Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
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From: Alabama
Car: 87 Firebird, 89 Trans Am
Engine: 406, LB9
Transmission: T56, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Torsen, 2.73 Posi
Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
From the July 2016 issue. I don't see a link anywhere on their website for the article so I've scanned in a copy.
They built a 383 with an Edelbrock base, "stock" runners, XFI280 cam, and AFR Eliminator 195s and made 384/454 at 5800/3200. I say "stock" runners because the middle left picture on the last page clearly shows Edelbrock's Hi-Flo runners on the engine.
It's nice to see a TPI engine get an article but I have to say I'm a little suspicious about their numbers... At least from what I've read here on making power with TPI.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...zkzUERyYmQ5SUU




They built a 383 with an Edelbrock base, "stock" runners, XFI280 cam, and AFR Eliminator 195s and made 384/454 at 5800/3200. I say "stock" runners because the middle left picture on the last page clearly shows Edelbrock's Hi-Flo runners on the engine.
It's nice to see a TPI engine get an article but I have to say I'm a little suspicious about their numbers... At least from what I've read here on making power with TPI.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...zkzUERyYmQ5SUU




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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
I read that as well. Interesting results.
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From: Fort Collins, CO
Car: 1991 Firebird Formula
Engine: 5.7L TPI
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Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Suspicious number perhaps, but cool nonetheless. Where could I pick up one of these time traveling future magazines?
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 237
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From: Alabama
Car: 87 Firebird, 89 Trans Am
Engine: 406, LB9
Transmission: T56, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Torsen, 2.73 Posi
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,228
Likes: 1,156
From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
That's how all magazines are, generally a 3 month lead time.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
I dont see the edelbrock runners on there
And 384 hp on 383 inches is NOT impressive. I certainly can believe that. 5800 rpm peak seems high however
And 384 hp on 383 inches is NOT impressive. I certainly can believe that. 5800 rpm peak seems high however
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
I'd agree. Especially considering the AFR 195s and cam. They apologize more than once in the article for the limitations of the stock TPI intake. It seems to me that with the Lunati forged rotating assembly, there's more in the works for this engine. Another 100 hp isn't unreasonable. Goodbye, TPI.
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,895
Likes: 429
From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,228
Likes: 1,156
From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Page 48 of the mag, look at the top and middle left of the page pictures, I had to look two or 3 times.
Last edited by TTOP350; May 4, 2016 at 05:49 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Alabama
Car: 87 Firebird, 89 Trans Am
Engine: 406, LB9
Transmission: T56, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Torsen, 2.73 Posi
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
As far as saying I was suspicious about their power figures, I've always been under the impression that TPI wouldn't make peak power at those RPMs. If these are believable numbers for the setup then I'm glad to be wrong. I'd be happy with a motor making them.
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: NC
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 357 Single plane and a Ysi vortech
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.50 9"
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
That's not that impressive, but about right. I made LOW 300s with AFR 195s and TPI at the wheels.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Some of their pictures definitely have the stock runners, no argument there, but the middle left picture on 48 shows Edelbrock's runners. I imagine they'll do a follow up article talking about gains or lack of gains with aftermarket runners and they let that picture slip through.
As far as saying I was suspicious about their power figures, I've always been under the impression that TPI wouldn't make peak power at those RPMs. If these are believable numbers for the setup then I'm glad to be wrong. I'd be happy with a motor making them.
As far as saying I was suspicious about their power figures, I've always been under the impression that TPI wouldn't make peak power at those RPMs. If these are believable numbers for the setup then I'm glad to be wrong. I'd be happy with a motor making them.
Anyway the cam and head package is enough to turn 6500 rpm. What probably is happening is power is peaking near 4500 but flatlining out to 5500+ so they quoted more rpm than what its really peaking at.
Or theres a slight chance it hit a harmonic wave point at the given runner lengths and a slight blip in power occurred up that high
Regardless, swap to a single plane efi and large tb, it will make 100+ hp more
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: NJ
Car: 92 Firebird
Engine: 4.8 LR4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 Bolt
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Those are definitely stock runners in that picture on the LH side
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From: Stafford, Connecticut
Car: 87 Iroc
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Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Read the sticks up top on ten times the torque. The article says they got 400 horse with stock runners.The Edlebrock runners only made 25 more horsepower.
Last edited by Steve Mack; May 5, 2016 at 10:03 AM. Reason: add info
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From: Fayetteville, NC
Car: 1992 Z28 1991 RS
Engine: LB9 LO3
Transmission: 5 speeds
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Member
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From: Stafford, Connecticut
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: modified 350
Transmission: high performance built 700R4
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 3:73
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Just go to the top of the page and read TPI shoot out.You would be surprised at what they got out of a stock TPI setup
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
You build a 500-550 hp motor but only make 400 with stock tpi. Thats not getting bang for buck
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From: Stafford, Connecticut
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: modified 350
Transmission: high performance built 700R4
Axle/Gears: Strange S60 3:73
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
I have a saved a car magazine article that used a ported stock base .ported 113 aluminum heads .ported plenum TPIS runners larger throttle body .They got 458 horsepower ,534 ft.pounds of torque with a 383 engine. The article is from a 2007 Super chevy mag.I'm not saying this is the way to go.Just that there is more to be gotten out of TPI than people think.Like I said Read the sticky at the top of the TPI post.I know you have done a lot of different setups and got great results.
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From: NYC / Jersey
Car: 1990 Trans Am GTA
Engine: Turbo 305 w/MS2
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
Something is wrong with their numbers, can't see horsepower peaking that high w/stock runners. Would love to see a dyno graph.
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: NC
Car: 1987 Iroc
Engine: 357 Single plane and a Ysi vortech
Transmission: T56
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Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
You do leave a TON on the table, but with my TPI experience, nothing helps that much staying TPI, unless you go to extreme measures.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 237
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From: Alabama
Car: 87 Firebird, 89 Trans Am
Engine: 406, LB9
Transmission: T56, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Torsen, 2.73 Posi
Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
I didn't really catch it at the time but they mention in the caption on the first page that this was a former GM High Tech Performance project car. Well, today a search for 383 TPI turned up the original couple of articles for the car/engine. It looks like they mostly assembled it back in 2013 but it was never completely buttoned up and ran until now. It doesn't look like they changed anything engine related from before.
Here's the original articles:
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...ious-for-more/
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...oject-top-gun/
Here's the original articles:
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...ious-for-more/
http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...oject-top-gun/
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From: PNW
Car: 91 Black Formula KR
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Re: Anybody going to talk about Car Craft's TPI build?
There was an old TPI Shoot out article where they tested stock, and then started changing components, high flow base, then runners, etc...
One motor made over 500 tq (Don't remember the hp#), I agree that the cam they picked is not best for TPI setup, and for sure not the stock runners... Would be nice to see what an "optimized" setup would do...
One motor made over 500 tq (Don't remember the hp#), I agree that the cam they picked is not best for TPI setup, and for sure not the stock runners... Would be nice to see what an "optimized" setup would do...
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