Hey guys! I have been reading alot for the last few weeks on third gen forums etc looking for info but i think i should get a post made to find more anwsers and get ideas.

I want to get a new engine in the next year or so for my 86 z28. The car runs fine right now, has 137k on an original tpi 305 . My uncle was telling me i should just get some bolt ons like he did for his mustang, super charger etc because a 305 with some mods can kick some can.

Im patient how ever, and i want to put all the coin i would **** away on making my 305 better into a new engine.

My dad owns a auto shop here in california, and does all the work himself and knows an amazing amount of stuff... But he doesnt read up on every chevy engine like ls1 ls6 etc and get into performance mods... he can do anything or figure anything out but i want to figure some of this stuff out without bothering him.

First question.

Is tpi really that bad?? Are there just a couple bottlenecks that can be easily taken care of?? - I plan on geting bigger runners and slp air induction and headers on any engine i get that should help alot right?

I know its hard to say because so many factors to consider but on average is the gas mileage on a LS1 or lt1 superior to say a 350TPI or one of those HO 350 330hp crate engines?

The camaro is my only car and only car i want, and im going back to school so it will be geting some miles on it so if scraping together the chunk of change for a ls1 pays off later im down for that..

Im not looking to make my engine extreme, 450+ hp just a solid well breathing 330-375 hp range is my target. If i can get close or surpase turning 12's i will be happy!

So for engines im taking suggestions, on what would be a good upgrade for around 3-4 grand for the engine. I know that bascially says cya ls6. THe extra parts like water pump etc i can get really cheap, my dad gets the business discount thing from his parts distributer.. today i got a new waterpump for 30 bucks and installed... so the labor will be free coming from my dad walking me through and helping me with this project so all the coin will go directly to parts. He is a bad *** at building up engines and enjoys doing it and has done some nice jobs for other people but for me he said it will be alot more time consuming and cost more so i should just get a crate engine...He can get 350's for about 2 grand but im not sure of exact specs and if he can get ls1s etc.

Man im typing to much here sorry if anybody is actually going to read this haha and thank you if so!

Im just looking for some ideas guys, you guys live and drive f bodys and thats why i am here... You all have gone before me and layed down the cash and got a whole slew of differant setups so i want to learn from your mistakes or good decisions.

Like i said, i dont know much but i do want to use this project to learn more.. Cars come in and out of my dads shop, hes got 4 bays that stay pretty busy.. so this will be what we do on weekends and if things slow up at the shop... So if a 350tpi setup is alot simpler and straightforward then a lt1 ls1 that probably will be what i would do.... going from this 305 with nothing but exhaust im sure ill be happy with anything and with headers/intake im sure it can get close to my dreams until after college... does that sound accurate? ah also!!! if i get the slp air induction kit now it will only work with other tpi engines right?? It just looks like a simple setup and would be easy to mod to fit other stuff but i duno..

Alot of work has gone into the car already, when i got it a few years ago for 1900 bucks it was in a few fender benders so i got some parts from the pick n pull, a door fender etc and fixed the body and repainted it at my dads auto shop for a few hundread bucks, after the engine im going to get a professional job done on the body and paint, im thinking sunset orange with metalic flake... i want to find me a 4th gen black leatheret seat set and some old school chrome seat belts haha... but thats what dreams are for =) It will all happen one day! GIT R DUN!

heres a few pictures by the way
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...z/DSC00936.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...z/DSC00942.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...z/DSC00938.jpg

Anyways take care guys ill be checking for replys or email me at qs1969@yahoo.com

 

Whoa slow down buddy you are getting way ahead of yourself.

Don't be talking LS1 and other conversions before you can manage what you already have.

450hp is extreme for a 1980s car. Think about what you have to do to that car to get that power then what you have to do to stop it from destroying your car (think twisting body and broken parts).

TPI is not 'that bad' and is as good a place as any to start. There are many examples of cars making good with the TPI almost always because the owner understood the system and new what, where and how to mod the car.

I am not going to get into a list of what to do to your 305 to make it go. Whatever you do to it will be compatible with a 350 upgrade so your learning curve is not lost.

Start doing searches on 305s making 300hp. By the time you figure out how to make a 305 build 1hp per cube you will know what to do to a 350 to get 1hp per cube or maybe even 1.5 per cube.

 

Hell yea thanks bro,

Hehe, i said i wasnt looking to get a 450+hp engine i dont need it.

Yea ive herd 1 hp per inch is the goal to shoot for.

One thing im thinking is, i get a 350 man and later on in a couple years when the bad boys needing a rebuilt the cylanders get bored out and stroke the motor to 383 with a new crank etc and that makes it like a new engine again right?

That sounds good though man a well breathing 350TPi will probably be what ill do... its just some of the ones ive seen to order that say TPI in magazines Chevy HP and stuff are like 290hps..... The 350s that have looked good to me are like 330hps for like 3 grand and that 350 delux 355hp..... My TPI stuff will move right over to those blocks or cant say?

That is a good point though man, if some easy bolt ons go on my 305 now and go on my 350 then i should start doing it.. and enjoying my 305 a little more and ill just have more parts ready for the 350 when the time comes...

Im going to order that SLP cold air induction for sure....

That holly stealth ram looks better but i am not sure if i would need a new hood from the stock one.. Do you guys know?? I wana keep the stock hood for now i worrie about people throwing crap down my ram pipe in the parking lot or something.

 

tpi is good for small engines such as a 305, it makes torque and hurts horsepower. There are alot of TPI 383 engines out there but the injection system itself needs alotta work. The stock tpi on a 350 runs out of steam at 4800rpms. On a 305 5K and change. (depends on your cam). Their are alot of guys here who run the HSR( Holley Stealth Ram), ask around. Pick out a nice cam/heads and ask about it here. You will be helped. For that much power, you are gonna need a new tranny, new suspension, etc. If you want to get into an LS1 with a thirdgen, pm Mr. Dude1. He may or may not give you a hand. Just dont write as much.