1988iroc350tpi

So my 350(L98) has got a rod knock, i found a replacement L98 that im picking up this week. I dont have any huge plans for it other than headers, cam, and maybe springs and rockers. Now my question is which cam would work for my basically stock setup? It is a daily driver and all i have done is a gutted air box and a flowmaster exhaust. Looking for a cam with a decent lope to it and a nice power gain but still on stock L98 heads. Also will a tune be necessary? I've been looking at the LT4 hot cam, zz4, zz3, or zz9 cam. What do you guys think? Im mostly leaning toward the LT4 hot cam with 1.5rr and new springs. Any input would be appreciate

dereklicon

I wouldn't spend any money on a L98. If you want useable power and a fast car then get a carb or switch to a holley stealth ram. You have to tune it no matter what and that is a headache in its own regard. I am telling you even if you go with top tier tpi stuff youll spend retarded amounts of money and make less HP. If you switch to a vortec, carb setup you can use your LT4 hotcam and take it all the way up to its 6500 rpm range like its designed to do.

Lt4 hotcam would be a great choice but you will be leaving alot of power on the table staying with the TPI. TPI is a huge bottleneck and is designed for 305 cylinder head flow characteristics, in stock trim even on a 350 it makes peak power at 4500 rpm.

I just did a tpi to vortec carb swap and the car was finished in one month and he couldn't be happier. The car flies now and that is with the stock vortec L31 cam, we didn't even change the cam or take the heads off. Gas mileage isnt terrible either, and total spent was around 1500$ including the used vortec. Not bad for a 300 HP-ish setup. The vortec heads have a BROAD horsepower and torque curve that is actually useable all the way up to 5500 in stock trim.

If you're set on TPI then I suggest still using vortec heads and scrapping the L98 heads. For the money you will make much more power. You should also get a vortec tpi intake and the better flowing runners, as well as headers to utilize the flow of the heads and the lt4 cam you want. *but be forwarned, tpi stuff is NOT CHEAP. Ive been down this road before. Plan on spending some serious cash. I always say if youre gonna do it do it right. But, some people champion the tpi stuff so who am I to talk smack right?