Hi,

I have a 1988 IROC with a stock 350 TPI L98 and T700.

I'd like to upgrade the top end with the following objectives:
- decent to drive
- 350HP at the crank
- bit of rumble at idle
- 13 second 1/4 time

I'm keen on buying everything from Edelbrock so that it matches.

I'd like to get the following heads, manifold, runners, camshaft kit and roller rockers.

The manifold is described as being for "stock" heads and that a different manifold is used for after market heads. Will this manifold work with these heads?

Any comments on this combination?

Edelbrock Performer RPM E-Tec 170 Cylinder Heads For S/B Chevy P/N 60975
• Combustion chamber volume: 64cc
• Intake runner volume: 170cc
• Exhaust runner volume: 70cc
• Intake valve diameter: 1.94"
• Exhaust valve diameter: 1.55"

Edelbrock High-Flo TPI Intake Manifold P/N 3860

Edelbrock High-Flo Runners (1985-88 engines) P/N 3865

Edelbrock ROLLIN' THUNDER CAMSHAFT KITS (HYDRAULIC ROLLER) kit P/N 22096 with Camshaft P/N 2209
Cam Card Duration @ 0.50 Int/Exh Lift @ Valve Int/Exh Lobe Seps. Idle Vac. @ 1000 RPM
212° / 222° .462" / .479" 112° 107° 16"

Edelbrock RED ROLLER ROCKER ARMS Small-Block Chevy, 3/8", 1.5:1 Ratio P/N 77770

 

Intake won't bolt to your heads!!

 

Heads are to small for me.

 

@Fast355 - thanks for the reply.

So, Id need "High-Flo T.P.I. Vortec Baseplate Only" P/N 3817?

That is, the Etec heads use the Vortec/LT1 pattern?

I plan to remove the 9th injector and get a custom PROM.

@TTOP350 - as long as the car is reasonable to drive on the street and has 350hp at the crank I'll be happy. 170cfm ports seems a bit small, but as long as it works with the combination above it should be ok.

 

I guess what I'm saying is, you could make 300-350 hp with stock ported heads.
If you are going to spend some cash, Y not buy something that could make a bit more power down the road?

 

Ditch the TPI and it's high cost to upgrade and get a Holley stealth ram. Plenty of articles and members agreeing that it is cheaper and faster all around than TPI. It makes less torque but the 60' is better. If you don't want a ton of power just get a set of GM vortech heads and change the springs and do a valve job. Vortech heads, HSR, >9:1 compression and a streetable cam will get you 300 rwhp no doubt.

 

The Edelbrock heads and cam falls way short for the money they run.

Those eddy etech heads are almost $1400

You can make 375 HP easy with $200-300 junkyard 96-00 vortec 350 heads.

If you are gonna spend out that kinda money for heads then go with something like Brodix IK 180's or AFR 180s or 190's

The Holley stealth ram is a much system but high dollar.

 

I'm trying to take as much weight as possible off the front end. The battery is in the trunk, I've got a light-weight starter and I figure aluminium heads would save an extra 20kg.

I thought about aluminium 113 castings, but by the time I get them ported, machined and new valve gear it seems better value to buy new heads.

The Edelbrock Etec heads have the Vortech inlet ports and should be a decent upgrade in themselves.

I want something that idles ok with decent vacuum for the power booster. I'm reluctant to put in too hot a cam or a Holley Stealth setup.

I'd like to keep the TPI setup for the sake of originality too. I'd like to replace the engine top end, burn a new PROM and have a weekend driver that will be reliable for years.

Matching the engine airflow components seems be to key on a TPI engine, and I've been thinking that getting all of the components from a single supplier might mean they match better?

 

HSR is not more costly than an aftermarket TPI setup and is far, far from high dollar. If you think the HSR is expensive what would you call the going rate for a super ram or mini ram? Most TPI parts out of the box will flow less than aftermarket aluminum cylinder heads, whereas the HSR stock flows 275 and ported 300 cfm.

 

I've got Energy Suspension polyurethane engine mounts, so the engine sits a fraction higher.

I've also got a BMR strut tower brace with 2mm of clearance from the plenum.

I don't think the HSR will fit in my engine bay.

I'd like to buy new parts to replace the top end in the hope I'll get trouble-free weekend motoring and not have to tear down the top end again for another ten years.

A drivable, reliable 350hp at the crank shouldn't be too hard I hope.

As far as I tell, edelbrock is the only company that make a complete set of top end components and they seem to have a decent reputation.

 

Sounds like you have your mind made up, good luck with your build!

 

A couple of things to add:

I'd like to make max hp around 5000 to 5500 so I can use the stock the bottom end.

I'd also like to keep the stock MAF,

I've been looking at upgraded ECMs and the OBD2 projects too.

 

2mm is very small, do you mean 2 cm? With 2mm the engine would probably torque over and smack the brace every time you hit the throttle. I can't understand why you want to stick with Edelbrock? Their cam profiles are decades old, their heads are way too expensive by today's standards. Any parts can be port matched and matched for airflow, just look up the cfm ratings of intake manifolds and runners on these boards and match it to a set of heads. Match the cam to your compression ratio and heads and purpose. Are you only going with Edelbrock because you don't understand that or can't match engine components yourself? If you can't that's fine, just do a search or post a question. Lots of members willing to help you out and keep you from wasting thousands on the edelbrock setup.

 

I understand prices and what not and I know the HSR is a good unit and is not the highest price option..

BUT....

To me if you can buy a new supercharger for the price of a system like the HSR it's high dollar

 

Don't buy into the "system" components. I wish it worked like it's claimed, but that's just not the case. Just cause it's the same brand and sold as a system don't mean it's truly matched parts.

Look at most of the performer and performer line of parts. Cam profiles that has not been changed since the 1970's lol, heads that are way behind the rest of the aftermarket, etc.

I like edelbrock intakes and their carbs for street and mild builds but the heads and cams do not impress me at all.

The Etec heads aint bad, but thats a $1400 set of heads.
Look at others in that price range and you will get alot more flow from them.
Look at the flow numbers. This tells you about the head
The Etec 170cc @.500" lift flows 232cfm intake, 183cfm exhaust.

Stock vortec heads flows 229 to 230 intake, 152 exhaust. The Etecs gained alittle on the exhaust side but not much at all on the intake side.

The $1300 alum. brodix IK 180 heads flows 243 intake, 173 exhaust

Or the $1600 AFR alum 180cc Eliminator heads flows 260 intake, 207 exhaust.

With the brodix, AFR, pro filrer, dart pro1, etc heads you can still use the std 12 bolt intake as well. No need in the higher priced 8 bolt vortec design.

Look at other cam companies and you will see new advancements in lobe design and cam profiles.

Mixing and matching parts for your use is the best way to get the best performance for the least amount of money.

 

@Tibo - there is 2mm (yes, 2mm) of air between the top of the plenum and the underside of the BMR strut brace. It's probably the minimum possible allowing for torque movement in the engine.

What cam would you suggest, a Crane 2032?

Keep in mind I'm looking for 350hp at the crank, plenty of idle vacuum and like a smopth torque curve.

I've been reading up on the HSR. I'm concerned it will reduce the drivability of the car, but the Holley ECM is interesting and it's fruit for thought.

 

What world do you live in? Or are you misunderstanding what you are talking about? He already has a TPI engine, he buys the intake and fuel rails and that's it! 500 new for Holley or even less for the Chinese knock off. Never in my life have I seen a supercharger even a used one needing rebuilt sell for that amount.

 

Dude! I already did a similar set-up for a lot less than you will be spending.
Vortec heads ported(244intake-217exhaust), Vortec manifold ported(245cfm), Edelbrock Runners siemesed, TPIS ZZ9 Cam, 52mm TB, LSX 27lbs Injectors, Ported Plenum. All of the parts I bought were used except the injectors. Only about $600 worth of porting. The manifold $200, runners $400, cam $150, TB $150 and heads were used $200 totaling up to $1100. The 1 3/4in Dyno don,s headers with dual y-pipe 3in MagnaflowCat-back exhaust system was already on the car when I bought it but it is worth about $1500 altogether. All of this is making about 350whp not 350fwhp.
You will be spending about $2500 in 4 parts alone. You still haven't bought an Exhaust system, roller rockers, injectors, gasket sets, Springs for the heads, valve covers and transmission to handle the power. You can buy used parts and make them work. People are always changing out something and need to sell something. Deals are out there.

 

Ok, we are misunderstanding each other.. Here's what I was talking about http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-550-822 $3,600

 

After some more reading the ETec heads don't seem that bad. They use the Vortec inlet, which I like the idea of.

The 170cfm ports seems small, but the logic seems to be they are designed for a higher velocity and should flow ok. I've read reviews where these heads are used on 400hp builds, which is fine for me.

I'm still reading up on the HSR, but on top of the $3,500 I'd still need a cam and new heads. The Holley ECM is pretty sexy.

I saw the comments above about the old cam design and am trying to figure out is the Edelbrock Roll Thunder camshaft is a good choice for a TPI T700 car?

 

I have seen Etec 170s used from 420 to 485 hp builds.

 

There's nothing wrong with the Vortec design, the problem we all have with them is you can get a much better head for nearly the same cost.

The HSR is less than $600. You don't need the full self tuning set up. Just the intake, plenum, and fuel rails.

 

Those who hate on the Etec170s have never run them! They are more than you will ever need or use on a street bound 350 under 6,500 rpm. In a test of 5 different vortec style heads they came out on top in average hp and average torque and had the highest HP. At 6,000 rpm they made over 40 HP more than cast iron vortecs on a relatively mildly cammed engine. On Danger Mouse they held their own against a 200cc intake port all the way to 6,500 rpm and had a nice midrange torque gain over the 200cc ports.

 

I'd always used the cfm figure to rate heads, but guess there is more to it. The Etec 170s seem a reasonable choice, especially if I wait for a good Summit of Jegs discount coupon to come along.

I figure aiming for 350hp at 5.500 rpm should be fine with the stock bottom end and still be reliable and ok to drive.

The HSR is still interesting, but I don't think it will fit under my hood with the BMR strut brace and am concerned it will be like drive a 2 stroke dirt bike with a power band.

Any comments on the Rollin Thunder cam or alternatives would be appreciated.

 

No, no, no. It makes more power, has a faster 60'/ 1/4.mile time and drives fine. I ran it for two years and tuning it was easier than TPI. It is faster because TPI makes more torque then most applications can properly use. TPI is only superior in burn out contests, towing something or part throttle driving.

 

That's it though, I don't open the throttle all of the way very often. Most of the driving is partial throttle along the freeway.

 

Agree w/fast 355
350chp shouldnt be hard to attain

The lunati 256 voodoo works real good so does the 262 will give a good idle and be DD friendly

Yrs ago a buddy and I put together a 10:1 350...it was a cheapo I mean $1000 shorblock from some partshouse put the cheapest forged piston we could find in it rest was bone stock. Used the 256 flat tappet cam performer heads an aftermarket base with some porting Accel (pretty sure or asm?) runners some shortie headers/catback. Passes Ca smog idles like a baby (has a nice throaty exh note) and with the lousy hwy gear it came with pulled much harder than I thought it would. It would run up past 5k with no problem at all. Thought the heads were sucky but everythign worked well together and the build didnt get into too much money. 2nd gear youd swear the thing had a 3.75 in stroke, 1st it would haze them at will. Fun car.
Probably well over 300chp...not a hp monster but certainly fun on the street vincents build sounds nice also

 

You could get 300whp with GM Vortec heads, ZZ4 cam, TPI Vortec Manifold and Edexbrock Runners. This was done in the magazine on a stock block with no port work. This is also about 350CHP.

 

I need a roller camshaft for the engine, and think the lunati 256 voodoo is for flat tappets.

The Edelbrock Rollin Thunder cam specifies 16" of vacuum at idle, which should be fine for a TPI engine around town?

 

As long as the LSA is 112-114. It would be fine