Figured this would be the best place to ask.........here's my situation. I have a 88 350 tbi out of my old work truck which I plan to freshen/performance build up and use in a 72 chevelle. This car will be a toy.

Trying to decide if it would be cost effective performance wise to pick up a used TPI setup to top it off, or if I would be better sticking with a carb.

From what I've read these, when stock, are limited performance wise.

Any input/advice welcome and appreciated. Thanks, Kevin

 

Cost effectiveness? Definitely stay with the carb.

 

Not arguing with anyone and everybody has their reasons for running what they like.

Smoothness of operation?
Econony of operation?
Really GREAT torque?
Self Diagnosis?
Looks super Kewl?
Runs fabalous?
Better engine longevity?
Easier Tuning?

TPI all the way, bud.

I don't remember who said it but it was something like this:

"Fuel injection has been around for 40 years. If you're still running a carburetor you may as well be riding a horse."

 

carb is cheap and easy to make power with... fuel injection is picky and can be a serious pain in the *** to tune

 

First and foremost thanks all for the replies

I am familiar with all that goes with tweaking fuel injection from my GN, just wasn't familiar at all with the limitations of the stock TPI setup. This is just a zero budget toy to me and I'm trying to put every dollar where it can be used best.

Car is a beater which I am only keeping around so I can learn to put on full quarters, floor pans, etc (learn from my mistakes) and who knows when or if that will happen

Thanks again all for the input, Kevin

 

I'm a fan of the TPI, but it will have problems breathing in the upper RPM's due to the long tube design. Don't get me wrong, it's very cost effective, and it will have pretty good performance.

 

I don’t think it’s worth all the hassle to switch over to TPI from a carb. You are not going to gain performance if you have a good carb and intake.

 

I tune mine sitting in an airconditioned room, in my easy chair while watching TV munching on 'tater chips.

Sure beats the heck outta leaning over a hot engine with sweat rolling into my eyes getting my hands all nasty and getting grease stains on the front or my shirt.

I install my 'carb' adjustments in a ZIF socket with two fingers.
Throw my fity buck laptop in there and go for a ride.

Come back and go back to my easy chair and do it all again.
Great fun... eyes aren't burning from the salt water, shirt isn't wet with perspiration, hands don't need to be scrubbed with gojo.
Life is good.
Carb=Life Sux
ECM/EFI = Life is good.

I'm not talking about it from something I've read, either.
Just changed mine over on Good Friday weekend.

Engine runs better in ALL modes.
Cranks up quicker.
Idles smoother.
Responds much better.
Makes GOBS more power.
It's FUN to tune and tinker with.

BTW.. there was NOTHING wrong with my Q-Jet carb and manifold...other than 9-10 mpg...and sucky performance and being temperamental and cold natured. etc,etc,etc.
And did I mentioned it sucked gas like it was on it's mothers breast?

Got 14.23 mpg yesterday. Up from a best of 10.
That's a 42% increase with the TPI over the carb.
Hmmmmmm....??????

The engine runs like it NEVER has before. LOVE IT.

If you have a carb....get rid of it. They are only 'right' about 1 day out of a year and for only about 1 minute of that day.
Yes.. get the temp just right, humidity just right, altitude just right and they will run 'good'.
An ECM can make more self adjustments in ONE minute than you can make to your carb. in a LIFETIME.

Think about THAT for a few minutes.

A computer controlled engine is what you want.
You control the computer (by tuning) and it controls the engine from that point on AND makes up for all the INHERENT shortcomings carburetors have.

Come on guys, you all CAN do it. You can learn EFI.
That's probably why the most of you that reccomend carbs do so...because you UNDERSTAND carburetors better.
You can learn and understand EFI too. And then you can reap all the benefits it provides with your hotrods and daily drivers.

You don't have to use TPI. There are other EFI induction systems wiothout the TPI flow limits; HSR,SuperRam,MiniRam for you guys that want to spin up to and over 6000rpm.
However EFI is almost mandatory particularly for a street drive machine..

Race on...................................................

 

Both my daily drivers are 5.7 TPI's and get +20 mpg around town, but I'd choose carb for a performance toy driven for fun, not economy. Cheaper, easier to tune, more top end for less bucks.

 

VetNutJim I have nothing against EFI. My car has a stealthram 355 in it that I hope will run mid 12's at the track this year. But tuning takes time to learn when it comes to efi. It's not just changing some jets like on a carb as i'm sure you know. Not to mention you have to buy a laptop, all the software, a chip adaptor, chips. And then for him to convert he's gonna have to put in high pressure fuel lines and fuel pump, get the computer, wiring harness and then learn to tune it all on a computer in little tables of #'s. If he has the money and time to throw around then sure EFI is the way to go. He could just buy the stealthram kit from holley the comes with the stealthram and the commander 950 to control it.

If his car is going to be a toy I would just carb it and be ready to go. But he never mentioned if it's gonna be a street toy or a toy for the track or how much he's gonna use it. TPI isn't bad at all for a street toy, torque is always fun to play with. But like you said if he's gonna race it at the track like me then he should get one of the other intakes.

More info from you kevin would help people give you feedback. How much do you plan on driving it? Do you plan on racing it?