I was thinking of buying the ZZ383 crate engine from GM with the fast burn heads. I have a '87 L98 and was thinking of just swapping over the whole tpi onto the new 383. Can I do it? Yes I know the draw backs of not upgrading the intake, but just for kicks...

 

Yeah it would all work!

 

The intake won't match up to the heads as they have a raised runner. You would need a new intake or have to run multiple gaskets to seal it and even then it will probably leak.

 

Exactely !!!! do it right !

 

I've been looking around and found the SDPC lower intake and a TPIS one too. But they say for Vortec heads. Will that work, or what is the difference between a Vortec head and the fast burns in terms of bolting up the intake?

 

Any vortec intake manifold will bolt up just fine. I believe the fastburns are drilled to accept both the vortec style as well as the traditional style intake bolt patterns. Check the link below for some more fastburn info.

http://www.superchevy.com/tech/0310s...ng_horsepower/

Steve

 

Sweet...

 

i thought vortech style were angled more like the LT and LS motors? and non vortech are the normal heads. maybe im wrong please let me know.

 

i had this exact same setup... it was featured in chevy high performance sept 05 i believe. don't remember all the specs as i've had many motors since but i wouldn't do it again.

fastburn heads even modified weren't worth writing home about. i had roughly $12,000 into it after getting the sdpc intake, miniram III and all the other little goodies. several motors later and now i only put the lsx drivetrains in these cars.

not telling you to dont do it but i wouldn't recommend it. the only thing i can say is for a crate motor it works and the internals are dependable but there are better options.

$3500 for the crate was what i paid... not sure what they are now. i can have a ls1 complete in a car for that and get more power with better gas mileage.

good luck with it though.
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here is what i'd recommend. pull your tpi and pull it apart as well as your 700-r4. part it out and make 500+ or so towards a good drivetrain swap. save up and search your local yards for a 2-2,500 complete but used ls1 drivetrain with trans, harness and ecm. spend another $1,000 on all the little extras you'll need for the swap and enjoy your new very reliable 330 horse turnkey motor that is lighter and better on gas.

or buy your crate, swap over your tpi parts.. get maybe 275 or so horses depending on how well you tune if your lucky to even get it tuned right. save up and buy a $1,000+ intake that will work with your fast burn heads. tune again... and then you'll maybe pass a factory ls1 by 30-40 horse but you'll get 12 miles to the gallon and be another $1,000 or more in debt.

if you have any motor knowledge you can buy a ls1 hotcam kit or something comparable and for equal price between setups have 100 horses more with the ls1 as well as a lighter front end with the aluminum parts the ls1 has. makes the car handle nicer also.

anyhow there are proper places to debate the two.. just sharing m y knowledge since i've been in your exact shoes and went for the same setup but beyond with every possible bell and whistle one could buy. dont waste y our money.

 

Yeah I guess. I just thought it would be easier my route...