ok here's the deal, currenty I have a 90 RS with a 305 and tbi, I'm getting a good deal on a 383 long block and I need to make sure i get that new engine the fuel it needs. So I want to switch to tpi, because it seems like the most cost effective solution, ie, $500 for a used tpi setup with wiring harness and ecm from www.thirdgenresource.com. Any thoughts and advice is welcome.

 

I don't think it is wise to put a stock TPI setup on a 383. It just won't get enough air. I would go with an aftermarket intake and runner setup, 58mm TB, port the plenum to match the runners and TB. A HSR might work good on the 383 but they are a little pricey but if you got the money for it, that may be the way to go. The problem with the stock TPI is that it lays down after about 4500 RPM. With that 383 you should be pulling up to 6000RPM and you just can't do that with a stock TPI, IMO. I have seen people on this site with a 383 with TPI and they aren't running any lower that mid-upper 13's. With a 383 you should be seeing high 11's-low 12's with the proper setup.

 

The stealth ram would definetly be awesome, I just don't have the money for it right now, so I'm trying to figure out what would be the best thing to do for now, I'm a big fan of doing things right the first time, thats why I'm going with the 383. A couple of people have suggested switching to a carb setup. Any ideas are welcome.

 

If you have your heart set on a TPI I would put the harness all in place with the engine out, then for now put on a carb and good inexpensive manifold. You can get a non computer controlled distributor at the junkyard for cheap to put in it for the time being.

Then save up the money for an aftermarket setup, be it HSR, miniram or even a long tube TPI. The manifold alone for a LTR TPI (high flow) is going to run you around $400, high flow runners $250+, and 58mm throttle body $200 or so. almost $1k just for those parts will hurt your budget at this time. The carb will let you enjoy driving the car for a while until you get your funda for the more expensive FI items, and the carb should be able to run on the TBI pump with a bypassing regulator.
Just my 2 cents.

 

I don't have my mind made up on anything yet, I need to figure something out soon though, I'm prob getting the long block this weekend and I can't wait to get started. Has anybody done a 305 to 383 swap and what way did you go? Just looking for ideas.

 

Im goin from a 305 to 383 with a tpi setup. Im just gonna port the crap out of everything get a hi flow base slp runners and tb. I dont want to take it over 5000 alot anyway really i dont wanna blow it up or be that hard on it neway. It will have tons of torque also with the tpi and the heads im getting also gettin the heads fully ported and polished.I was thinkin of a HSR also but i really want a stb.THe mini ram is like 1200 after u get the fuel rail and the super ram is around that price also.If any1 knows if they make a hsr that will fit under a stb lemme know.