Hi ....I'm looking for some good engine builders in the GTA(I'm located in Mississauga), I have a 87 IROC 350 TPI that has been stored for the last 18 yrs (PROPERLY) with 10K original kms. ,I am the original owner and I am thinking of swaping the motor out and store it and replace it with a 383 TPI or carb setup with 400+ HP & TORQUE .Anyways if you have any recommendations for a engine builder please forward names,I also am investigating a crate ZZ383 from GM any thoughts on this option would also be appreciated.I am looking for some more power but do not want to rip apart the stock original motor,just in case......
Thanks
Rob

 

Here's two for reference. I have not had any motor work done at either of them.

Agostino Racing Engines:

They are a big shop at 427/401 area. Mainly LS1 and stuff like that. Had some bad customer relation problems in the past but are supposed to be working at turning that around. Likely expensive and I don't think I'd take my car there as they're probably not really focused on third gens and as I've said they have some past issues.

Straight Line Racing:

Small shop in the Kennedy/401 area. They seem to have good prices on parts. I got a Demon carb from them last month and it was well under the other quotes that I had - according to Agostino, my price was better than their cost for that carb. There's a guy on here has had some serious motor work done there and I think he was happy with it last time I heard anyway. I'd consider using Straight Line.

Crate Motor:

I thought I could eliminate the vagueries of dealing with engine builders by getting a crate motor. I had a problem with mine but it should be OK and if it's not there's still a one year warranty. I'd probably go that route again even though people are correct when they say you can build something with more power for less money. However, I don't drag race so 350 or so at the FW is enough and the crate motor seemed the easiest solution.

Another thing is that I managed to get the motor for cost from a dealer in a small town. I have all these supposed dealer discounts through car clubs in Toronto but none of them could match the price that I got just by calling around.

Carb v. FI

There's a post about winter mods on here from a few months ago which covered the main points.

Good luck with car and post some pictures.

 

I dont have any engine builder recommendations (all are far from herebut I would suggest on keeping it TPI.

It seems like you are going to swap the original 350TPI back to the car.Its not hard to pull the harness out and separating the HVAC wiring but you will have to join the two together which is a pain IMO.

Also if youre going for a crate motor and a TPI then try to change the cam that will suit the TPI.

George,

You have a contact name for Straight Line? I always wanted a Demon

 

Yeah, it's Andy, I think he's the owner.

 

Is it possible to run an 383 with 400+HP and utilize the TPI with not TOO much tuning ? I just want something that I can bolt up and not re-invent the car.Also I'm pretty handy when it comes to mechanics ,did some pricing on the GM ZZ383 and some custom builds from a couple places and they seem a bit HIGH !!! Where would I get the specs. and necessary part numbers and manufacturers for all the necessary components to build my own 383 STROKER with 400+HP and 400+ TORQUE with the reliabilty of a daily/play driver ? Any suggestions would be greatly APPREICATED.
Thnaks
Rob

 

Talk to Andy at Straight-Line Racing 416 757-9804 he is a real stand up guy with an excellent reputation and one of the best in Ontario for building motors

Like George said: "Some on here has had some serious motor work done there"...well... that guy is me and I am really happy with the results

My set up: 383 Stroker, Edelbrock Performer RPM Heads 2.02 (Ported & Polished), Edelbrock Victor JR. Intake, Edelbrock Aluminum Waterpump, Demon 750 Double Pumper, Comp Roller Cam (XR294HR...248 dur. @50/ 560 lift.) Roller Rockers, Edelbrock Gear Drive, MSD Distributor with 6-AL Box, SLP 1 3/4 Headers (Ceramic Coated), Griffen Aluminum Radiator, Billet Overflow Tanks, Billet Wire-Looms, Edelbrock 3 Point Strut Tower Brace.

Let me put it to you this way a couple of years back I went to Kitchener/Waterloo area for a dyno test with a bunch of other guys and oane of them had the 383 T.P.I. when we pulled on the dyno the T.P.I. got 271rwhp/400rwt and mine got 350rwhp/380rwt and that's without the ported heads and 1/58' headers and a 650 Demon carb

 

I wouldnt bother with Agostino. Unless youre some high roller from the US dont waste your time. Nick himself, is actually a ***** if you ask me. But apparently he had a heart attack and doesnt run the shop anymore. I dunno, i dont pay much attention to them, but I know a couple people who dealt with Nick and were very disappointed

In Streetsville (Mississauga) is a shop named Mississauga Engines. Its owned by a guy named Cesear. Nicest, most honest man in the world. Of all the work done on my cars by anyone, I was most impressed by him. He goes out of his way to help you and to help your situation. and hes really good at what he does. I would recommend him to anyone.

As far as straightline goes, I work down the road and stopped in a few times and they seem like good guys. Heard some good stuff. No personal experience

 

Thanks for all the direction/recommendations,I am going to see Andy at Straight Line on Friday,I'll give Ceasar a call in the morning since his shop sounds like about 10mins. from my home.
Thanks Again Guys,I truly appreciate it,I have been out the game for awhile like 18 yrs. mainly due to other commitments.....FAMILY ,work,FAMILY,work,FAMILY,work I think you've got the picture.....and this IROC ,I just couldn't get rid of it,GLAD I didn't.It actually has the original windshield washer in it from 1987,over half of it is evaporated, this car actually believe or not has only seem rain 3 times,never been in snow,it has seen it through the garage windows.Anyways if anyone has some personal recommendations on how to get 400+HP and lots of TORQUE I'm all ears and willing to experiment.


Rob

 

Lol.. mine still has the original wiper blades from 1983 only problem is that the car has 160,000 klix on it and I can't see worth a damn when it rains.

The Crap Tyre store at 427/Queensway has a cruise night every Sat from about May to Oct. The local f-body clubs usually meet there a couple of times over the summer - might want to check it out.

Another thing too is that your car is probably worth a fair bit of coin as it is - every now and again they come up on Barret Jackson or whatever with like 2-3K miles on them and sell for 18 US or so.

 

Maybe I'll store it for another 18 yrs. and get $40+ US for it......you know what ,I'm just gonna do that......thanks for the tip...


Rob

 

OK - but I get 15% for a consultant's fee..lol.

Anyway, good luck with the new motor.

 

If you're already in Mississauga- you may want to try Beatty and Woods- they are right next to the airport. Chuck and Jeff are the owners, telephone is 905-405-8500.

I would call a few places to see what they recommend and what they're going to charge before deciding definetively on any one shop.

 

lol another person that knows Ceasar...MAybe you can tell Ceasar to change his cam program to a newer one that and stop having sex with his Yamaha motored Ford....lol

He's an OK guy but try your best on bringing somebody who knows him ..

 

I can vouch for Ceaser at Mississauga Engines, hes a good guy and really explains whats what I got my heads done by his shop, plus more.



Augustino Racing I find they are good if you have US dollars... but I dont have the cash for their work. They are popular with the americans. Especially LS1 stuff. Another reason why they moved is cause **** kept going missing... I mean like you give your leave your car with them for a couple days and all of a sudden it gets broken into and your t56 gets stolen, lots of **** goes missing from that shop. But thats when they were in Ajax, their new shop is very close to my house now, dont know how their doing in the new place, but so far so good they got rid of a lot of their problems.

Andy from Straight Line Racing is great you cant get a better cash deal on your projects for sure.

But my 2 cents is for Mississauga engines.... Ceaser knows his stuff... he really knows what parts match eachother.

 

Agostino is in pickering and has been there for atleast 4 years that i know of.

 

They moved.

 

A Mopar friend of mine had engine work done at straight line. Hes running mid 11's and very pleased. Price was good and I have met the guy there a few times and he seems pretty straight up... ( okay bad joke

I have not personally had any experience with Mississauga Engines but through very respectable sources I have heard only good things.

 

ARE is now called Autoworkx or something like that. Moved from Pickering as mentioned.

Many folks have had serious problems. Read this long but informative thread: http://www.ls1tech.com/forums//showt...0&referrerid=0

 

I have heard good things about Straight Line tho I have never dealt with them.

 

Nice to see that their repuatation is following them. I'd read some stuff on LS2 about them but I didn't know they were that bad.

Also, companies can't avoid their legal obligations by moving across town and starting up with a new name particularly if it's substantially the same operation. A court would likely order that claims against the old company would still be valid against the new company

 

Ya i didnt know they moved. Last i heard Nick had a heart attack so Wade took over the shop. Wade wasnt a bad guy and I know a long time ago he used to do their really good machine work. But i guess with all the success and all the work they had, they got some scabs or something to do it. Either way. They did the machine work on my brother's 383 LT1 Vette and he wasnt impressed with the work, or the ethic.

 

Wow! That's alot of people apparently screwed by ARE. I didn't get the best 'vibe' off the place when I had a tour back in 2002 (2001 maybe?)- seemed a bit 'money hungry'. In any event I think trying to deal with their new corporate existence would be quite risky until they get their old customers all sorted out and satisfied. All this talk the ARE defenders make of "there will always be dissatisfied customers" doesn't even come close to explaining the huge level of irritation and anger by apparently so many people- I've known small businesses that have been around for 20+ years and can count the number of serious complaints they've had on one hand.

 

Class Action..lol.

 

Small bus. fail/rip off people all the time and open up under a new name with no implications. Just look at what happens in the home renovation bus. Lots of scammers taking people for 200K and getting away with it. Then they open up another shop and it repeats over and over. I don't know what I would really do if someone took me for that much coin but the thought of cutting them up and hiding them would certainly be on my mind.

 

Certain transactions are reviewable particularly if they were done to defeat creditors - however, I'm not going to argue about it - believe what ever you want.

 

I'd rather not believe it but I've seen numerous examples that say otherwise. What happy ending stories do you know about that has been wringed thru the courts for a company who claims to have "gone under"?

 

I got $50K or so for a guy last year when a company that owed him went down and then opened up under a different name doing essentially the same thing - he was pretty happy about that. Things don't usually get wringed thru the courts - about 95% of the time they settle.

 

That sounds ok but it's just one case.. I assume you are a lawyer. A good fiiend of mine is too and deals with this some of this stuff all the time. He has won some big cases against some big companies and the Toronto Police that you will never hear about in the media. He doesn't like the way small cases are worked out. You are right about most being settled out of court. The vast majority are not even persued that way cause it's simply not worth it.

 

holy hijack batman!!

either way..

Ceasar is of Mississauga engine is a good guy and knows a lot.He is a little old school though.Well I am too but he's older school ..

 

Hey man being into third gens I think we are all old school now

 

Hey man..my camera cant upload the pics(broken).I actually just bought another one to replace it but it uses a different memory card..Anyway..I still have the Konis..lol

 

Talk about Hijack! Yeah man no problem if you want to swap bring em up and I'll get her done for you. I asked my buddy about drilling the brackets and he never got back to me so? I will ask again and see what he says. If not i have other sources that may be willing to do it.

 

thats ok man,I actually figured out how to do the spindles..I figure if I mess up I can always just use a nut and bolt. Ill see if I can stop by there on SUnday.

Question for you about the C5 swap though

I got the C5,hubs,LS1 calipers and LS1 carrier.You think I can use the LS1 carrier with the C5 rotor(13")?I assume the LS1 pads are the same as the Z06 pads too right?. I was told that I cant use the LS1 carrier if Im using the 13" rotors and C5 brackets..so I guess Ill just get the C5 carriers then. Last thing.Do you have spare C5 carriers hanging around?

 

No I dont think you can use the LS1 carrier ( caliper bracket ) with the C5 rotors. No again sadly i dont have any extra C5 brake parts lying around. I only bought what i needed last year. I am curious though... Nut and bolt??? Exactly how can you use a nut and bolt unless you plan on drilling right through the strut collar throat of the spindle which sounds scary dangerous to me. I'm not trying to dig at you man just a little concerned is all. The lower bolt hole on the spindle ear you could drill through and use a bolt but not the top one.

 

ok good to know that it compromises the strength.ill be carefulon that one tnen..thanks..I might have an FI tank for you too

 

Talk about a hijack! No C5 caliper bolts don't work on a 3rd or 4th gen cause I've done a retrofit using them. Had to cut off the bolt bosses and fit a bracket on to the back side. That was on a 4th gen. 3rd gens woud have to be very different cause of the way C5 brakes work. Nothing in common.

 

I didnt say anything about C5 caliper bolts..lol

 

No man hes right. C5 caliper bolts definitely wont fit. Thanks for pointing that out halfinch its good to hear from someone who has done it.

 

hey half,I was gonna ask about your nickname but decided against it for fear of getting too much information..lol

 

strate line raceing, there the best>416-757-9804

 

Good Idea to store your stock TPI motor and build another one.

A 383 is a good way to go.

The stock TPI intake manifold is all about low mid range torque. Power-wise it tops out about 350-375 horsepower
reguardless of what else you do to the motor.

The manifold runners are just too long and too small to make higher horsepower.

You need to shorten the manifold runners to gain high rpm flow and pulsing.
This is why manifolds like the Super Ram, Mini Ram stealth ram, RamJet and LT-1 intake work better at that power level.
All these have shorter runners.

For a budget build A modified LT-1 intake swap is hard to beat.
You can use much of your existing wireing and fuel system with a few upgrades and mods.

Modified LT-1 intake manifold

Once you let that sink in and ditch the idea of trying to get 400HP from a stock TPI intake and runners, the rest is pretty basic.

I know the TPI is pretty looking and you have one but it's just a bottle neck when it comes to making more than 350-375 HP even with aftermarket runners.


If you don't mind a little drive down to the Niagara area,
I can recommend a shop where you performance dollar will go a little further. I get my work done there.

Hot Rods Inc.

Ask Daz, he knows them.

 

Trust me it would be much longer than your three lettter name when folded in capitals. Otherwise I would have callled myself, "3 FT. Longer ThanLittleDick"only for you are the king of "little dick" . Don't use that seal skin for bad thoughts.

Don't make me post pic's of your little twinky that your wife has plastered all over the web. Wouldn't be fair to you with your floppy.

 

did you guys kiss and make up yet?..lol

 

I'd have to recommend Andy (owner) at Straightline Racing on Munham Gate in Scarborough (Toronto).

He may seem a little "cold" when you first get to know him but I think that's cuz he's so busy and has no time for people wasting his time. So be forward and know what you're looking for and want.

He's been there almost 20 years now (I believe). I've had work done there in the past and he's fairly reasonable on his prices. He's a good hook up for aftermarket performance parts aswell. I know quite a few people who've had work work done there also.

He's a pretty standup guy when it comes to backing up his workmanship. Expect to "book" at appointment with him 1 1/2 to 2 weeks in advance to have work done. He's pretty busy around this time of the year. Everytime I go in he's alway got some nice vette, firebird, camaro, GN, or other old and new muscle hovering around. I'm pretty sure "the power's that be" are cracking down on him aswell since it is a speed shop so I don't know how things are lately.

Also nice to know he's a chevy guy (at heart)