(or lack sucking?). Need to get some aftermarket ones AND match the base to them. There is another 300 or so there.

Equipment to tune that 7731?? Ecm is another few hundred if he doesnt already have that stuff.

We havent gotten to the block machine work, cam, gaskets, rockers, new injectors..........

1000 bux wont get you FAR at all.

I have a 350 TPI
LT1 cam
obd2 pcm system with custom tune
large cast runners
vette heads with alot of valve work
headers
3.00 exhaust
underdrive pullys

I dont know HP for sure, but computer simulation its barely knocking on the 300hp range

83Z28BlackBetty · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject:

Lol I don't think that I made myself clear at first.

We are building a 350 vortec motor with a tpi intake. Like I said, we've got the base mating the heads under control.

The goals for this motor are not very lofty. We are shooting for high 13's in street trim. Again he already has exhaust done, all tuning equipment is already owned, and its a 5 speed. I've also been informed he already has an adjustable fpr and msd ignition. So all that's left is to get heads done, and pick a cam, pistons/compression ratio, and get the heads worked.

My biggest need for advice is a good aggressive cam that will work well with tpi. I know lots of guys use the zz4 or an lt1 cam, but we are looking for a little more lope at idle.
-jake

QwkTrip · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:35 pm Post subject:

Is it still the case that TPI Specialties makes good cams for TPI cars? Or am I 15 years behind the times now?

They used to have tried and true combos to put a TPI car in the 12's.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:52 pm Post subject:

Roller motor? Screw the lope. The lope comes from overlap that is useful with high revs. High revs and lope don't match TPI and the 4k wall. Save the tuning headache from a lipstick idle, Pick the best cam for the setup, not for lope or there will be unhappy everywhere.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:53 pm Post subject:

And if its a 350, you want at min the stock 22# injectors but is go for 30s# Ford svos. Good for over 330wheel horse.

91RSVert · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:18 am Post subject:

I only read your first post last night.

He still needs different runners. The stock are horrible.

The 4k wall which I have finally noticed. Can be moved up to 4500 with some runners and porting working.

Still need to change injectors. I think the LT1's are 24's which could be found for decent price used.

I'm kinda in the same boat as he is. I wanted a TPI SOOOOOOOOOO bad. After working on it for 3-4 years now, I'm seeing its limitations and kinda wish I would have kept the cash and found an LSx. But I also had a 2 year old block that has plenty of life left.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:15 am Post subject:

Stealth Ram is the way to go.

Any cam with a lope, is going to want 5000+RPM Or you'll just be wasting power potential and gas money.

You could buy one of the Comp Thumpr cams, but I have no experience with them, but they seem kinda dumb. Useful in a Rat Rod maybe.

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:17 am Post subject:

I say you don't do a damn thing to the engine or the intake. Just slap it together cheap, get some LT1 injectors (which are a good upgrade to the stock TPI crap) and run it.

After a few months he'll get tired of having less horsepower than a stock V6 Mustang and he'll have to build something better.

91RSVert · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:20 am Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:20 am Post subject:

Oh. And one of our old members built a 400SBC with the big base, Arizona Speed and Marine Runners, ported plenum, big TB and still only saw a peak of about 4800rpm with a solid roller cam. He was hoping for a higher RPM and he is an engineer.

That's it. Trust us. Once you have a motor built for 400+ horse and 7000rpm, there is nothing like getting that last 70HP going from 4800-6200.

Just saying.

Yeah you wont have the torque at 2000k, but the HSR will put down 330 tq pretty easy and sucks you back in your seat.