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LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Hello 3rd Geners! As a new member of the board..and as I'm beginning my research, I thought I'd start my community conversation with this question. I plan on buying a 1987 IROC-Z (my HS Grad Present) to relive my youth! :) In my search for the right vehicle and in my planning stages, I've been reading about people who have built 383 Strokers and are using the TPI system for air/fuel delivery to maintain OEM look. Would love to hear your thoughts from experience on why or why not over the LS swap. My goal is a daily driver with track ability...so YES..Independent Rear, Frame Kits and brakes are coming too!! |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap It might help us if you told us what your budget is because the rear IRS kit from Heidts is over $5K. If it's a daily driver an LS transplant would allow you to keep up with the newer cars while still allowing for good enough manners to daily drive. But again, that depends on your budget and abilities. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Valid points, but my modification and fabrication skills are pretty extensive, so the rear end and/or bolt in kits aren't my fear. Its really more about the engine question I'm most interested in hearing about. Chevy sells a 383 Stroker for about $6K and generates about 450 HP with a carb...so my thought is adding a reprogrammed TPI setup to serve as air/fuel mgmt system may likely produce even more. I'm a big fan of stroker motors because of their low end power and fast reving top end HP. Plus if i'm right, the TPI setup and stroker should bolt right in including harnesses. Hopefully, someone else has thought about this and either tried or been witness to an attempt. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap TPI intake will strangle a 383. You can get good results if you are willing to use a carb style intake. If you really want a longitudinal intake then use something other than TPI. A basic LS3 with a cam is hard to beat for balance of drivability and power. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap In your experience the TPI system will choke to 383 even if I use oversize runners and port the Plenum or am I just hanging onto a dream of having a stock looking L98 for no reason?!? |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap I see you're in CA too, so good luck with a smog-legal LS1 swap, if you're worried about that. Yes any sort of long-runner TPI will choke off a stroker engine. If you're keeping TPI you need shorter runners. My site at www.facebook.com/socaltpi/ will show you pics of what I've done with a set of SLP runners to go from 319 RWHP at 4800 RPMs and 418 RWTQ, to 377 RWHP at 5800 RPMs and 390 RWTQ. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap That's right in the neighborhood of this magazine article. http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...tpi-induction/ It's defintely going to be fun and plenty quick on the street where traction and speed is limited. But at the track it's going to fall behind at the top of 2nd gear when it runs out of breath compared to other engines. It doesn't have to be that way. It just is because it's got a TPI intake. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Yeah that smog state thing....severely limits possibility a stroker sbc will likely cost more than finding a low mileage ls1/2/3 maybe. But theres alot of swap stuff to do with ls that adds up. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap It would still help to know your budget. If you are in California and have deeper pockets the GM Erod crate engine is labeled as a 50 state emissions legal LS crate engine. Easily enough power for the street with that engine. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap
Originally Posted by Patzfan4eva
(Post 6332584)
Hello 3rd Geners! As a new member of the board..and as I'm beginning my research, I thought I'd start my community conversation with this question. I plan on buying a 1987 IROC-Z (my HS Grad Present) to relive my youth! :) In my search for the right vehicle and in my planning stages, I've been reading about people who have built 383 Strokers and are using the TPI system for air/fuel delivery to maintain OEM look. Would love to hear your thoughts from experience on why or why not over the LS swap. My goal is a daily driver with track ability...so YES..Independent Rear, Frame Kits and brakes are coming too!! If, OTOH, you want plenty of power for not a huge amount of $$$, go the LS route, either a crate engine or one from the junkyard with a cam swap. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Are these numbers typical build numbers? I'd like to keep the engine bay looking original but not have a dog! |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Well...in my infinite wisdom...I thought by changing the block and programming I can at the very least keep it looking stock with 425-450 HP under the hood. The LS swap is intriguing, but I fear I'll be unhappy with the look! My goal is as close to original looking as possible with a fun trackable and daily driver ability. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
(Post 6332660)
That's right in the neighborhood of this magazine article. http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...tpi-induction/ It's defintely going to be fun and plenty quick on the street where traction and speed is limited. But at the track it's going to fall behind at the top of 2nd gear when it runs out of breath compared to other engines. It doesn't have to be that way. It just is because it's got a TPI intake. If you must keep the stock-look runners then TPIS is the only way to go as far as I know. This a great stock look setup: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/engi...th-intake.html But again, reach out Dyno Don 714 630-1502, he knows high flow TPI like noone else I've met. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap
Originally Posted by Patzfan4eva
(Post 6332701)
Well...in my infinite wisdom...I thought by changing the block and programming I can at the very least keep it looking stock with 425-450 HP under the hood. The LS swap is intriguing, but I fear I'll be unhappy with the look! My goal is as close to original looking as possible with a fun trackable and daily driver ability. If you're planning major mods to the rear end (IRS) as well as big brakes (and the necessity of replacing the stock wheels with larger-diameter pieces) anyway, why not just go the full route and drop in a modern engine and trans as well? JMO, but if the car you obtain is original and in good shape, I suggest you keep it that way. If you want to build a track car, or a street machine, maybe find a beater or a roller and modify it to your liking? Whatever route you decide to take, good luck. |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Just use an aftermarket TPI port it or use a superram those are legal So its not a high rpm monster so what. Cam it for torque it will still haul azz and be traffic friendly. No need to bother with an LS1 swap for this |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap
Originally Posted by Patzfan4eva
(Post 6332699)
Are these numbers typical build numbers? |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Stop using logic on me...I'm building a 3rd Gen! :) But really....Good advice and will have to decide on budget and ultimate project demands first. The words here all make sense and being out of the engine for sometime I've let the tech pass me by... The IRS is for increased handling after lowered and the wow factor as well. I definitely want the car to look stock but surprise a few on the road. When I said track, I merely meant a vehicle that wasn't the slouch it was in the 80's... |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap What the california guys have done with tpi is special. Follow 1989GTAtransam’s long tube runner intake builds. Also kevin91z above. You can have tpi look and rpm power but its not cheap not easy and all custom work. Welded bases, custom large tube runners. It certainly would be noticeable difference over stock tpi stuff the FIRST tpi stuff is what i would consider if you want tpi. It will support more power and slightly more rpm than typical big tube aftermarket stuff you see |
Re: LS versus TPI Stroker Swap Too bad that FIRST doesnt have an EO#. Have done some superram projects that made impressive #s and passed smog out here no problem. They were with C4s same thing really. If hes not worried what a dyno says he can do a TPi build that will sit in traffic all day and make tire smoke when he wants. Still looks stock too. Guess the upside is he can use a cast crank and not worry about it spinning fast enough to hurt itself lol. Friend got some Dougs LT1 shorties (EO#) and they got past the smog guy as his was an 89. Key thing was no bling under the hood. He had a bit of a rumpity cam 230/236 and it baaarely passed. He switched to a Crower 221/230 and was a lot happier with it. edit..forgot about the erod, those are nice and legal but youre gonna spend some coin on it! |
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