Anyone have a build recipe for killer low-mid torque? I heard that with a tpi small block you can get near big-block torque , something like 450ft-lbs? I used to have an old buick with a 455, it had moderate horspower but gobs of torque and was great to drive.

 

Just compliment the induction with the right heads and cam.
Thats basically it. You really wouldn't need to change much... however, if you stroked up to 383, this would only help.

 

Add a 400 crank, full length headers, nitrous, and burn your own PROM.

 

Small-port, high velocity heads (like Vortecs), a small cam (LT4HC would work), longtubes, custom PROM, and lots of traction cause youre gonna spin horribly.

 

This is exactly what I had in mind when I built mine. See sig.
Havent ran it on a dyno yet, but it pulls hard from 1600 to >5500 RPM. Lots of fun to drive!