When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
All the resto-mods I see at the local car shows. The LS Motors, with plastic intakes, and coil packs. They just don't look nice. The TPI motors are the prettiest of all times. I really feel nothing beats it.
Maybe I'm old school, but a coil pack motor just looks so weird. I'd rather see spark plug wires in a nice loom...
I completely agree with you. L-98/LB-9 and LT-5 are the best looking engines GM has ever had! I am amazed at the power and Torque of the newer motors but for looks the old school has 'em beat.
I too am amazed by the new technology. The motor in my wife's Escalade just pulls and pulls and pulls all the way to red-line. It's a total monster motor.... and that's all factory stock. I'm sure with some minor mods, it'll be beyond any old school SBC. But when you open the hood, you're looking at plastic, and even more plastic. It's nothing to look at what so ever.
[QUOTE=Eightyninef;6060344]All the resto-mods I see at the local car shows. The LS Motors, with plastic intakes, and coil packs. They just don't look nice. The TPI motors are the prettiest of all times. I really feel nothing beats it.
Maybe I'm old school, but a coil pack motor just looks so weird. I'd rather see spark plug wires in a nice loom...[ You are not by yourself.
I always wondered, when GM designed TPI, did they purposely go for looks first or did the engineers let the need to obtain great low end torque drive the design. I wish someone would write a book on development of TPI at GM. Would be interesting reading.
I always wondered, when GM designed TPI, did they purposely go for looks first or did the engineers let the need to obtain great low end torque drive the design. I wish someone would write a book on development of TPI at GM. Would be interesting reading.
I think I read somewhere that it was designed for the low flowing 305 with torque in mind.
I remember trying to paint my TPI hardware. The runners would look great but then a small imperfection in the paint would drive me to re-sand and re-paint. I must have sanded so much I think I wore all the lines off the plenum. And in the end it never looked perfect, I always had a little finger print or something in them using cheap paint.
IF I did it again, I would go powder coated route or similar. I did enjoy the way it looked sure, but what I really loved was the way it would pull with just a mild 350, even with a 2.73 rear... felt really good considering the weight of the vehicle. I did port everything to max, removed a ton of material from plenum.
I agree 100% When I did the restomod on my 56 Chevy I could of used any motor I wanted. I probably have more in this TPI than I would have if I went with an LS. But, for me speed was not the only thing I was thinking of. I had a lb9 in a 84 Square body pickup back in High school and loved the way that motor looked and pulled. So looks and torque is why I went with the TPI. For give the dust and loose wires we weren't completely finished with it.
I've seen that written several times, and really don't understand where that came from, because it's not actually true.
I have NO info to argue with you, but I've read countless threads, and even a few books and magazine articles that say it was designed for the 305. Again, without hearing it from the horses mouth, I don't really know, but THAT is where it comes from.
This is #1
Not a fan of the LT5's appearance. Sure, it's cool because we all know that hey, it's an LT5! ....but it's clearly not a traditional small/big block, and just looks proportionally off to me. ....but don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a ZR1!
I have NO info to argue with you, but I've read countless threads, and even a few books and magazine articles that say it was designed for the 305. Again, without hearing it from the horses mouth, I don't really know, but THAT is where it comes from.
Not a fan of the LT5's appearance. Sure, it's cool because we all know that hey, it's an LT5! ....but it's clearly not a traditional small/big block, and just looks proportionally off to me. ....but don't get me wrong, I'd love to have a ZR1!
I love the way TPI looks and the torque. Yes the TPI set up was designed for the 305 to emulate the torque of earlier carbed 350 small blocks. In the mid 1980's GM was considering stopping production of the 350 due to emissions and fuel economy standards. This is a big reason why stock L98's run out of breath a little earlier than the LB9's - the induction system was designed for a motor with 45 fewer cubic inches.
Wouldn't have taken much for GM to increase the plenum, runners, and base for the 350 but, the 305 &350 were technically in the same classification. So it was cheaper for them to transfer the intake to the 350 with (no changes other than injectors and PROM) to clear the federal regulations hurdle.
Not a big deal, there is after market support to increase the performance.
What do you guys think of BBK's ill-fated TPI setup they never sold. Looked like a turtle while original TPI looks like a spider. BBK's setup was similar to the accel super-ram with the shorter runners but with a cooler looking plenum. Wonder if BBK ever has garage sales. Would love to pick a pre-production version.
I thought the "turtle ram" was pretty ugly. Like you plopped a wad of melted goo on top of the bottom half of a super ram. ...and I don't see how it could've been anything more than marginally better than the stock TPI. There's a pretty epic thread about it here on TGO.
If you look at the horsepower and torque numbers in the sticky Ten times the torque.The stock tuned port numbers are really good.I don't think it was made for the 305 only.I think that's an urban myth.
I cut up an $1800.00 C4 and polished the front and rear suspension and the TPI for my 49 Chevy truck. Cut down 98 S10 bed with 49 fenders. Running Vette brakes.
TPI is one of the best looking for sure. Is there a 'stand alone' wiring kit to run a TPI?
Painless wiring has several different wiring kits. I bought books on ebay and changed mine from the 85 Vette MAF to the 92 Vette MAP system. Good book out that I used a lot , too. Chevy TPI Swappers Guide by John Baechtel. I did my own wiring by the computer pin numbers. Got it right the first time. Fired right up.
I cut up an $1800.00 C4 and polished the front and rear suspension and the TPI for my 49 Chevy truck. Cut down 98 S10 bed with 49 fenders. Running Vette brakes.
Took mine to Top Notch Hamburgers Hot Rod Night here in Austin last Saturday. There was another TPI powered truck there, an early 50s Chevy but definitely not as nice as the truck above.
My truck may not be the prettiest, not the fastest but I built it pretty much from junkyard parts by myself.
Truck: 1989 GMC Sierra sportside bought for $800 3 years ago, 2 owner, rust free Texas truck.
Engine/trans/wiring: 1987 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
Electric fan: 1996 Ford Thunderbird
Power antenna: 1994 Buick LeSabre
Express down windows: 1994 Pontiac Bonneville
Telescopic Steering column from pivot pins up: 1989 Cadillac DeVille
Telescopic Steering wheel: 1986 Chevrolet Corvette
Seat; gauges; cupholders: 1993 Chevrolet C1500
Stereo: 1994 Buick Park Avenue modified for an Aux. input
Rear sway bar: 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
Temp/compass Rear view mirror: 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
Power, heated, auto-dim Side mirrors: 1999 Cadillac Escalade
Remote keyless entry with alarm: 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix
Updated chime module with auto-locks: 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
And a lot more, plus I am always looking to add options and features. Next mods will likely be Flash-to-pass relay from a Cadillac; overhead console from a Suburban/Tahoe; maybe auto-headlights and possibly integrating a 2002 Pontiac Trans Am BCM.
Sorry, this turned in to a build post...haha If anyone has any questions about adding factory options such as keyless entry, compass/temp mirror; tilt/tele steering or anything else, just ask as much of this can be applied to a third gen.
Last edited by TPI Sierra; Aug 9, 2016 at 10:17 PM.
TPI is prettiest. When I first saw TPI, I couldn't believe they came that way from the factory. It was well thought out by GM. It was obvious they new the importance of engine bay appearance in their performance line-up.
I acquired a TPI setup a while back, which I'll probably set up as a display piece in my garage/work space. It's a cool system.
I always loved the look of em. My favorite SBC engine to this day and I remember the first car I bought with it, a 91 Z28. My dad lookt over in the engine bay and said "what kinda damn octopus mother %$# is this"
I too have always loved the TPI setup. Kinda reminds me of the movie Alien when the baby Alien wrapped around the face of one of the characters. When I bought my 3rd gen TPI was a must. Here is a pic of mine now. Dressed up and cleaned up with some red vinyl wrap.
DSCN5056 by David Martin, on Flickr 
...and I don't see how it could've been anything more than marginally better than the stock TPI. There's a pretty epic thread about it here on TGO. 
