OK guys and gals, what are the best bang for your buch heads for a 1989 TPI 350? Can mods be done to the intake base to make it fit up to older small block heads? I'm trying to shop around for heads, but everything I'm finding for my car cost like a grand! I was hoping to pick something up a little more reasonably priced. Any suggestions?

 

You sound like a vortec candidate


sorry man but heads cost a grand, thats just the way it is, if you absolutely MUST pay less, then you're sticking it out with GM, and thus your best bet is vortec, however to make it work with tpi you gotta shell out $400 for a new base.

So $600 heads + $400 base

or $1,000 universal heads that will work with the base you have.


As far as power the second sollution will provide more in the end.

Plus higher resale

 

yeah, i'm in the same boat, vortecs or nice set of heads for tpi base.....

 

You guys just need to shop.... seriously....


I know mine aren't gods gift, but my heads cost me about the same price as vortecs (alone) do and they were brand new.


In fact I've probably spent less than what any vortec car has after buying a base, and i've got more potential for lift and flow.

 

What exactly is different between the TPI heads and the good ole' small block heads that worked from the dawn of time until 1986? Can the TPI intake be modified to work with the old style small block heads?

 

Where did you get your heads? I'm eyeing a set of World Products Sportsman II Cast Iron heads. The 87 and up style with 72cc fully ported and polished w/ 2.02 & 1.60. They're $899 though. There not even aluminum! The Edelbrocks are only $200 a pair more and are aluminum.

 

Nothing


They're cast a little differently, small runner sizes, EGR, 64cc Combustion chamber on L98's and 58cc on LB9's


The bolt patterns up to 87 was the same it has been for 50 years, after that the two center holes are angled a little, and you can modify any manifold to fit it (except vortec)



If the tpi intake is pre 87 yes it will work on any oldschool head you have, if its after 87 you just need to drill 4 holes a little different, childs play.

 

I wouldn't recommend the 72cc's unless you're going to run abnormally high compression with your pistons.


And why do you feel aluminum is better?

 

Well screw looking for heads that are meant for the 87 and up engines. I'll just mod the intake a little and then I can buy an antique set of 2.02's that are already done up for dirt cheap! Thanks for that killer little bit of info.:hail:

 

I was just figuring if I was gonna' spend some cash on good heads, that I would shave some weight while I was at it. I run an ATI ProCharger D1SC on the motor, so lowering the compression a little wouldn't hurt.

 

Ahhhhhh ok

Now i can see the use for aluminum


If you run a super charger the aluminum will be alot more forgiving, however you're goint to melt down a set of aluminum heads long before cast. I've seen what a little bit of detonation can do to a set of G2's, its not perdy.

 

Now that I know I can mod the intake without much of a hassle, life is good. A buddy of mine has a set of 2.02/1.60 fuelie haeds that have screw in studs and guide plates and are already ported and polished. Now I can grab those dirt cheap and just drill out the intake to match.

 

Course it's easier to weld a set of aluminum heads to repair them . If you have access to porting equipment, just port the stock heads, they can easily be made to flow as well as most aftermarket heads. And if you can do it yourself it's dirt cheap . If you have to pay someone else, you might as well get a set of aftermarket heads, because your looking at $600-$800 worth of work.

 

I dont know that you can say *DIRT* cheap...

those damn burrs and stones and cartridges add up quick, and so do the man hours...

but yea, stock heads CAN be made to flow well...

sometimes dropping a grand is just worth it though

 

what edlebrocks are $200 you are talking about?