i see people all over here having 355's,383's and such having tpi setups on them.. which engines will fit tpi systems? can i just buy a random chevy v8 block and put a tpi on it? even a pontiac 400? is there a year range?

 

You can buy any random, Generation I, Small Block Chevy and install a TPI on it. If the heads have the perimeter bolt style rocker covers you will need the 86 and earlier base. If you have the center bolt style rocker covers, NOT Vortec, then you need the 87 and later base.

There really is no simple answer as in will any block work in my car because not all blocks have all mounting holes drilled and tapped and some blocks don't have the lower oil passage near the oil filter which some TPI systems use for the oil switch. but you can make them work. One reason why so many hot rodders use the TPI set up is that it can be used over a bunch of different applications.


Pontiac motors are in the B.O.P. family (buick, Olds, Pontiac) and are very different than the small block chevy so no it will not work on any BOP or BBC motors.

 

Not to hijack the.thread but i was told vortec blocks will work and vortec heads but in my reading ive found out that vortec heads have a cross flow cooling system. So whats the truth as im completey stupid when it comesvto this or that will work

 

this isnt up for hijacking.. if anyone wants to take over they are more then welcome to haha.what cars in the late 80's(i have center bolt heads n a 305) had 383 and 327's?

 

None. GM never produced a factory 383. A 383 is a stroker engine (350 with a 400 crankshaft). As for the 327, I don't think it was used in anything past the late 1960s.

 

NOT STRICTLY TRUE

http://www.chevroletperformance.com/...8772&engCat=sb

http://www.chevroletperformance.com/...9101&engCat=sb

and the 400 pontiac is a totally different engine than a 400 chevy, the TPI will fit MOST first gen SBC engines with NON-vortec heads and yes there are VORTEC base intakes to convert the TPI to fit VORTEC HEADS

 

GM does sell a 383 in their performance parts book but never produced one in a "factory" car..
http://www.jegs.com/p/Chevrolet-Perf...69813/10002/-1

 

by 400 crankshaft do you mean a crankshaft from a 400 motor? isnt that a bigger motor then the 350?, so wouldnt that be alittle to long for a 350?

 

That is the point to make the stroke of the piston to travel farther taking in more air an building more compression to make bigger hP an tq numbers there is some machining u have to do to the block so the crank journal clears from hitting the block but it can be done

 

We're not talking crate engines, we're talking factory cars. I am aware of the ZZ383, we put one in a '63 Corvette here at work a few years ago.

 

You are correct if you are using pistons with the wrist pin in the stock 350 piston location. Piston manufactures make pistons with raised wrist pin locations so you can use the stock 5.7" 350 rod and other sizes. The clearance that needs to be done is along the oil pan rail and some near the base of the cylinders. This is due to the rod bolts mostly.



A good die grinder and deburring bit can knock that out right away.

Here's a good article on the 383 SBC's

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...y/viewall.html