I've done my listening and my reasearch on heads. I know that intake runners have to be a certain size for the power you wish to create or the velocity is gonna be completely wrong and yiou'll loose power. Same goes for Valve Size. "heads are the bottleneck of the engine" well i belive this and i simply need one question answered.

I have been looking into buying a remanufactured L98 block. A company i've read great reviews about quoted me $1465 for a long block, and then i asked if they could install L31 heads instead and they said the same price, $1465. This is including the core charge. Yeah yeah, i knowwhat your gonan say, i dont care, i've read great reviews with very minor bad ones.

Anyways back to the point, i used to be a fan of doing the LT1 conversion, but i soon relized its just not worth it, the engine bay for most never loks the same, i mean like everything routed like stock, and the torque number are weird. I love the tpi manifold. I'd like to be able to use my TPI, and creat 325/350 RWHP outta a 350. I am wondering what kinds heads and other supplies i will need. I know some porting to the manifold will need to be done, thats a given. But the heads will need to be good ones. I am looking at Dart Iron Eagle Heads w/ a 64cc chamber, either 180cc or 200cc. I'd liek to keep velocity at a max for the maximum HP.

Please help me out, i'm just thinking at the moment as my job just started and "the list" will be done eventually. I am just thinking about this. I dont even know if the TPI is able to support a streetable 325RWHP, is it?



Shane

 

Exhibit A: http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=1577&pid=9009

357 GFWHP. Note for that price it doesn't include the runners, 52mm TB, or 1-3/4" primary headers.

Your stated goal would require another 15% above that. So, how would you go about that?

Well, they don't port those heads, so you may get some there. And, they claim it was a stock PROM, so you might be able to make some ground there. After that, you're going to have to get more radical with the cam.

Here's the point: They had to go with the LT4 Hot Cam with 1.6 rockers, with extensive head mods to handle the extra lift, along with all those TPI mods, to get as much power as their standard 350 HO makes with a carb and much milder cam.

That's what you're up against when going with TPI.

I'm not saying "Forget it." Others might. It would be easier with LT1 or Miniram, more cubes, etc.

Plain truth is the easiest way to get to your HP goals with TPI is to spray it. Thinking you can do it with a parts store grade rebuilt long block is boardering on funny farm.

 

not rebuilt, remanufactured. Theres a huge difference.


And yeha, i know there is something crazy in the idea io'm thinking but.... the tpi just looks soo damn cool. If i cant use it i might just get me the ram jet manifold.

 

From what I've seen, the biggest difference is one has twice as many letters as the other.*

I think TPI is one of the coolest looking inductions ever made. By anyone. That doesn't make it a hot performer. I just sold off a partial system, couldn't justify the cost of completing it vs. what I got for getting the boxes out of my garage attic. Maybe someday, though. And, that SDPC engine is one I'm considering for it (even though I'd have to add almost a complete TPI to do it).

(*Look, the terms aren't defined by convention, let alone law. Don't hang your hat on what some outfit is saying about how they're using them. What they put in their product is directly reflected in what they charge for it. You can certainly pay too much for what you get, but more often you'll get hurt by paying too little.)

 

well, i know there are major problems in the TPI's design, but in cetain things its all out performance. I'd like an LT1 style intake, maybe miniram, but they look too plain. I love the Ram Jet manfold for the 350, its awesome, i havn't seen any dyno graphs on it but it looks awesome.

I know that many things are bad becuase they are cheap. I knwo this. But these people that make these engines warentee them for 3 years/ unlimited mile. By then, i'll have gotton tired of this motor and of built a new one myself.

I'm hoping to find a good manifold but it seems to be leaning towards the LT1/Miniram becuase you get muhc increased fuel economy by switching to it. LT1 with no other mods. But the lt1 will eventually pay for itself.

I just wish i knew if i switched to an LT1 from a 350, would i get the same power numbers outta it as a real LT1.

I'm prolly just gonna keep it cheap, and keep TPI at first, then later if i want something todo try out an LT1. But i've decided, i'm gonna give the vortec TPI a try. But if i get that remanu. motor, the price for the total will be cheaper. it'll a tiny bit cheaper, ya know only about a thousand dollars. **sarcasm**








Shane

 

heres what they say the diffewrence between rebuilt and remanufactured is,

I can goto them or goto precision performance which is an awesome company. Offering perfororamnce engines for cheaper prices.

http://www.precisionperformanceengines.com/


check them out, very nice company.

 

Try getting an LT1, and then attach a non functional TPI over the top of it, if you like the way they look so much. You'll have a sleeper intake system that way, a wolf in sheeps clothing...
Prolly win some bets too, til the word gets out.

 

I could make a case for defining those two words in exactly the opposite way.

Anyway, looked at their website. Noticed their BBC selection includes a 396 with cast crank. I find that very interesting since all factory 396's had steel cranks.

Their $1499.95 SBC has 76cc heads - wonderful, but not too surprising.

And, I'm sure they'd be happy to honor their warranty after you change the cam or heads, or when the engine pukes a rod at the 1/8 mile mark.

They're probably a fine company. But, If they're offering to put Vortec (which they spelled "Vortech") heads on a rebuilt - sorry, "remanufactured" - engine for the same price as have-to-pay-to-have-them-hauled-away smogger heads, they're cutting corners somewhere.