The brakes and suspension on my car are finished aside from a few items. Now I'm ready to tackle the drivetrain. Tentatively, I'd like to go with a SDPC 360 HP TPI Vortec Custom Crate Engine Assembly under my TPI and bolt it up to a T56 manual. As you all know that combination will take some time to save for. In the mean time, what can I do to improve the performance on what I've got? Some of you may question why I don't rebuild my engine instead of buying a crate engine and that's because I have my engine ear marked for a hot rod and I don't want the down time required. The only mods I've done are a Random Technology cat and a Flowmaster 3" cat back. The mods I'm considering are: SLP Cold Air Induction Package, modify the stock MAF, port the plenum, TPIS runners, SLP 1 3/4" headers, flow balancing the stock injectors, and adjustable fuel pressure regulator. I don't want to spend money on an intake manifold or heads because those will come with the crate engine. So, I'll welcome any and all advice, but please be gentle.

 

A good set of exhaust headers, and intake runners, would be a great investment both now and for the future engine upgrade. The engine choice looks very nice, if I hadn't gotten a deal on an LS1 I would have been playing with the Vortec TPI manifold and a set of FastBurn heads.

The TPIS runners are equivalent to Arizona Speed & Marine runners, but with some porting. Compare prices and make the decision. They're both tubular which is good, not cast like SLP and Edelbrock runners.

As for headers, opinions vary wildly so do some searching here and make your own decision. SLP headers are the nicest, being stainless steel, but fitment with their 1-3/4" ones tends to be problematic for some people. If you're down to 1-5/8" headers, Hooker 2055 with ceramic coating shaves off some cost and fitment is a non-issue. Again, compare data and prices and make a decision.

Adjustable fuel regulator and injectors are also good re-useable upgrades. I liked my Holley regulator, fit well and needed no tools to adjust. For injectors, I'd just grab a new set of Ford 24# ones instead of cleaning the tired-out stockers.

 

Yeah, I agree about the injectors. Rich Jensen at www.cruzinperformance.com said as much: "The injectors you have are the gray and silver Multecs. They have the
highest failure rate of any injector ever installed in the TPI engines. You
have already experienced two of them failing and now the rest are most
likely following suit. It's not a matter of "if" they are going to fail, but
simply a matter of "when" they will fail." He suggested junking the Multecs and buying a new set. Kevinc, why do you like Ford injectors? Anyone else have any comments on injector brand?

 

They fit TPI fuel rails better than most aftermarket injectors and can use the GM retaining clips. Very low failure rate, whereas Accel got a bad name here a while back (do a search).

Opinions vary on whether the retaining clips are needed, I prefer having them.

 

I didn't do a search on Accel, but I will now that you mentioned it. Thanks. I did read a lot on how my engine will run rich with 24# injectors as opposed to the stock 22#. Even SDPC said as much. What do you think? Thanks in advance.