The past November i finally took my 87 t/a off the road and it is no longer my daily driver. having said that it is time for some major overhaul work to be done on it. Im currently working on the paint (again due to rust from being close to the ocean and scratches from idiots in parking lots) and have a set of 3.73 gears ordered and will be ready for insall when the paint is done.

By the end of this summer i will be purchasing a rebuilt TPI motor, but right now im on the fence on if i should do a 350 and do some mild performance upgrades (intake runners, beefier cam, and other bolt ons) or if i should just go all out and get a rebuilt 383 TPI and throw that in.

Only things im concerned with is if #1 the rest of the car (700r4 trans and other stock items) can handle a 383 and #2 i have heard of people complaining of too much power from a 383 and attempting to pass cars on the highway at 65 mph and fish tailing while passing.

Any opinions or ideas will be very helpful as i still have a few more months to decide on this issue. either way its not worth working on the stock 305 TPI with 176k miles on it lol.

Thanks all
-Brian

 

I woulnt worry about #2. Just having a 383 isnt going to make a huge difference. The parts you put on the 383 make the most difference. I've read in a few places that if everything else stays the same except for going from 350 CI to 383 CI, its about a 30 to 40 horse increase. It takes a lot to spin at 65. That would be a completely built up 383, not a basic one.

As far as wether the axle will hold it is another story. Plenty of people, including my brother, have broke them on stock motors. Then there are other people who are using them into the 9's.

 

yeah, 383 has been on my mind a lot. im just becoming a gear head. i still dont yet fully understand engine parts lol i understand the working concept but i have yet to figure out all the parts lol. i have had people telling me a 350 is a better option and just do some mild tuning to it.
this is actually the 350 i had in mind because this guy seems to be rebuilding them pretty decently despite where he seems to advertise his sales: http://http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotor...Q5fAccessories