I'm planning for a smallblock buildup, possibly a 406, but maybe I'll just get a 35+ or 383. Want Fuel injection for mpg matters, since this is a dailydriver car.

Was thinking of fastburn heads, (I percieve those to be more fuel eff. true or not?), forged pistons for NOS, rods and crank to fit HP level, possibly a supercharger at a later stage.

What would be the best, get a tpi and mod it to allow 400-600+ hp, or just buy a complete aftermarket? Or should I go tpi first, and then aftermarket? At the moment I dont even have a computer, do I get that with say a hsr?

OR, should I get a LT1 fuel injection setup and mod that? Would that be a good choice at all? Dont know to much about the LT1 setup, only that it's more suitable for higher rpm powerlevels to start with. But would this route be anymore affordable than a complete aftermarket unit?

 

All depends on how much u want to spend and where u want to end up. Alot has to do with whether or not ur willing to put the time in to either tune it urself, or spend the $$$ and time to have other people ( who know what they're doing ) tune it.

Fastburn heads will limit ur choice of intakes. Far as I know, the only EFI intakes that will fit the Vortec style intake ports ( and match up ) would be the SDPC tpi intake for Vortec's or the Miniram version for Vortec's.

It's been about a year...but I remember a buddy trying the Fastburns with either the StealthRam or the MiniRam, can't remember which. The bolt pattern was fine, since the Fastburns have both, but there was a pretty nasty mismatch where the intake ports of the Fastburn heads met up with the intake.

Take your time, do some searches.

FIGURE OUT what you want out of your car when ur done.

If you want a 11 second car, it's gonna take a different route than a say a mild mannered street car that runs good times. It's all in the tuning and parts selection.

Figure out ur budget, if you have to, first. I see this mistake more than anything...guys starting to build the dream motor they've always wanted and they get caught up so quickly that they end up quitting the project or settling with mismatched parts because the overshot what they needed to spend.

 

A 406 with TPI will choke the crap out of it. Even if you mod it like I did. I know cuz I tried it already. I am very happy with the HSR but it wont work with vortec heads. You can get the commander 950 setup with HSR but it is pricey. You can get a comp on ebay and a harness from painless wiring. It is compatible with HSR. The intake,box and rails from Holley for the HSR are about 500 bucks. Thats my 2 cents.

 

Do you mean the stock tpi computer? 'cause I know where to get that, not expensive either.

But the fact that a holley stealthram don't fit under the hood isn't excactly a plus. Maybe I would be bettor off with another setup. Lt1 would be nice, if I only knew if it was suited for this..

As for the budget, I plan on selling my Harley. I plan on spending about 5-7000$ on this engine, but not the most expensive parts, by no means, only the ones that give a good value for the money.If I can get what I want for less, I'll save some for other things. For 7000 I should be able to go supercharged I guess, but my thoughts was that I probably need some time to dial in a efi setup first, and rather wait a year or so with the next level in performance.

But there is so much to learn about this, seems I won't be ready to build anything, at least not this summer.

My main question right now is what efi setup to get. And as of now the remaining choices are superram and miniram, and Lt1.

 

It's tough to beat the LT1 intake for cost effectiveness. If it would have been an option at the time I did my motor, I probably would have done it instead of the SR. Don't get me wrong, the SR is THE best intake below 6000 rpm IMHO. But the LT1 is just so much cheaper than a SR.

If you have the money to spend and want the most power to 6k rpm, get a SR. If you want to save some money or want to rev higher than 6k, do the LT1.

 

Think I'll look for a lt1, probably be easier in the long run with parts etc.. where's the best place to get one of those?

What kind of money is reasonable for either of them?

 

I got my LT1 intake on ebay. FIRST though, check the classifieds on the message boards!!! You might find one already modded pretty cheap. I'm modding my intake right now. I got the intake, fuel rails, and injectors, with a throttle body spacer for $150.

 

http://www.lt1intake.com/services.htm

 

Okey, lots of good info there. but still, most people seem to but just the intake and rails and some minor stuff, do they all use the stock tpi computer, throttle body, harness and tidbits?

 

You use the stock ECM with some PROM tuning to make it run right, stock wiring and connectors, and reuse your L98 throttle body. I'm converting mine right now, and the rest of my parts I'm getting through John Millican. They should be here Friday.
So far, I'm doing the actual work on the intake myself, and it's not hard, just time consuming. But I like doing stuff like this.

 

Okey, but I don't have a L98 injection setup, nor any injection at all. No computer either.

So would I need the wiring harness, computer, throttlebody etch from the LT1 or from a tpi? 'Cause I dont have any of it!

 

You use ALL TPI components wire harness, distributor, computer and throttle body. The only LT1 items are the intake and fuel rails.

 

John's the guy I defer to for any and all questions about the swap. :hail: Check out his website. By the way John, I like the updates you put up on your site. My hydraulics instructor is thinking aboout doing the swap too.

 

Wouldn't it be easier to just get a complete LT1 setup? I mean isn't the throttle body and injectors larger? If its because this is more expensive, then I'll understand. But mixing up parts from different systems should at least have a purpose, and nobody have said anything about any advantages of using alot of the tpi parts...

 

The StealthRam don't fit under a stock hood??????? I thought the only stock hood it didn't fit was the Vette. I know the lingenfelter one fits, and me thinks that is a modded StealthRam. Could someone answer this question for sure, I don't want to drop the cash and then have to buy a hood too. That would make the StealthRam about $1000 or so.

 

Turns out it fits under the stock hood with some tweaking anyway, at least with a powerbulge hood, but perhaps with others as well.

Saw this last night, check it out, he BARELY got it under the hood with some tweaking , but it's under all right.

http://members.***.net/jmatlock88/HS...stallation.htm

 

The LT1 intake and rails should in fact have better emissions than the tpi intake, correct? If I were to get the Vortec tpi crate engine from sdpc, would the LT1 intake fit? Any benefits? OR, better off going w/ another engine if I were to use that intake?

 

OK, I should have said you CAN use all TPI components (throttle body, injectors, ect.). This is a benifit if you are already TPI. If you are not TPI then you can use the LT1 throttle body if you had to. It is cheaper to use TPI stuff though.

As far as injectors go, use whatever ones you get, TPI and LT1 are interchangeable.

 

The LT1 intake conversion isn't emissions legal.

Vortec heads with LT1 intake? NO!, NO! NO!, it's not possible (well, not very easily or cheaply).

 

If you want to buy the SDPC vortec TPI crate motor and you dont want to stay regular TPI, then order that vortec crate motor with-out the intake.

Then you have 4 options:

1. use a ram-jet intake
2. use a TPIS mini-ram III (for vortec / fast-burn heads
3. Have John Millican modify an LT-4 intake to for your vortec heads (if he's willing).
4. or order motor with vortec TPI intake and use a super-ram plenum and runners.

They're are a few choices out there for vortec / fastburn head users!

 

LT1 doesn't have provisions for EGR? hmm...

Well, w/ the TPI Crate, I'd have to stay emissions legal. Heck, w/ any engine I get. So, my choices are limited in that aspect...

 

Well, you can always stay LTR TPI and use the vortec crate motor. Just make sure you get the vortec EGR kit (sold separatley).

 

1bad91Z: How would that setup be for a street car? I want to be able to kick some LS1's (probably unmodified), Cobra's, etc...Even for that crate, around $4G's is pretty hefty, and if it won't be THAT good, no reason to do it.

 

I didn't say that, I said the LT1 intake conversion isn't emissions legal. The distributor mod goes right where the EGR valve was.

 

Don't need to think about emissions where I'm at, my car doesn't even have a catalyst or any computer at all, no egr or smogpump either, stock.

If an LT4 intake can be made to fit fastburns, and the LT4 heads DOES fit (?) a gen 1 chevy, then the question really is; which of the two heads is the best?

Also interesting points: most bang for the buck, and what do they really cost?

 

You need an LT block to use LT-1/-4 heads. The LT-4 intake should work fine with vortec/fastburn heads if intake is modified properly.

 

Not true, you can modify LT1/4 heads to work on a standard SBC.

The Vortec/Fastburns heads are in a league of their own. I do not convert LTx intakes for them at all. The Vortec head itself would need modified too if you are determined to do this swap.

 

Hi,
I spent thousands putting in a 350TPI motor with all new parts back in 1998.
If I was doing it today, I would get a LS1 engine and trans.

When I did my TPI conversion, I order the complete TPI system from these folks ---> http://www.fuelinjection.com.

The installation went great and has been trouble free till this year, when I had to switch over to an Heated O2 sensor. The change was required due to a change in the exhust system.

 

Bruce: Why decide to go w/ the LS1 now? Does the TPI have much power? Did you get Vortec heads, or just do a stock TPI engine?

 

When his funds he has, he would be better off with the LS1 then trying to piece together a TPI or SR package.
The LS1 makes 345HP and tons of torque.

I went with a stock engine when I did my TPI build up. I needed a lot of torque to make up a good match for my 2.73 rear end and 3 speed. I had to do a lot of work to drop that TPI motor into the 82, Electric fans, relocation of battery, wiring, etc. But it turn out to be a great success and inprovement in performance and driveablity. Going from the LG4 to the 350TPI made a big inprovement.

The people at FIS programmed the 165 ECM to match up my engine block, transmission and rear end, provided all of the sensors, TPI setup, fual pump, and wiring harness. The power is more then suffiancent to move the old Bird quickly down the road. FIS did a great job. I don't drag race, etc!

Check out the link about my car failing emissions. Its all stock except for the engine compartment, SFCs, STB, Wonderbar, wheels, and lowering springs. Well I guess it not stock any more!

He should purchased the LSI engine ( and its complete )from FIS because they will set the computer and wiring harness up for his car. Thus everthing should fit right in. There will be other things that he need to do to make the installation go smoothly. He will have to do a lot of homework.