HI all. I'm newly registered to this board, although I've read through it occasionally the last few months. I try not to come too often, cuz I know I could easily spend the whole day just reading through posts. LOL. Anyway, I wanted some help/advice on an engine swap. I have a 1983 Trans Am 2 Seater Convertible. It has the original 305 V8 Crossfire Injection engine (66K miles). I want to replace it with a new engine hopefully this summer or fall. I was looking at an SDPC catalog, and saw an ad for the 357HP Vortec TPI engine. Does anybody know anything about this engine, or better yet, anybody own this engine? I have my eye on it, but would like to know more about it first (i.e. good, bad quality) or does it have problems and such. I've heard that it's a pain to switch over to different fuel injection systems, but I'm pretty set on parting with the Crossfire and getting a TPI setup. Can anybody shed some light on this engine for me? I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

-Eric

P.S. Oh yeah. If you guys can tell me how to post pictures up here, I'd be happy to post a picture of my car. Alot of people say my car looks like the batmobile cuz it's black and has a huge fiberglass hatch cover on the back with two bumps behind the headrests. I think it looks nothing like the batmobile, and the comments get old after a while. LOL. But to each his own.

One more thing. Anyone know how this engine holds up in comparison to the 350 TPI engines I hear about that came in the Firebird Formulas (was it 88-90?). Somewhere in those years. Is it faster, slower, the same as the formula 350 TPI's that came in the factory cars?

 

Welcome aboard, I hope I can answers all your questions. First off, Changing over from your cross fire to TPI will require a new computer setup. The TPI engines used in our 3rd gens had 2 different computers. The earleir models used MAF or mass air flow. the later used SD or speed density. The 350 TPI engine was introduced in 1987 in both camaros and firebirds.I wont get into details on the differneces of these setups since I do not know what your goal is for your new engine. As for the vortec TPI engine your looking at, it looks like a great engine to me. It has a 4 bolt main block compared to a 2 bolt main used in our production engines. 4 bolt is stronger. You will need to buy a lot more stuff for that engine to make it complete so if your on a budget then forget about this engine and stick to a carb. here is a stort list of what else you wil need to buy
complete TPI wiring harness for SD or MAF, your choice(painlesswiring.com)
plenum
runners
throttle body
a dozen sensors
air induction setup
headers
distributor( for computer controlled engines)

these are just the more exspensive things I can think of but there is more if anyone can post here.
Let us know what your overall goal is for your car. What kind of driving does it do? what kind of money are you looking to spend and are you mechanicaly inclined to do your own work because mechanics will rape you on this swap.

 

Hey Bottled, thanks for replying. Maybe some more input will help with any more advice that people can/will give. Though I am trying to be careful about not "pouring" money into the car, I'm not really limiting myself all that much in terms of money. I'm told (by all my coworkers) that I'm in a lucky position right now. Just got a new job that pays twice as much as my last one, has alot of overtime opportunties (time and a half pay), and I"m living at home so I don't have any rent expenses.

My goals (or ideas for my car) is to have: a car that doesn't just sound like it's big and fast, but actually is fast. I'm looking for something that will have some great acceleration. I'd like it to be a show car, that once it is done, I will drive it around in the summer, but then pretty much store it the rest of the year (and take it to shows). I would like it to be fast, but I'm not really looking into horrendous top speed, more so quick acceleration. But I would like it to be capable of decent speeds. I'm set on having fuel injection, and I would like to put a remote started on it later on (just for show purposes). So I'm not into the carb idea.

Oh yeah, what is the difference between the SD and MAF setups? Is any one of them better than the other? Hopefully this will help you in understanding what I have in mind for the car. I don't have a huge "need for speed" but I would certainly like my car to be capable of going fast, and to have a start should I have the occasional urge to mash on the gas pedal.

The engine runs around $3400 if I remember correctly. How much do you estimate for cost on the list of extras that you wrote down that I'll need?

In terms of the swap, I may be able to have somebody do it for me, since I'm not mechanically inclined. I have a couple leads right now also with some people that may be able to get me the engine for a discount (not sure how much, but every little bit helps).

 

How much is this 357 hp engine?

 

Hey 92 Trans Am. The SDPC catalog has it listed at $3399.95.

 

Thats not bad at all, I might look into that. By the what does SDPC stand for I can't think of it for the life of me.

 

Scoggin Dickey Performance (or Parts) Center.

 

try www.sdpc2000.com its where i got my motor from too.

 

4 bolt mains are over rated but i have one

 

If going for this engine, as explained before, there's quite a number of things that you'll have to get. There's also little things that you'll have to get that most don't tell you about when changing over to a TPI. The best thing to do would be to get a TBI to TPI engine swap guide, or something of that nature. Basically, a TPI swap guide. They have these in jegs, summit, tpis, etc. Pretty simple to find and get. I'm guessing you have an automatic, so as far as this goes, I'd recommend looking for a new one that will hold up to the new engine. Try looking into a "new" rebuilt 700-r4, like TCI or B&M. With this, since it has a fourth gear, you could run 3.73's and have good highway cruising ability. Also, since your looking to be more quick than high-speed fast, this should put you in this category.

When putting the engine together, look into all high performance intake options, i.e. high flow runners, plenum, tb. A good one would be the accel plenum and runners. It promotes high rpm capabilities (for a TPI), and since you'll already have a decent base, this should work for you. You'll have to get a fuel rail, new or used, it doesn't really matter (recommend used, much cheaper). I'd go for 24 lb injectors, which to me are more than efficiant enough for your application. You'll have to find an ECM for speed density (cheaper in the long run in my opinion than MAF) and then get a chip to work for the whole setup(TPIS, Ed Wright). You'll have to get a new Throttle and kickdown cable to work with the tpi, and as far as fuel delivery goes, a new fuel pump. For the pump, i'd get the holley 255 lph. its like 130-140$, and it'll hold up to alot of horse power (more than your setup will). The list can go on, so i won't write a book about it. But to start out, you need to research. The best thing for that is the TPI swapper guide, A shop manual for a 90, 91, or 92 firebird/camaro, and these message boards. Remember, there's lots of little things to look for, and no matter how much you research, you'll run into a few of them. This will cost you more than just the good engine, so be prepared for it.

To me, the setup is great. It'll will probably a descent sleeper too. Hope it all works out. Good luck.

 

basially ll it is is a 4 bolt block with vortec heads and the vortec tpi base...i forgot what came it has in it...but it woul d be cheaper if you alrready had the tpi setup and just got the eads cam and intake....

its definetly a good buy!, if u dont have a tpi setup....
also 4 bolts are somewhat overrated yes...2 bolt splayed are stronger

but 6 bolt are better!!! lol

the parts youll need ontop of the motor have been listed....when u get the ecm for the tpi make sure u get a 730 ecm from a speed density car 90-92....youll have to tune it but in the long run youll be abel to get more power from a SD type

good luck!!

 

that engine has the HOT cam in it

 

so its a no nonsense motor wit good power....i like it!


all u tpi guys..put on vortecs and the intake and hot cam!!

 

Why? We're already making more power than that with aluminum L98 heads and a normal style base. And that engine won't make that much power when you take off the huge long tube headers they dyno it with. You better have aftermarket runners and obviously a ported plenum if you expect near that much power, too. I'm sure they do when it makes 357 horsepower.

 

right i know that...there are plenty of other ltr setups that make more power then this....i was saying that anyone witha stock lb9 or l98 could do this and get some good power

 

Stock Vortec heads outflow a L98 aluminum head, as well as retain heat and make more power as a rseult. The HOT cam is great, but the ZZ3 is optimal for the LTR and those heads, and I'm sure if dyno'd would make much more torque down low and higher peak HP numbers.

Also the stock TPI will work fine if the plenum is ported.

Headers need to be 1 5/8s or 1 3/4. Both will work.