New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo Hello all, I am new to the TPI world. I have owned 4 3rd gen trans am's and i am now on my first TPI. I have a 92 T/A convertible with the 305 TPI. I am looking into doing a heads, cam, and intake swap on it along with full exhaust. I have been reading many threads and trying to research things on my own and I am just getting confused and frustrated. This car is not going to be a race car, I am wanting something I can go cruise around town with all my buddies. I am wanting it to sound well and have a somewhat lopey idle but not sacrifice drive ability (I.E large stall). I have been leaning towards the trick flow super 23 heads but I'm not sure that will work with the Chevrolet ram jet intake i am looking at as well. I also have no clue what cam specs to go with either. I would love to get some input on what H/C/I combinations everyone else is running or for someone to point me in the right direction. I am a LS guy and have thought about swapping it but there is just something pulling me away from doing that. Thank you for the help in advance. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...f2e4c9dd40.jpg 1992 Trans Am WS6. 305 TPI Convertible |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo I'm not sure I'd ditch the TPI on a 305. probably will make it a lot more sluggish on the street unless you plan to run upwards of a 3.73 axle ratio. it doesn't have the cubes or the long stroke of the 350, so short runners may be a detriment if you're mainly building an around-town street driver. |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo It's hard to really say where a cruiser stops and a race car starts. One mans race car is another man's cruiser. But that being said, you can do a LOT for your driving experience with a rear gear and proper stall converter. -all without going "big", and staying WELL within reason for a cruiser. Exhaust is a given, but after that I believe I'd look at stall and rear gear. ....or why not just go with a manual for fun factor? |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo I don't understand why you are being pulled away from an LS Swap. Once you do a H/C/I swap you will lose the look of the TPI, probably have as much coin into it as a used LS, and potentially still make less power. Especially if you throw a cam in the LS1 to get the sound you want, the LS is going to make more power. |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo The only reason I am hesitant on a LS or LT swap is that there is something in the back of my head that tells me to keep it a 305 TPI car. If i was going to swap it i plan on a L86 with the 10 speed.I will have someone do the LS swap since I do not have the tools or the time. I have had several quotes ranging from 10k to 14k. But I am thinking i am more along the lines of a set of the Trick Flow Super 23 175cc heads with the 56cc combustion chamber to raise the compression. Now the cam i am not too sure about. Do yall think the compcams 280h is a little bit too much for this motor? Also it is a Hydraulic Flat Tappet cam, should I find something more along the Hydraulic Roller line? I am looking for a decent cam with around a 110-112 lobe separation. Also I will keep my TPI and just do the port matching and see if I can get my hand on some SLP runners. I will be adding a small stall and I will definitely beef up the rear end. Do yall think the stock Auto will be okay with these mods? |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo If you want a 305 then the tfs 175 small bore heads are about all you can get for small bore sbc’s stay hydraulic roller. Cheap would be find a used lt4 hotcam. It works ok, still driveable or try an equivalent comp xtreme energy grind 218/224 or 224/230 as max imo find slp runners and match the base to runner and head. Or get lucky and find a aftermarket base and get it. Will need computer tuning so look into getting the hardware for that |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo
Originally Posted by Brandonjsims
(Post 6256238)
The only reason I am hesitant on a LS or LT swap is that there is something in the back of my head that tells me to keep it a 305 TPI car. If i was going to swap it i plan on a L86 with the 10 speed.I will have someone do the LS swap since I do not have the tools or the time. I have had several quotes ranging from 10k to 14k. But I am thinking i am more along the lines of a set of the Trick Flow Super 23 175cc heads with the 56cc combustion chamber to raise the compression. Now the cam i am not too sure about. Do yall think the compcams 280h is a little bit too much for this motor? Also it is a Hydraulic Flat Tappet cam, should I find something more along the Hydraulic Roller line? I am looking for a decent cam with around a 110-112 lobe separation. Also I will keep my TPI and just do the port matching and see if I can get my hand on some SLP runners. I will be adding a small stall and I will definitely beef up the rear end. Do yall think the stock Auto will be okay with these mods? More specifically to your question about the cam, I too like the LT4 Cam, but you will need to change the runners for it to work well. My brother had this in his built TBI car with a manifold swap and pulled really strong to north of 5800RPMs and caused no vacuum or idle issues. It will not work efficiently with a stock TPI Base/Runner. |
Re: New to TPI.. Need help with H/C/I combo Here is a good ARTICLE on a 305 build. This is with a Carb and they mention in here that the TPI's would start to be a restriction. A lot of their gain came in upper RPM's and by allowing the engine to breathe at the upper RPMs. The power output they achieved is roughly a mild LS territory. Which is very good. So, if you want to put the money into a 305 and stay naturally aspirated, this is about the best you will do. A TPI will require a new intake system to get to these RPM levels. Also, I think you will find you will need to step up injector size and will certainly need a custom tune to run it. |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:54 AM. |
© 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands