I have an 87 TPI L98 car all original except the mods listed. Current mods are 3.73 gears, shift kit, comp cam intake 210 duration .48 valve lift exhaust 220 duration .48 valve lift and KN air filter. I would like to get this car to around 325-350HP. I am looking at installing hooker street force headers not sure if I shoud keep the smog crap on or not (Michigan) and some type of heads to get this thing to flow it has the 3" stock system with the exceptiion of a high flow muffler. Any insight on some heads and other mods to get the HP up would be greatly appreciated. I would like to stay under 2 g's if possible.

 

You can pick up a set of vortec heads but by the time you have machine work done you will have $1000 in a stock set of heads. If it was me, which I just built a L98 last year, I would buy a set of Dart Iron Eagles with a 190 cc intake runner and spend a little less than what you would on the vortec heads. My L98 dynoed at 325 at the wheels which comes to 407 hp at the flywheel.

 

Stock TPI hardware won't cut it. Holley/Weiand Stealth Ram for whatever configuration heads you end up using.

 

for that kind of money.. I would absolutely. buy aluminum heads
you drop 50# of weight the HSR will love the flow...
LE has a package.. and Patriot heads are very nice.. excellent value
a stealth ram setup.. fuel rails & line conversion. will take almost half of your budget
heads $700. - 850 a pair complete

 

Stealth Ram intake - $550
XE HR276-12 (CCA-07-503-8) - $250
Hedman Hedders 68469 - $245
Patriot 190cc - $895


Total - $1940


You should be somewhere around 385-400hp with these parts. Oh, I almost forgot...get rid of all the smog crap.

 

Thanks all for the posts, I was hoping to keep the TPI for the original factory look but it sounds like my best bet and best HP for the money is to lose it. I was just told tonight that some dart 180cc millennium heads would be a good choice with the TPI but I haven't checked price yet and sounds like the HP gain would not equal the carb/intake setup. Thanks again for the tips lots to think about.