Greetings everyone,

My deployment is winding down and I have been gathering parts to assemble a fresh L98 when I take my firebird out of its 5 year hiatus. The original L98 will be pulled and stored, this will be a fresh build. However I have some questions and would like some input on what I'm trying to do.

Heres what I have so far:

2 bolt 350 roller block, stock cast crank, powdered metal rods, forged speed pro flat tops

SLP runners, stock plenum, base (all will be ported) and throttle body

LT4 Hot Cam

083 Heads (will be machined for lift and some exhaust side work)

Dyno Don headers

Now is worth while to invest in a Edelbrock base for this combination, being that it is a mild build. Of course if I did use and Edelbrock it would be ported just as I plan to with the stock base. Secondly, the LT4 cam was free and I am aware it is not the most popular cam for TPI engines. That being said I am not opposed to purchasing another cam so recommendations are welcome. Also I'm sure many have experience with similar builds around here so and other tips tricks or advise is always welcome!

 

Are you going for a budget build? Regardless, I would get an aftermarket base... They are a pretty big choking point. Also, why go with 083 heads? You should try to get a nice set of aftermarket heads to compliment the intake setup you will be going with. If you are trying to go budget, I would at least get a set of Vortec heads from a picknpull and have them freshened up and ported.

A set of Vortec heads and an aftermarket base will go perfectly with that cam and runner setup. I would at least add those to the build.

While the engine is out, have you considering tossing in a stall converter?

 

Yes this is a bit of a budget build as the car will be weekend driver so I wasn't looking into spending the cash on after market heads. After all I got the nova to rip wheelstands at the track lol. I do in fact already have a set of vortec heads (a cash for clunkers score at my dads dealership before he retired) however I kind of dismissed them after reading up on how poorly the vortec lowers flow without some major work, suppose I will have to do some more research on that.

I have also been looking into converters, something around 2400 stall would do I think. I have been leaning towards a TCI

 

The Vortec heads outflow any stock TPI head by far.

 

I have an Edge 2900 stall I am going to be selling when I get back from deployment and separate... I would probably look around 2400-2900ish...

 

PM when you are ready to part with it, I would be interested in that. If you don't mind me asking where are you currently deployed? I personally will not redeploy home until the fall.

 

I am aware of the Vortec's superior intake port and chamber design, however my concern was with the Edelbrock vortec base. From what I have read in out of the box form they barely flow as much air as the stock base manifold. I have seen threads where the injector boss has been removed from the intake track and shorter injectors used so I will have to look more into that.

 

I would change the camshaft...... the hot cam is like getting to third base with your dream girl and she leaves! You will be wanting more....... my favorite cam for a similar set up is a comp 286hr10 its specs are sweet and will out perform the hot cam all day 230-560-110°and lastlythose heads gotta go YES they are the desired casting above all iron TPI heads but still below the bar my suggestion above the vortec design will be the TFS heads

 

I have been looking into the 268xfi cam, seems to be a popular choice on TPI engine with good heads. I have been tossing around just going to an aftermarket head, and TFS and AFR offer comparable heads at just about the same price. Would a 195cc runner be to much ? Also this engine is going to maintain the emissions equip. if that makes any difference in cam choice. My wife's job may take to Cali. so I'm trying to stay green ya know.

Also I suppose I need to make a decision on if I want to stay budget or go big and double the build price with aftermarket heads and base... hmm decisions decisions.

 

195cc head is good to go. If you are going to California hit up some members that live there to see what you can get away with smog wise the comp came CC 503 can pass emissions also so there is another option.

 

To be honest, I am going to be selling my Trick Flow 195's and probably the 268XFI, along with my stall when I go home... I am going to be stepping it up quite a bit since I am going 9" and already have the T56, so I feel I might as well step up the power...

If you are interested, we can probably set something up. I will be home in Feb, and I also have a couple superram setups I am going to be selling...

I feel it is best for you to stick with the hotcam, get the vortec heads ported, and go with the vortec base... Port work goes a long ways, and buget wise I think it is in your best interest.

 

I've got my stock base opened up to a 1205 intake, and 1 3/4" round ports

 

I dont know it the TFS heads have an EO # maybe Bullydawg could tell you
AFRs do they are legal so is the superram in can
Port the daylights out of the SR youll get good results
Dont need a ton of cam to make a good combo with those parts.
I would not use a 230@050 cam with a TPI fwiw. By the time the cam starts working th elong tube runners are wheezing for air.

 

"Port the daylights out of the SR youll get good results"

I will 2nd that. We even have had the runners welded up some to really open it up. The results have been very good.

 

The TFS heads do have an EO #.

 

This is the direction I'm leaning towards, I'm just doing a bit more research on removing or minimizing the injector boss in the intake runner. My father is doing some running around on my behalf talking with the local engine shops on port work to the heads, mostly exhaust side work and bowl clean up. I think with a good converter, tune, and some cool fall air this set up will hit in the high 12's. Which is one goal, the other being retain some decent mileage.

 

113 heads over vortec heads, after putting money to max out flow vortecs but u could buy some aftmark heads after the work

 

I would like some 113's however the vortecs are free and already in my possession so its just to convenient to pass up. I don't plan on do a max effort port job on the heads, just clean up the bowls and some work to the exhaust side. The plan is to leave the intake runner alone. Instead the focus will be on every SBC heads weakness, the exhaust side. They will also be machined for lift.

 

Well u got the plan man shoot for it

 

I really think this is the best way to go about it... at the cost of most 113 heads, you are coming close to a set of used Trickflow heads. Best to stick with what you have and port it. There is a guy running high 11's on the vortec heads running a carb on top (all ported of course), so I honestly think the restricting point is going to be the intake... Maybe try to find a superram for a good price. I would justify that over going to the 113 heads.

 

How much 113 heads going for I got some clean ones complete for 350 I have a second set for 200 bare. Vortec heads are about 250 300 but the 113 heads can take more lift stock, and 50 lbs lighter. More intakes too. Both are good stock heads for mild power. Most aftmark heads I see used and cheap has like a 210 intake runner and that's kinda big for a street car.

 

Thanks for the input everyone! my father is getting the heads to the machine shop here in the next week or two, so I am dedicated to the vortecs. As for intake I am evaluating how bad I really want to retain the stock look of the tpi set up vs. just going to a superram. However I still have roughly four months until I'm state side to work on anything so I am still researching what people have done with the vortec base. Only issue I have now is the egr, as I am in no way about to drill my brand new Dyno Dons for the SDPC egr conversion. I may just run a line from beyond the collectors or something we will see.

 

If they are brand new, you could try and see if he would be willing to swap them out with ones with Air Tubes installed... Either way, the EGR is pretty easy to delete if you have the stuff to change your BIN.

Are you going to get bigger valves put into the Vortec heads?

 

That is certainly a possibility, I will know more once they get looked over at the machine shop. My father has known this guy since the early 70's and he has done all the machine work to everything my family has owned so I'm more or less waiting on his recommendations.

 

Im going to eliminate the cold start injector on this build. I have 85-88 SLP runners and the Scoggin Dickey vortec manifold, will the two be compatible?? The runners are in the box still and the Summit store is roughly 2 hours from my parents home so I could swap out for the 89-92 runners if I need to. Anyway, let me know what you all think.

 

You just need to get a 9th injector eliminator plug.
I got mine off eBay.
No need to change runners.