Don't want the loss in HP with TPI. Here is my situation. I'm gonna buy an 88-90 TA and want to make it a real screamer. Stock TPI just doesn't seem to support the kind of hp I'm looking for. What I'm thinking of doing is getting either a nice 383 or ZZ4, but i don't want the TPI to rob me of the hp I can get out of these engines. I don't have to worry about emmisions, but would really like some of the benefits of fuel injection.

Would I be better off just getting one of these engines and just run a carb instaid? What are the true benefits of the mini ram. Is it worth the money? I figure a nice 383 would offset the loss of tq while the mini ram would squeeze out the extra ponies.

I'm just trying to figure out what i should buy as a starting point. What I mean is should I pay the extra cash for per say a 350 with a knock, but a good TPI and swap in a new block or should I just get a car with no engine and swap in the 383 or ZZ4? i'm aiming at high 11's to low 12's.

I have heard good things about aftermarket FI systems made by holley etc. Would this be a better option? Any help would be greatly apreciated.

 

Let me give you my take on the subject:

FI is awesome. I currently have a 355 with a 4 speed, a performer RPM manifold and a cam. When I start the engine, it doesn't want to idle for about five minutes when it's cold. After that, you have to wait for the manifold to heat up to get all the bugs out of the system, and that takes a good 20 minutes of driving. Throttle resonse is so/so, and I love the blistering torque of the TPI.

One of the main things people complain about is the idea that tpi cannot make as much HP as the miniram. In peak numbers, this is certainly true. Area under the HP curve, not so much. Check out my post under TPI redline for further details. I am in the same boat with you though.

I bought an accel TPI Manifold for my tpi swap this winter. I justified this by looking at Kevin91Z's and Jason Aschle's et's and Mph's. Over 107 mph and low 13's with stock runners and the rough equivalent of an aftermarket manifold. These will support a decent HP while providing blistering TQ and driveability.

Well, what happens when I want a little more? Take a look at Lingenfelter's engine packages. 440 HP from a 420 that will rev to 6000? I don't know about you, but I don't want to spin my engine much higher than 6000. After that point, I'll just get a blower, or a turbo system ... or maybe get married and start a family, but I've got my money on blower.

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355 c.i.
Dart 180 Heads
Lunati 224/224 cam
Harland Sharp 1.5 rockers
Performer RPM Manifold
Holley 600 cfm double pumper
Hooker Super Competition Headers
Flowmaster Exhaust
Competition Engineering Sub-frame connectors
Super T-10
GM posi 3.42 rear
Hurst Roll Control
13.9@102

 

I'm in the same boat as you, looking for fuel injection options for a 400. I'm running a TPI 350 now and yea, it sure makes alot of torque, I'd like to be ahead of my worthy advesary at the finish line too, not just for for the first 300 feet. Also, I'm betting a TPI 406 would shred my t-5 pretty quickly. I also can't stand carbs, way too finicky for me.

Anyway, heres some of the options I've come across.

1. Miniram -- good flow, REAL expensive, like $1200 for the intake and fuel rails.

2. Aftermarket TBI, like holley pro-jection. I havent looked into these too much, I want port inejction.

3. Aftermarket PFI, Edelbrock makes a really complete setup for about $2000, its supposed to be quite good. Also REAL expensive tho. Comes with absolutely everything you need to convert a carb car to FI.

4. Drilled carb intake. Holley sells these under the weiand name, you can get a single plane manifold drilled for injectors, fuel rails, and a 1000 cfm throttle body for around $900.

5. LT1 intake. If you're willing do to some work, you can modifiy an LT1 intake to bolt up to older heads. You can get these for under 200 with fuel rails and inejctors.

For an ECM, a stock TPI ecm will run all of these except the holley TBI becuase of the injectors. An aftermarket DFI comptuer will run anything, but expensive. If you're interested in building your own DFI fuel only controller, check out the Megasquirt. Its on the board but I'm too lazy to look up the post.

 

Get ready to spend alot of money to run 11s. 12s is expensive enough with a 3rd gen.. Our cars are heavy and require alot of hp to pull low 12s. I planned my project just as you are with a LONG term goal of 11s and 12s. I started with the motor first, upgrading to a balanced 355 with steel crank and 4 bolt mains. Important thing to start with is the bottom end. You can make all the mods you want to after that to try to get you where you want to be. I would put your money in the rotating assembly and heads if I were you. Injection is definately the way to go, and stock tpi will even put you in the 12's. I am running 13.4 with a 3.08 rear and stock tpi setup (24 lb. injectors and custom prom though.) There is so much more I could do with induction now when I finally can afford it. Figure it this way, the intake and fuel delivery is easy to work on and get to while still in the car.. You want to avoid having to do major engine repairs if at all possible. Good luck!