I need some direction/recommendations from you guys on any shops you had a positive experience with doing modifications on 3rd gen. TPI's here in Houston,TX. I live in West Houston. I am in need of some general engine work and want to do some modifications in the next month or so. I really do not want to just take my IROC to any ole shop as I am rather fond / protective of it.

Thanks for your help in advance.
Jimmy

 

The problem is that most of the BIG hot-rod shops around town will not touch anything but an LS1. By the time you spend the money to build a NICE TPI motor with mega-power you have spent more than the car is worth.

If you just want a mild build up, those shops would not make enough money to make it worth while.

I think that you will be hard pressed to find a shop with people who know nearly as much about your car as the people on this forum.

What kind of engine work do you need?
What kind of mods do you have in mind?
Can you do any of the work yourself?

 

There in lies the Rub.... you stated what I 've been thinking which is why I was wanting to ask the board for some help and direction. It would not take long on some of the Mod's you start thinking I could just buy a different car for that price, such as an 02 SS Z-28. But I do like owning an IROC Z

What kind of engine work do you need?
I need an injector service, Fuel Tank drained & possiobly a fuel pump (Been Garaged) Ac compressor started smoking last time I drove it.

What kind of mods do you have in mind?
Anything from a complete rebuild and bore of current engine to a supercharger

Can you do any of the work yourself? Not exactly ( makes me a good sucker )

 

Thanks for your reply and I know I can get some of this done anywhere they work on cars, but if there were one or two places that does a lot of third gen TPI engines or cars they could do it all for me. that would be great.

 

If you needed a chip tuned for your engine mods, I can help you..

 

There is one board member, Denn_shah, who I believe is a professional mechanic, some place over near the ship channel. He knows a lot about TPIs. He put one in his Mote Carlo. But he doesn't seem to be on the board very often lately. You might try sending him a PM.

I agree that any competent shop could do the repairs you need.

Back to the mods...
How much performance do you want?

How would you measure that performance? HP,1/4 mile, beating your buddies car?

How much money do you want to spend?

With those pieces of information I think you could get a lot of good advice here.

One more thing, you mentioned rebuilding the engine, doesn it NEED a rebuild or would that be for performance only?

 

Not tring to steal your post Jimmy, but i'll be needing a tune here shortly, i saw Ibad 91 said he can help, do you tune, if so send me a PM

 

Go to this link. www.texascardoctor.com Skeeter Lothringer has his own shop here in Houston. He is on the radio on the weekends on station 700 ksev (www.ksevradio.com) and he seems very knowledgable. On his radio program, he recommends shops in your area that can work on your car. His website above has preferred service centers that will help you out.

Dave

 

Jimmy - A.R.D. (Advanced Racing Dynamics) could handle your mechanical upgrades. Ask for Jay or Owen.


BadAz-Iroc - I replied to your PM.

 

The "problem" with places like "Skeeters" and those he recommends is that they are repair shops, not mod shops. So if you all you want is repairs, they are fine. If you want to modify your car, they will be of very little use.

 

How much performance do you want? 300 HP

How would you measure that performance? HP,1/4 mile, beating your buddies car?

How much money do you want to spend? the real question of How Fast You wanna go ? another rub back to value of car etc.

One more thing, you mentioned rebuilding the engine, doesn it NEED a rebuild or would that be for performance only? Performance Only car runs great Usaully / besides the general engine tune up work

BadAZ Iroc No problem you are not stealing my post

The Board I really appreciate the all responses they are very helpful ! Thanks again

 

Just go talk to your performance shop and tell them what you got and show them the money and I bet they will be more then happy to help you out. We have kids come into the shop and ask us how to make there cars faster and the only thing we can really tell them is a rough estimate on what we think. And most your small repair shops do performance.

 

300 HP from a TPI 305 can be easy....or it can be hard.
The basic problem with TPI motors is that the intake is a BIG restriction.
With a little N2O you can easily get the horse power you want for under $600.00

If you want a Naturally Aspirated (N/A) TPI 305 motor to make 300 HP you will need, new intake, new exhaust, cam, injectors, throttle body and programming. Probably new heads as well.

If you EVER pull the motor out, I would not put a 305 back in. For about $200.00 more (core) you could build a 350 and get a lot more power. Next to N2O it is probably the most cost effective way to make more power.

 

Hey Jimmy

We have more experience with third gens than any other shop here in Houston. We have done carb set ups, mini ram, super ram, LS1, LS2, stroker motors, th400, th350, back half kits, cages, etc. We have had and owned more than 8 third gens ourselves. We can deffently help you out, for a mild cam, to a full race car we know the third gen in and out.

Thanks
Owen

ARD
owen or Jay
832-593-9140

 

I am glad to see some one like ARD finally step up to the plate and take on the third gen like its their business. Houston once had a huge flock that is now being scraped rapidly for the lack of willing and capable shops to keep them on the road and out of the junk yards.

 

cool!