I hope I'm not just taking up/wasting space with this post but here I go......Ok, right now I have an '87 305 TPI(peanut cam), 700R4, 2.73 posi 10 bolt. I like how.... streetable? I guess is the word to use, that my car is right now.. easy to drive, pretty much stock(just exhaust/gutted intake.. basic performance upgrades) My friends are all telling me I should really build my motor, and that crate motors are overpriced... I like TPI... the look, the torque... I want it to keep it, and keep everything looking basically stock in my engine bay, that nobody would know it wasn't supposed to be there... Wouldn't this kill alot of my power? Of course, I'd port everything to get as much breathing as possible. I don't think I'd ever be visiting the track except on occasion to see what she could do when it's all done... I want something that is very very good on the street... stoplight to stoplight.

I think the 385 fastburn and 383 crate motors from GMPP I think it was are very nice looking with warranties and what have you. They're 385hp on the fastburn, and 350hp on the 383... once in my car and all is said and done, these would be around 290-300 at the rear wheels right? That would get me where... mid 13s? I'll probably get a pro-built 700R4, a nicely built 10bolt(don't 10 bolts usually crap themselves once you are in the 11/12 second range?) w/ 3.73s and a new eaton posi. I'm not looking for any kind of INSANE power with 3500RPM stalls and things like that... into the mid-low 13s would make me happy.

Any advice anyone can give me?

 

There are a TON of ways to go. Depends on your budget too. I'd look at the combos the guys w/ Vortec heads are running, or consider something like the LPE 211/219 and some good heads w/ the ported stock or large tube LTR TPI. Look around, see who is running well and has a combo you like.

And everyone's definition of streetable is different. I know with my car, it's VERY mild and not much more radical than stock at all. I'd be willing to trade a lot of it's streetability for more power, but it's not my daily driver anymore either.