Hi everyone, I am new here and I have to tell the truth, I own a 88 Monte SS but I am going to be adding a 88 TPI from a Trans Am (man them things look sweet,lol). I hope I don't get blacklisted for revealing this,lol. Anyway,Here is what I have so far:
1974 350 truck engine with the 010 020 behind the timing cover, casting #V1030TMX
Crank: cast...medium journal...3.48" stroke #3932442
tune port heads 87-95...305 #14101081
Zollner piston #Z8222A plain flat top with 4 valve reliefs 1.544 compression
TRANS AM TPI SETUP 1988
How bad will the heads affect the perfomance of the motor. I was trying to find the 14101083's but I would like to use the heads I have if it doesn't do much to motor performance or take the cr to high for effective TPI performance. Anyone know of a good cam to use with this set up? Still have to build the top of the motor, Thanks.

 

They won't be the limiting factor.Your "limit" will be the "rebuilder" pistons.

TPI works fine with high compression; the only thing is, it places specific constraints on cam design. Meaning, just taking some arbitrary cam, even one KNOWN to work well in other induction systems, can actually produce NEGATIVE results with TPI. For best results, use a cam that is SPECIFICALLY designed, intended, and tested to work well under TPI; Comp has a few, as does Crane, and the Lingenfelter ones are popular too.

However, the 081 heads will help DRAMATICALLY at keeping the pistons from hurting you too much.

They are pretty much the same as far as the ports go, as the 083s; in fact, they port up almost identically. They merely have smaller valves in them from the factory.

Put 1.94" intake valves in them, and port them accordingly; i.e., open up the throat behind the valve to about 85% of that, or about 1.65". I use a junk 1.6" exhaust valve as a go/no-go gauge for that: I port until it just drops through.

You'll need to lay the chamber back around the intake valve, otherwise it will be SO shrouded by the vertical "wall", with the edge of the valve so obstructed by the casting, that they can actually flow LESS with the larger valves than with smaller ones. The chambers will come out closer to 61-62cc after doing this.



All of that stamping code business is pretty much irrelevant any more. You won't be using the pistons, heads, cam, intake, exhaust, or carb, that the stamping code specifies; so at this point, it's just a block, like any other block.

If you intend to use a 12.8" flex plate (153 tooth), BE SURE you drill the hole that's not in your block, unless someone has already drilled it before. The factory certainly didn't.

 

Drill WHAT hole? I'm just curious since I'm not a super chevy guy...

 

To mount the starter. Older blocks only have 2, and the one needed for 3rd gen style starter isn't there.

 

Are you gonna get the block zero decked? IF not those pistons will be in the hole roughly .041 inches. combine that with the thinnest shim gasket of .015, your getting a large quench hieght of .056. alittle on the high side of things, you generally want .035-.045, especially with higher compression

compression may be around 10.3 to 1 given those specs, depending on piston valve relief size. thats on the higher side with iron heads and pump gas i guess but can work with a good tune and right cam.

you'll have to run a cam with abit more overlap to bleed off some of that compression, basically lowering your dynamic compression ratio to somewhere in the 7.5-8.5 range, preferably staying close to 8. I dont know what will work off the top of my head, but it is possible some of the known TPI cams will still work. TPI will choke the motor alittle with a bigger cam but still can make decent power and work. A small cam and that higher compression with TPI will be an absolute torque monster down low. It will need a safe tune to keep detonation down and some good gas...premium atleast i'd say.

it will be an interesting combo.

 

Well, I have owned this monte since 1990 and it has been a very good car with very little to do to it. It had the motor replaced at 43000 (on warranty)and it is on 95000 so far and I don't think I have replaced anything but the alternator and starter. I just love the look of the TPI set ups and don't have enough faith in the 305 motors for it to last, so I want to go to a 350 and set the 305 to the side in case I want to restore it to original. I got my TPI today and here are the numbers:
Upper intake #'s 14081006
Lower intake #'s 10086016
Rails #2517
tps switch look broken #69537
I hope this may help with the build and thanks a lot for all the help, you guys have been great!!

 

sounds good man, i dont think the specific numbers will mean anything for TPi setups as they are all generally the same i think... unless you get a speed density plenum setup or the cold start injector from 85-88.

What system you plan on using again? Mass air or speed density? i see you say 88 GTA TPI system so thats a mass air setup. i think for mild mods and no tuning the MAF system will work the best...and one from 89 i feel has the best features. Speed density will be more finicky with mild mods. 85-88 have the extra cold start injector that i dont really think is necessary and use the 32 or 32B mask proms which are decent but alot of ppl like to use the 6E mask that the 89 uses. I guess its more personally preference if anything, but the 89 MAF is a good ecm to use.

 

I am going with the MAF system and block off the 9th injector. I still have to get the wiring harness and ecm. I am reading on programming chips to see how intimidating it is. I still have a long way to go and decisions on the motor build so it is no hurry. I may try a different piston and keep my heads or go with vortecs and a diferent manifold. I would like to keep the heads but still looking at what will be cheapest. I got the motor for $450 and all I have listed, was in the motor and I wanted to see if the set up was ok for a TPI but sounds like I need to change something. It was bored 30 over also.

 

Can I use a 1987 Corvette Wire Wiring Harness with TPI for this? Also a ECM #1227727 not from a corvette but I think the number is the same that is needed with this set up

 

87 vette harness could work but i believe the location for some sensors like the alternator and fan relay stuff may be located differently than on Fbodys so it may not fit perfect and you have to relocated some things.

I also think the cooling fans are wired differently, so with a fbody ecm, the vette wired fans will be on all the time.

 

well I am still deciding what to do or how to go with this motor,lol. What recomendations would everyone go with: change pistons or go with better heads? If so what pistons or heads would be the best? I am not much on figuring out the numbers as far as the intake valves and what not. If I use thicker head gaskets will it help? I hope to put the motor in by summer so I have time as to which would be the best way to go as far as performance and using pump gas. Thanks for all the help.

 

305 heads arent bad, mildly ported will help alot, but get a piston with a 1.56 compression height and a mild dish to keep compression in the 9.x to 1 range. Keep it under 10 to 1 with iron heads. There are alot of good pistons for this.

If its a true 1.56 compression height, then the piston will be only .025 in the hole. Then use a shim gasket like felpro 1094 i think it is, rubber coated .015" thick gasket to bring your quench height to .040, which is perfect.

i'd prefer you stick to 083 heads with 1.94 valves or get those 081's setup with 1.94 intake valves and 1.5-1.6 exhaust valves. That will help feed that 350.

 

I have searched for the 083 heads but they seem to be hard to find. I have been thinking about the 3973493 heads but they have a hole for the 400 set up. Will I have to do anything about this or will the be ok on a 350 block? I think I can get a set of these for a pretty good price. How will they work with everything?

 

where u located, i have a set of 083 heads. could use new valves but will definately need springs. need them to match your cam anyway. I have locks/retainers for 1.25 inch single springs, depends on what cam you get they could work

 

I am located in Roanoke Va. I was going to call comp cams and set up a good cam set with everything and I think most come with springs and everything anyway. How much for the 083's? I have been seaching ebay for a few weeks and could not find any.