I went to change out my stock L98 injectors with some 24# Bosch's in my 88 IROC and discovered that someone had ruined the bolt holes on the thermostat housing- They used a bunch of JB type weld to epoxy in studs for the housing... stupid me, I tried to drill them out and retap the holes, but the intake is screwed.

I can sure find a long list of TPI intake systems through 'SEARCH' but I don't have time to learn about them all. Can you help me narrow my search down to a potent but Cali smog legal intake? I've already ported the heck out of my plenum, but I still don't understand what the differences in 'runners' are.

My goal is an autocross drivetrain. Right now I have $2000 and if I replace the intake I might as well pull the cam and heads. If I have to, I'll wait on the heads for now till I I do my bottom end.

So, can you help me at least make the best choice for the intake and let me know if I should even mess with a high output camshaft???
As usual, big thanks everyone!
Nitro

Stock TPI - stock 47mm T/B and stock plenum
Edelbrock High-Flo Base and Runners- stock 47mm T/B and stock plenum
Stock GM extrude Hone base & TPiS LTR - 52mm T/B and Extrude Plenum
TPiS BigMouth Base and TPiS LTR - 52mm T/B and ported plenum
ASM Siamesed Runners - 52mm T/B BigMouth Base and ported plenum
SLP FireHawk T-Ram - 47mm stock T/B
Accel SuperRam Upper- 1000cfm Accel T/B and BigMouth base
Holley MPFI Single Plane - 1000cfm 4bbl T/B
Holley StealthRam - 58mm T/B
MiniRam - 52mm T/B

 

Miniram, stealthram, and Holly MPFI intakes are not California legal. T-ram is rare - very rare - and probably no better than a super ram.

Super ram would be best, performance wise, in my opinion, but it's not user friendly during install.

Edelbrock and TPIS base are probably the same casting.

Runners - anything is much better than stock.

Heads - depends on how much is sucked up in the details of your budget. If you shop around, you can get an intake setup for $400(edel)-$700(superram). Cam - $250 new, $120 good used roller (like hotcam or zz4). Roller rockers - $180 used comp pro-mags. Pushrods - <$90. Gaskets, and other rebuild parts - $100?

I'd probably go with used trickflow heads for the best bang/buck. If too much $$$, maybe some aluminum L98 corvette heads (but would have to run a vette style EGR, not sure how legal that is).