Okay, I have an 88 Camaro with a 350tbi, but i want more. I want to swap out my motor but im not sure what i will be able to run since I have to worry about emissions. I would love to put down well over 400hp...Im looking to spend around 2k to 3k

What are my options?

 

You're going to need a lot more than $3,000 to put down 400 hp to the wheels. The highest horsepower in this group with a TPI engine is about 390 RWHP.

Unless you use nitrous, and even then you're going to spend more than $3,000 beefing up the bottom end for the nitrous.

 

2-3k is enough to start a life in a free country like the 49 states of america. Or enough to start a pool to counter the sierra club bribing sacramento.

I'm friends with a acting oc police chief, he says the morons they call cops hear are not even smart enough to figure out a decible meter, he said just get a quiet exhaust, track it, and drive calm on the streets. He said the ones that are smart enough to know what you have under the hood are only putting you at risk for getting pulled over for ooo's and ahhh's, just stay away from double sided tape and anything sold at autozone as an accessory...talked to him earlier today about it infact, our resolution was simple, he's helping me with my 496 if ever I can get in gear and get the car here and out of GA. All I have to say is make the right friends, and say F U C K california, this state's greed and stupidity lead the world...straight into ecconomic collapse. I just do the same things they do now because no one here has the sense to say WTF and change the laws, so screw it. I evade them, I lock them out...of my hood with hood pin locks, and I try and make friends in high places..like their bosses. my suggestion to you is get some plasic and a storage crate for everything in and on your motor now, just in case you need to swap for some reason, then...Follow me to pick your parts yards. $400 will get you a complete v8, I preffer BBC, cause if I am gonna go, go all out. 454's are common here in trucks and a lot of them have goodies already, Sunday the willmington yards had a pair of Pass Perf square port heads with stainless valves with a small button attached to the inside that said pioneer performance rebuilt, they even had a little smoothing work done. My sugg, get a 454 block and strip it down bare at PYP they are about $150 tax and all..but that gets even better. Every two months or so they have a half off weekend, the next one's I think from the 28-31 of this month. so for less than $100 you have a 454 block. Speed Warehouse is open to the public now here in anahiem, and they carry a 496 stroker asymbly for less than 1k, and summit sells their BBC Iron heads for right at 1K if I remember right, if you wanted a new set, I personaly would probably start finding out what you can get valvetrain from to get a start like what model BBC heads have the best springs, larger valves ect, then go to the swap meet in pomona and spend $500-$700 and try and find someone's tired aluminum heads, put it all together and have a aluminum headed 496 for about $2200 in major parts you will still need a lot but depending on you skill level and tools most of it could be done for 3k. or a complete 454 for around $300 on a half off day at PYP and a shop to ecco over haul it you would be able to get it driving under your budget. they key here is get the biggest starting point you initial buget will allow, you will never regret that.

 

..... 3,000 will probably buy you a 383 stroker short block... here in Cali.. choices are pretty much limited by emissions... in order to put 400 Hp to the wheels you will need to triple those 3K, maybe even quadruple... you have to buy aftermarket TPI hardware.... then you have to port the hardware, runners, intake manifold... you will need better flowing heads with a heat crossover for the EGR to be functional... you will need bigger injectors.. you may need a better fuel pump.. don't know what TBI come with.. you will need to get a custom cam for your specific setup.. higher flow exhaust.. headers... beef up the tranny and the frame... beef up the rear end... upgrade your brakes... I created a proposed budget for my 383 swap.. and on prep work alone, parts only.. I tallied up approximately 6K ... on the engine alone it will be another 5-7k by the time I'm done...

so with those 3K, you're probably better off perhaps looking for an LS1 setup, getting a couple of your buddies that don't bleed easily and doing the swap yourself... ...

 

are you sure you have a TBI and not a TPI? I thought TBI only came in the 90-92 years and only on the 305s... .. am I wrong?

 

They both came in as a fuel injection option but TPI is much more rare as it is the high performance Tuned Port Injection where as the TBI or Throttle Body Injection is the FI impersonation of a toilet without the performance and efficiancy. I think that they both were options at least as far back as 89 as I have pulled a TPI plennum off a 89 before and it had the factory stickering for that motor.

 

Sorry, I probably should have mentioned that I had a swapped out the original 305 for a 350 a few years back.

 

crazy_hotrodder-
People who don't like living in California should move elsewhere. I'll buy you a road map and a tank of gas, on your way out, of course.

Bill

 

TPI motor's began in '85 thru 92 obviously. TBI began around '87 due to Carb engines being completely phased out all together.

TPI's are not that rare, if not a dime a dozen.. They came in 305 & 350 engines. There were a lot of iroc & z28's, GTA, Trans Am's & Formula's produced during the TPI years. Availability of these items are bit more common.

True there isn't a lot of performance in TBI's, yet their okay for whut ya need. And since I have a quadrajet 305 in my '82 Regal. I would prefer the TBI than the molasses slow rock pusher in the Regal. Yet considering I have a 350 TPI in my bird either option is slow... lol!

With $3k to spend and wanting over 400 ponies, in California? Well..... It all depends on you wanna go down the legal or cough(techinally not legal method) lol! Who you know in the emissions, smog world... And if you want the hassle. You can also go down the LSX path that was stated above.. There is a lot of research on the web to help form a direction of whut your looking for..

Good Luck!

Adrian

 

I preferred the long version.

 

I didn't see the long one but There is more involved than a map when you work union. If you could swich my local I would never come to this stupid state again. For now though I'm stuck here and it doesn't change the fact this state has the largest population of idiots in the country, just drive on the freeway, look for a job, or deal with any form of government here.

 

Find a new job, or is this only thing you know. Either way I hate to see someone who hates CA so much having too be stuck with us idiots. SO BITE THE BULLET AND LEAVE.
Problem solved

 

You come to this forum to disrespect & insult our state, and then make it personal by insulting us as CA residents. You won't make friends here with that attitude, so why post here?
The original poster asked for advice, and what he got from you was an essay sized post with a 4th grade kincaid level, telling him how crappy our state is, and the people in it. There are many people here on the verge of making 400 rear wheel HP, while keeping in accordance with CARB rules.
I know you have the right as an American to say almost whatever you want, but most of your posts contain slams on us & CA. I'm just saying again, you're not making friends, you don't care, so why post?

 

Yeah he gave an opinion that cause some to be touchy since he's talkin about californians... However, by arguing about it and he should head back home. Then you and others have fallen into the trap of posting non-topic info as well. So......

And let's keep the focus on the thread!

Adrian

 

Those damn unions is one of the main reasons this state is as messed up as it is. So if you leave, take em with you.

 

You better stick your foot in your mouth before you talk smack about the unions......

 

if it wasn't for unions, I think there would be even more job losses.... unions help keep businesses in town... at least that's what I think...

 

Listen to this guy, 400rwhp is the norm for mild LS1 builds(exhaust, cold air intake and mild cam).

$6k (parts alone) w/the best heads, porting, custom cam, custom headers and exhaust, etc will not make 400rwhp w/a TPI.

But $3k isn't going to get you far, as stated, supporting mods will quickly eat up your budget and double it.

 

Take the road map and tank of gas, head out of The Golden State, and there will be one less idiot in the population, and the state would be less one person stupid.
If you are forced to suck some union's titty to make a living, you probably have no real marketable skill or knowledge.
Screw the original topic, you just came on here to talk smack, and to let everyone know how sorry you feel for your sorry ***.
Bill

 

If I was going to build an LS1 motor, it would be one that came in an LS1 car, like my '98 TA. Why do you talk about how your ThirdGen is so badass, when it really isn't a ThirdGen at all? Oh, how about bringing that badass LS1 bastardized ThirdGen out to Fontana on May 30? Then you MIGHT have a reason to stick my logic in my ear. 400 RWHP isn't going to make very much of a difference against some of SoCal's REAL ThirdGens.

Bill

 

Yes, that's why GM, Ford, and Dodge have union plants in Canada and Mexico, while Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have non-union plants in the United States.

And on that note, this thread has gone way off topic.