as the TPI has trouble pumping enough air to spin a 350 much higher than 5000 RPM, when does the TPI become the weakest link? stock plenum/runners/manifold, ported as much as they allow. Thanks.

Ryan

 

I'm kinda confused on what you're asking. Like you said the TPI has trouble breathing very high and flowing enough air to make really serious power. When it comes to forced induction applications you're just stuffing the air in there, so it will breath past the power levels it usually dies at. Hell, the heads on TR's only flow like 160cfm and guys can run 10's with em so I'm sure you could go pretty fast with an intake setup that flows better than that.

 

I haven't really heard of many extreme performance engines using TPI, they go for the Accel direct fuel injection or whatever it's called. I'm wondering what's the point where I'd need to switch. 500 hp, 600, 700? just looking for opinions. Thanks.

Ryan

 

Well, you're kinda confused here. Accel DFI is only a computer. The physical components (runners, plenum, manifold, etc) can still be used, so you in essence still have TPI - Accel DFI is just controlling it, giving you more control.
A little example - I can build a twin turbo 350, with a TPI setup - the base, runners, plenum, etc. So, it looks exactly like TPI. However, I would have DFI controlling it, allowing me to tune it how i need to, to produce the power i would want. That make any sense?

 

thanks True Power, that's something I didn't know.

 

As long as you can do the tuning/find the engine management to deal with progressively higher levels of boost, you can keep making power with the TPI intake... for example, with the right heads and a good cam selection, the stock TPI should be sufficient to feed 640hp with 10psi boost...

I'd likely get rid of it before then but it won't be due to a lack of flow, hell, it's low end torque bias would be bennificial on an engine running more boost since it would improve driveability down low, but because it's a pain in the *** to mess with stuff on it (changing injectors takes a couple of hours, minimum, where you could do it in 15 min with something like a miniram, LT1 or probably a stealth ram intake)

 

Or you could just try and go carbed. Im looking at building a twin turbo, carbed 427 small block and putting it into a mid 80's monte carlo (like the one in Training Day). Should be fun, ill plan now and start building in about 3-4 years when i have the money.