Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Hey guys, I'm trying to gather and match parts for my 383 build. What I'm looking to get is a torquey motor that will likely never rev over 5500 RPM. What I have is a 383 short block made from 87-92. The TPI I'm looking to use is an '89.

What I'm looking for is a turn-key weekend warrior on pump gas, this is not a show car. I do not need to worry about emmisions.

I'm having difficulty figuring out heads. My budget stops at a brand new set of edelbrock heads. However for an 87-92 they only have the performer series, which sounds more like an emissions compliant factory replacement head? The performer RPM series sound a little better, but are only for first gen chevy's prior to '87 block, so that means I have the wrong intake. Yeah I could wallow out the holes, but I'm not really into mix matching parts and finding the right gaskets, blah blah.

Is there any other heads I should be looking at? Any good factory vortec style heads, maybe in alumium that pump out good power out there? I doubt I'll buy a used set, just because head work can get up to the price of a new head. These heads would be going on a fresh motor anyways, might as well start over.

Lastly, I'll be looking for a good cam to match the heads and intake. The block is built for a roller cam. Again, I won't need the cam to build power after 5500rpm. But I suppose I need to choose the cam after the heads right?

Since the rpms aren't going to be a screamer, I should be able to run this with a MAF style right?

Thanks a ton,

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

I have Dart200cc heads, they are a little pricy but work great. Another set that seems to be popular on this board are the AFR 195's. Edelbrocks are ok, but there are many better sets out there, that will give you better performance. Yeah the maf will work out.

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

MAY rev to 5500 but no power increase over 4500 with restrictive TPI regardless of heads / cam
Check out what a intake change can do on a 383
http://www.compcams.com/Community/Ar...?ID=1737510521

Note all the TPI long runner setups flat line over 4500 BUT massive bottom end.It takes a SP /MR /HSR to make power up top
$550 a piece for the Edlebrocks gets you superior TFS 195's @ $1100/pr with correct intake pattern.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TF...0005/?rtype=10
Would have to build your new engine around a 56cc head chamber

If you where prepared to slot the intake holes could go cheaper again @ $1050 with more common 62cc chambers
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TFS-30400001/

Everybody does it No biggy
Only requires slotting the 2 center bolt holes ; gaskets and everything the same
Or just buy a early style TPI intake base to use with the more common ( cheaper ) heads

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Thanks for the replies. I'm a newbie to head research, so is it the name or the performance of the trick flow heads that make them better? The TF's have smaller valves, so it must be the larger volume intake and exhaust runners? If it was the combustion cc, you could just run a smaller head gasket on the edelbrocks.

vetteoz, I'm going to have to look up those acronyms. Thanks for the info.

What about any stock heads I could as a reman out there that are a desirable head? I can get reman's cheap. I was actaully told some vortec style heads are a bigger bang for the buck than the edelbrocks. thoughts?

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

The intakes tested in the link
MR ; TPiS Miniram
HSR ;Holley Stealth Ram
SP ;Single plane ( carb style injection intake with 4 bbl throttle body

Vortec's are great bang for $$ head but require a special ($$$ ) intake base to use your TPI intake parts

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

gotcha, I wasn't thinking the true 93+ vortecs. Just the regular 86-92 heads with the centerbolt valve covers. Any good options out there or should I just be looking for aftermarket?

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Interesting article, I plugged in their specs into a desktop dyno and I'm definitely not showing numbers anywhere up there like they did. I'd be more than happy with 500 lb-ft and 400 hp. But I'm 100 points under both, even with a 10.5 CR. Weird...

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Your in Luck! Look above the TPI thread into the 'stickies' area. The thread you want to dig into is the one about TPI air flow. YOU will get the benifit of some of the best TPI minds and the actual dyno runs they did over a two year period. It will clearly explain what $$ to invest into the cylinder heads; edelbrock is near the bottom of the list.

Give yourself an hour and take notes. It'll be some, if not the best research you'll make on the engine design. Nitro-Nicky

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

I spent a couple days looking over the quest for the better flowing TPI thread. Ending up reading the spin-off threads and such too. They seem to have a slightly different view than my goal, but it was helpful.

I called Edelbrock, they suggested the E-Tec 170's. It will provide stronger power under the 3500rpm range, which is where I want to be. Unfortunately, the E-Tecs are the vortec style, which from my understanding I can't run with an '89 lower stock tpi intake manifold. I guess it's more invloved than hogging out the center intake manifold holes?? They didn't get me a solid answer there, just tried to sell me their vortec base which I am not going to consider. It's outside my budget for this build.

I'm seriously considering buying an '86 lower manifold and just buying some '86 and prior aluminum heads (way more choices) and just keep an eye on the compression ratio to stay on high test gas. Like the Edlebrock Preformer RPM 60999. Run stock plenum, runners, and lower intake, and then just figure out the tuning.

Are AFRs drilled to accept both 86 and 87-95 style intakes? They have no years listed for their cylinder heads in the summit catalog.

I gather that I'm going to need an aftermarket throttle body, probably 52mm.

I'm also curious if I can run an aftermarket MAF sensor or if I need to be buying parts for speed density? I'm in a good spot because I am not heavily invested into either setup, just have the harness and ecm for an '89 maf. I don't even have the sensor. Either way I know I need a custom tune, unfortunately I think I'll be giving someone all the specs and having them burn me a chip because there isn't anyone near me that specialize in anything but carb'd, or LS series and up chevy dyno tuning.

Then I still need to pick out a cam...

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

The vortec port is taller and won't seal to a stock intake regardless of the bolt pattern

Heads are either one style or other.
You can't have a threaded bolt hole with two different angles
However many aftermarket intakes are slotted to suit either head

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Thanks for the insight on vortec heads. I'll steer clear of them then. I could have sworn a read a cylinder head that could be used for multiple style, but your right, it wouldn't make any sense. Maybe I gathered that from some aftermarket intake manifolds.

Whats the chances I could run 86 and prior heads but use an '89 serpentine setup?

Anyone have some insights if I'm wasting my time trying to run a MAF under 5000rpm with my setup? Is there any other forums I could research for this build? Sounds like alot of people aren't doing 383's around here or something... Thanks for any insight.

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Everybody is building 383's because the only cost difference if doing a fully rebuild on a 350 is the cost of the stroker crank

All you need is heads with the bolts holes at front which most late heads have.
Wouldn't waste your $$ getting another intake ; just slot the two center holes in your '89 intake like everyone else does if you do happen get pre '86 heads.

What makes that any different from stock setup?
All you have changed is engine size

Re: Help me build my 383 TPI
 

Thanks, looks like I'm ordering up a set of '86 and prior 64cc, 170cc intake runner edelbrock heads and be done with it. Fine tune the compression ratio with an appropriate head gasket thickness to keep me at or slightly below 11:1. I do have 18cc dished pistons.

Well that does make me feel a little bit better running MAF. Looking through the archived threads almost everyone was running Speed Density. I was just thinking the 383 will pull in more volume (hence more mass) of air per stroke, then with the addition of better flowing heads and a healthy, but low RPM based, cam. I've read in some archived posts that the stock MAF dies after 350 - 400hp... I'm pretty confident my build will be in what sounds like the grey area. Maybe I'd feel more confident running an aftermarket one that reads over 5volts? I appreciate the input.