wsteiger85

Good afternoon everyone. I'm new to this site just got my third gen last July it is 91 z28 with 5.7 tpi. I want to do some motor work to it while its hibernating in the garage over winter. I would like to spend around 2500 to 2000 dollars on the mods. Nothing is wrong with the engine now just want more power. Already figured that I would take the tpi off and carb it. What are some ideas that people can give me. I have never done thus I am new my buddy is helping me with motor work just want to know some opinions from other third gen guys who already own this car. You guys know what works because you all done it lol. I just want to have fun with the z. Less money the better since I will have to upgrade tires and some suspension. Please help if can thanks.

midias

Are you already sold on going carb?

You could modify the TPI intake with a performance version add some new heads and a cam and then tune it from there.

I am just asking nothing wrong with carb I run one and like it but I want to make sure you have all the information you can get first.

wsteiger85

Thanks for the response. Isn't it expensive to tune the tpi or no. My buddy said it would be cheaper with carb to mod then tpi.

midias

No not bad just get a couple of wide band O2 sensors and do it your self. There are a lot of people that can help you here.

If you want carb no problem but if I had EFI I would probably keep it.

wsteiger85

So how much you thinking hp wise if i did would you suggest. So the parts i would get is heads and a cam. and what about the tpi

wsteiger85

Im sorry for the dumb questions im just not that good with the motors yet.

Nicelysedated

TPI performance parts are expensive. The swap to Carb is gonna you the price of an intake, distributor, Carb and fuel pressure regulator. Dollar for dollar a Carb makes more power. That fact can't be argued. Fuel economy is gonna suffer, but hey, its a sports car, its not made for economy.

wsteiger85

Thats what i thought about tpi parts. So whats the cheaper way to go for power

midias

If it is all about price and inspection is not an issue get some vortec heads a mild cam and an edelbrock manifold with a carb of your choice and be done with it.

Nicelysedated

2500$ to spend I would get some vortec heads cut to 2.02 and have nice springs put on them with some roller rockers. Get an edelbrock vortec intake and find a nice Carb. Call lunati and find a nice cam that works for your setup. Spend the rest on upgrading the exhaust.

wsteiger85

Yea inspection is not an issue im in michigan. Thanks for the help guys yea im just trying to make some fun out of this car. 2500 is a about what i want to spend. My buddy said vortec heads are not good what do you guys think of that

midias

I would say he is wrong

Look at a nice set of RHS 2.02 vortecs. I also like my patriot vortecs.

Stock vortecs can support 400 hp. What heads did he reccomend?

patricklav

iTrader: (7)

Check out some other builds on this site. I got my 3rd gen about the same time as you and have learned alot from reading threads from other members on this site. Never have gotten a smarta** comment over a dumb question. Without it i would be busted and would probably be way over budget.


try reading this series of 8 articles from Chevy High Performance magazine. A few other TGO members have highly recommended this type of build as well. They put together 400+ hp with mostly bolt on parts and would fit under your budget seeing how you already have the 350.

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...ild/index.html

patricklav

iTrader: (7)

Is he a "Ford" guy? Very rarely do i see anything negative about Vortec heads.

1986Z28OWNER

iTrader: (1)

What gears? what kind of tranny? auto or manual? Best bang for the buck will obviously be a carb, TPI is a bottle neck although alot of people will argue you can make it work, which you can but that costs alot of money. Id look at a cam, vortec heads, edelbrock Performer RPM and a carb in the 650-700cfm range.

wsteiger85

He never really suggested which heads he just said the vortec heads were not much better then stock. My car is auto im pretty sure 3.73 gears the trans is the one with overdrive i think the 700r4 i think

Nicelysedated

I would stop listening to your friend. Vortec heads are proven power makers. No one will argue they are leaps and bounds over almost every other stock chevy head.

I doubt you have 3.73's. Put your car in the air and rotate the drive tire and count your driveshaft rotations.

And yes 700R4 unless someone swapped in something else.

wsteiger85

maybe its a 3.23 im pretty sure its all stock. so vortecs are a good head how much hp you think i should make with them intake and carb.

Nicelysedated

350hp with a decent cam is fairly easy depending on the rest of the set up. 400 is doable for a little more money.

Ronnie Brennan

what your friend is probably thinking is that the vortec heads are cast Iron heads much like the stock ones and are on a lot of stock vehicles. They are however an upgrade over the heads you have. They are just as good as a lot of after market aluminum heads.. and in some cases are better because they'll handle the heat better. But to each his own and you can only go by what you hear and what you trust from people. Your TPI is a great engine and you could get a LOT out of it with a refreshing. Strip it down and build the same motor with some performance parts. I'd even throw a turbo on that and you're rockin! I know my 305 TPI I had on my last car was an extremely good working car.. so good it was twisting the body and ended up having to strip it down for parts as the roof and some body panels were starting to crack and split.

b1k1w1

What they said only do subframe connectors first.

wsteiger85

Isnt going tpi and upgrading everything going to cost more than carb. Oh yeah i figured subframe connectors already

wsteiger85

how much would of turbo be for my 350 tpi ronnie

b1k1w1

it depends carbs cost money to. Best to build both on paper and go with budget but you can sell tpi stuff to make up money. Plus you need some one to tune a carb its getting harder to find someone who can do it right. If its used it will need rebuild new will cost more. I like tpi that why I'm converting to it plus blow throw carbs expensive. Best to listen and read about some builds price it on paper then decide what's best for you. If I were to build vortec tpi etc.....

b1k1w1

o good luck

wsteiger85

I look at jegs and try to figure out what i need if i went tpi i could do heads and exhaust what else do i need to make it fun my budget is like 2000 maybe 2500. likei said i just want this car to be fun like between 300 to 400 hp my fiance will still drive this and she ha a heavy foot i dont want her to kill herself. Anybody have a good setup they can show me parts and all.

b1k1w1

I read those l98 heads work good with some work and they should be what's on the car. Talk to machine shop and get prices to have heads and intake ( upper and lower) ported. May come out a lot cheaper. Then cam, throttle body, exhaust and tune. If you go that ways ask shop about what cam works good with his porting.

Ronnie Brennan

well the great thing for you is that there are a LOT of people here on thirdgen.org that have stuff... if you decide on a method or 2 even, you can post a looking for ad and see what you can get from people here. You will most likely get what you are looking for for much less $$$$ than from a dealer. That could always sway your mind to a certain build.

Ronnie Brennan

as far as turbo's I am not sure the cost as I've never bought one but I cant see them being more expensive than tearing your engine down and building a carb'd version. There are lots of people on here who run turbo's that could answer your questions... could always start another topic and ask about them. You could even have to rebuild your current engine to be able to use one... personally I dont know so I cant and wont try to answer that question for you.

wsteiger85

thanks guy you helping alot anymore ideas would be greatly appreciated