Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
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Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
I am wanting to put a set of vortec heads on my TA, but from what I understand they will not bolt up to the stock intake. I have heard that an intake from an 85 or 86 TPI will bolt up with the heads, but I'm not sure if it will bolt up with the rest of my injection system. I have a 1988 355 TPI Trans Am. Has anyone done this before with success, or know of any good tricks? Thanks. Jimmy.
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Car: '88 G T/A
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
Thats true but if you would have just bought $1000 aftermarket standard heads you'd be choked up by your intake, so this way you kill two birds with one stone.
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Car: 1991 Z-28
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
pace performance has vortec heads drilled and tapped for 86' and below intake patterns; however, the vortec intake ports are taller than a stock TPI intake ports.
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
Your best bet is to just get the scoggin-dickey manifold. It is a nice peice (should be, for the price). This will have the right port to correctly match to the vortecs, as well as the right mounting bolt pattern. Everything else will just bolt on like stock. I touched up the injector bosses with a die grinder, becuase I didn't like how far they protruded into the port, but that was me being picky.
One other thing that came to mind, that someone had a problem with recently, the vortecs don't have the 'extra' bolt hole for the wider exhaust manifold footprint(rear, passenger side), so plan on doing something else other than the factory exhaust manifolds.(headers)
One other thing that came to mind, that someone had a problem with recently, the vortecs don't have the 'extra' bolt hole for the wider exhaust manifold footprint(rear, passenger side), so plan on doing something else other than the factory exhaust manifolds.(headers)
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Car: 1988 IROC
Engine: 5.7 TPI
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
JWSCAB, Would the Hooker headers (2055) bolt up to the vortec heads without the bolt hole issue?
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Car: 1988 IROC
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
Well I could have a set of vortec heads given to me but they are off of a 2000 truck or Tahoe. Will I be able to use these on a 88 l98 Iroc build, or do I need to go another route? Thanks.
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
You need to have access to milling machine or really good drill press.
On one engine, I got a buddy to weld up about 1/4" on top of TPI intake and then ported inside back out to Felpro 1205 or 1255 gasket, I forget which. On another, that's in my 58 Vette, I am using a TPIS mini-ram III intake and the same gasket. The guys at TPIS told me that intake would work if I drilled old style intake pattern, and it did.
Keep in mind that a stock intake is not high enough. I bolted the TPI stock intake on and about 3/16" of the intake port shined above the intake. That's why I got a buddy to build up the top section of intake.
Also, it's a lot of work, and you need a couple friends to help, but it's FREE!
I can post pics of heads and TPI intake if anyone wants to look at them.
Ron
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Car: 91`camaro RS
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
I`d just get the manifold and call it miller time! I`m all ways for the inexpensive way, but somtimes it`s just easier to do the extra work at your job! It`ll be less hedaches!
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Car: 87 IROC-Z28
Engine: 305 TPI-New 355 on the engine stand
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Re: Vortec Heads on 1988 355 TPI
I'm doing the same thing, 305 to 355. I've already picked up my vortec TPI base manifold,and ran across a 350 4 bolt main roller cam short block. Now looking (and saving) for heads.
While I was researching the vortec/TPI swap I ran across this pic. Don't remember where I found it so not sure who to give credit to for it, but it clearly shows the port mismatch when using a standard maniold on vortec style heads.
While I was researching the vortec/TPI swap I ran across this pic. Don't remember where I found it so not sure who to give credit to for it, but it clearly shows the port mismatch when using a standard maniold on vortec style heads.
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