I have a 305 4bbrl(144,000miles) and I am thinking about changing engines to a 327sbc or 400sbc. I hear i will get better performance out of TPI,if so will it be adjustible for either engine or should i stick with a carb. (Street/Strip racing)

 

Carb is simpler. TPI is more complicated, but can get better mileage and perform better. Both have pros and cons, pick which is best for you.

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."

 

Ward was it hard installing the 400,and what problems did you run into? Also can you use the factory carb and ignition system

 

I did not install the 400, it was i ntha car when i bought it. You can use the factory intake, ignition, carb, almost everything. I think the manifolds are different, and the y-pipe has been 'custom' made which means several y pipe peices welded together. Take my word, though it limits the engine badly. An LG4 intake on a 400 sucks. My engine barely pulls past 3500 rpm. Now off the line its a torque monster, but high end is non-existent. Im thinking about swapping to a 327 or 350.

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."

 

Thanks for the help.

 

Ummm, is this topic a joke? Is the fact that you are running a 400sbc with a stock LG4 exhaust a joke too? I seriously hope they both are... I would have (and did) taken the stock exhaust out LONG before I replaced the engine!

Carb is way cheaper and functions just as well as an EFI if tuned right.

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1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

It was not my choice to have the stock LG4 garbage on the motor. The retard previous owner did this. It was mostly put together so it wa cheaper for me to just get it running the way it was. i dont want to keep it this way, but im only 18 and I can only afford to do so much at a time. I was 16 when I got the car, so I was even more broke then. Try fixing up a car workign at McDonalds... Anyways, I just got a much better job and I can just now afford to mod it. Its a daily driver, so i cant do alot at a time. Dont't worry, I will mod it...

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."
"Ponies can run, but birds can fly..."

 

Go with a carb if emmisions allows. For me, that is the only factor to consider. We don't have testing, so for now, I'm in the clear. Carbs are easier to work on, fewer parts to go bad, fewer parts to adjust, and it is a lot cheaper. Even when something related to induction breaks, it is still cheaper. A good, new carb, and intake is around $550. A good fuel injection (TPI), new parts, is over $1,000. Fuel economy is the only down side. Even when properly tuned, I would shy away from saying a carb will deliver about the same as FI. But the power is great. And where I live gas has been going down on a steady pace, so I don't need to worry so much about that. Just my point of view. Some people will be buried with their TPI system!!



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Joshua Johnston
1991 Z-28


350, T-5, K&N, Ported Vortec heads, Edelbrock RPM, Holley 750 D.P., HEI, 11.07:1 CR, Comp Cams Roller-.510"/.520"-282*/288* dur., Shorty Headers, Dual 2.5 Exhaust,Dynomax Bullet Mufflers, T&R Motorsports custom air intake

 

I think a good carb and intake is around $350. I love my setup, and it wasn't too much either. $225 for the emissions legal carb, and $115 for the performer rpm, and it can spin up to 6500 with that intake. I love the power gain, though I never spin it over 5500. Of course, a polished RPM air gap manifold would set you back about $300...but you can build a good carbed engine really cheap, alot cheaper than fuel injection.

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'86 IROC 5-speed
305 LG4
edelbrock performer rpm intake
edelbrock 600 cfm carb
msd pro billet hei distributer
'95 3.23 rearend
hotchkis rear suspension
PST front polygraphite suspension
"speed kills. buy a f@&d, live forever."

 

I'm totally pro 4 bbl holley fuel injection. Its not restrictive for a high revving engine like a TPI system is and you get the benefits of fuel injection. Unfortunately, most people haven't tried any other intake system other than what came with the car so they don't know the differences. Like I've worked on and driven all 4 types of intake setups on thirdgens and my favourite is (I'm gonna get shot for this one) crossfire. Just because its so easy to work on and it has a real power potential. But definitely in my own opinion the best intake setup is the holley 4 bbl Pro-jection. Just my opinion.