ok, next summer I will be putting on a RamJet and Vortec Heads, but for the mean time I want around LT-1 power from an L98 cheap, what will all the free mods give me and what is a cheap or a series of cheap mods I can do to get there?

 

Exhaust - heads to rear bumper; AFPR; port plenum. Cam if you're still short. All synthetic lubes.

------------------
82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/'87 LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, World 305 heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat & 3" cat-back).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, 9.7 CR forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlock header mufflers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, LT MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1/95.5 @ 5800' Bandimere.

 

6spd,

Not to rain on your parade, but if you want "around LT-1 power from an L98 cheap" you'd better find a "cheap" mini-ram intake or a really poorly running LT1 to compare with. The TPI system is designed for a totally different type of power and at a different RPM range. Even the cast iron LT1 heads are far superior to L98 heads (but then, a LOT of Chevy heads are superior to the L98 heads - Vortecs NOT included).

If you want cheap power, the TPI is not the way to go. Not to say that you can't make a TPI run well, but you're not likely to see a factory-type TPI on a 7-second car any time soon. 285HP is very attainable with the TPI, however, if that's all you want for now.

57 has a veyr good recommendation to start - the factory cam is the real weak link, and the heads that are matched to the cam are next in line. Niether of those are "cheap", however, considering that a cam change needs to include springs (which generally requires head machining), spring retainers, and push rods. By the time you've acquired the new timing set and necessary gaskets, the "cheap" range would have long since been exceeded. And these changes might not transfer well to a different engine design. Do some thorough homework before you start writing checks.

Before you do any parts-swapping, you probably should read the Tech Articles for free and cheap mods for the TPI system. First on my list would be the plenum porting and related port matching. That alone should give you a few more free HP. What have you done for mods to this point, if any?

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Let the bodies hit the floor!"
Adobe Acrobat Reader

 

Horsepower costs money. How fast can you afford?

------------------
1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-