Well, after always loving the looks of the TPI and getting tired of a sea of 14 inch chrome air cleaners in between chrome valve covers at the car shows and cruises, I picked up a TPI unit off a 88 'Vette. Scored everything with it except the MAF and the computer (chopped off at firewall, arrrrgh)

Going to put it on my 69 Camaro. Engine is a 355, pocket ported 041 heads, flat top 4 eye brow relief pistons (9.8:1-10:1 CR), Comp Extreme Energy 262 (.218-.224 duration at .050, .470 lift, idle to 5600 rmp power range). Now it has an early Edelbrock Performer and 650 Speed Demon carb. Headers. Trans is a built 2004R with 2200 stall Grand National converter going out to a 3.42 posi. I guesstimate that this engine is around 350-370 hp with about 390-400 lb ft of torque. No racing, street only.

This is a project that will take about a year or two to complete. I do not want to lose any power that I have now. What do I need to do to insure that with the TPI? I figured I should:
1. Port the base and get rid of the restrictions
2. Port the plenum and get rid of the restrictions
3. Should I pick up the SLP runners or extrude hone the factory
runners?
4. If I have the manifold off to make the swap, I can change the cam.
What would you run different from mine?
5. I have the factory harness. What computer should I run? Factory and
burn own proms? Mega-squirt? Holley Commander 950? Don't need
all the bells and whistles. It came with the factory computer HEI. I can
run it or my non-computer HEI and just use the injection. Pros?
Cons?

When its all said and done, how much power would this engine make? I would like it to make power up to 5300 rpms. Thanks.

 

What I would do, based on what I've seen/noticed, etc.
1-3: I would run a TPiS big mouth intake/runners with a ported plenum
4: Honestly, there are better people to ask for cam advice, but I wouldn't change it
5: You said that the harness got hacked, and you don't have a computer, base on that alone, I would go with a mega-squirt setup. I would also step up to an electronic advanced HEI. The mega-squirt will also allow you to add in the lockup torque converter (with an add on module, I believe), so you could probably pick up another MPG or two from that as well.

 

thanks for the reply. Everything I have read said the TPiS Big Mouth is just a re-badged Edelbrock with the same restrictions to flow. I will port and polish the factory intake.
Mega-squirt is an option. I do like how rugged the factory parts. I wonder if factory ecms are rugged and built to go 100K miles. This car will see 5K per year if even that.

 

SLP or similar siameze runners hog out the base use a 4th gen style PCM lots of software for tuning.

 

All you need is a custom tune
If you wanted ease and engine bay tidiness could opt for a standalone harness.
No need to gut out the redundant wires from the factory harness or attach missing ECM connectors.

If you wanted a even cleaner look could do what most do with a TPI retro fit and go for the factory MAP setup ( needs different ECM )
that does not require the air flow meter, handy if space restricted

There is a wealth of on-line TPI retrofit info available
Exp
http://fuelinjectionconnection.com/gpage1.html
http://www.hotrodhandbooks.com.au/eBooks/TPI/IX.html


Plenty of factory ECM's with over 200K on them and running fine.
The majority of ECM age related problems are to do with worn out input sensors and degrading wiring / connections / grounds

 

Sadly it requires some expensive parts in the engine in order to generate the signal required by the LSX PCM

http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonnection/24x.aspx

http://www.eficonnection.com/eficonn...omponents.aspx

 

Thanks for the replies. I think I will pick up a used factory ecm. Easy installation is secondary to cost on this one, I just dropped $9K at the paint shop for what was to be a paint job but turned out needing to replace both quarters and the tail light panel. The wife will be putting her foot down hard!

If I am understanding this correctly, the relatively low power numbers for a stock 80's tpi car was you were starting with a pretty weak engine and coupling it with an intake system that couldn't do any heavy breathing. So, if you start with a stronger engine, do some mods to the tpi to up the rpm capabilities and let it breathe up to 5200-5300 rpm, you're not going to be giving up anything the current engine makes in power but will probably gain some, correct? Especially in the torque department.

 

The goal with running the long-runner intake is to optimize the torque curve within the rpm range the engine will run. Your rpm goal is realistic. The 3.42 is a great overall gear for your plans. And if you cam it right, it'll run great.

As for harnesses, the 86-87 F-body harness takes the least work to use ince it has no bundling with the other electrical harnesses underhood. One might be better than fixing your chopped(?) Y-body harness.

The whole point of running an ECM that controls the fuel and spark is you have more control over the timing curve. Running a vaccuum HEI with it takes away some of the advantages and is less reliable than an ECM controlled HEI due to moving parts.

have fun.

 

Think I'll be able to get 350 rwh and 400+ rwt?

 

350rwhp =how much at the crank?
Torque is no problem with a TPI

Read this article to observe the limitations of long tube intakes over shorter runners ( done on a warm 383 with better parts than yours)

http://xtremecarzone.com.au/index.php?showtopic=386

100HP difference depending on intake style

 

You would do better to purchase a miniram or stealth ram intake and transfer over the injectors etc from the vette system

 

Nooooooo, I wouldn't. Don't like the looks of them, don't need the 5500 + rpm power they give, etc. I have a total of $100 in this TPI and am going to use what I have. I will port whatever I have to, I will convert to MAP, and I will change the cam if I have to. My plan is to have a 375-400 HP engine that puts out well over 400 lb ft of tq. Basically what I have now.