Hi. New to the forums.

I have a 1987 IROC with a gm 350/290 hp crate engine. It has the original TPI on it. I'd like to upgrade and get a bit more horsepower by adding aluminum heads and a new cam. I'm trying to find out which aluminum heads will work with my TPI. I understand that the 1987 TPI has a different bolt pattern on the intake than 86 and older. If it's too much trouble I guess I can dump the TPI and go the carburetor route. Any info or ideas would be great.

Thanks. Chris

 

Any will work, but you might have to modify the 4 center bolt holes on the intake manifold. I think AFR's are already cut like L98 heads and have the correct bolt angles. Its not hard to oval the intake manifold holes however

 

what are you looking to spend?

 

I'd like to keep the price down to somewhere around $1000.

 

Hard to find much around that price unless used

 

Thanks for the info. AFR's are under $1600 at Summit. Not too bad.

 

Check with AD Performance as well.

They used to be closer to 1300! Prices have soared in last 10 yrs lol

It all depends on what you wanna do. Dart shp 180 heads arent bad either for the price. Get them from weingartner with proper springs

 

The problem you run into is not one of whether it'll fit black and white, but whether or not the money is worth the performance. That TPI....LOVE IT....but it's gonna limit your performance. I can't see spending top dollar for AFRs going under a stock TPI. ....even modded....it just won't see the full potential. Now this is opening a GIANT can of worms and multiple other discussions, but I think it's worth mentioning.

....ultimately I think it's really up to just how FAR down the rabbit hole you wanna go.

 

Edelbrock 6085 centerbolt heads.

 

I have the 350/260 GM crate motor. It was a bad choice. I should have went with the Vortec L31 crate. But anyway, I installed Trick Flow 175 aluminum heads a few years ago. They were about $1300 then. I also installed a comp camshaft, did some porting on the intake, installed a ported plenum and SLP runners. If your not dead set on aluminum heads and can ditch the EGR, you should take a look at a set of Vortec heads. A few companies, like scoggin dickey, sell modded versions of the vortecs ready to bolt on for allot less than aluminum heads. The choice is yours.

 

Thanks for all the info and advice. I think I might dump the TPI. Seems like I have more options with it gone.

 

What options are you looking to get without EFI? Gas smell, poor MPG? Less drive ability?

 

He could mean alternate efi intakes

 

I think the vortec TPI is a GREAT option for a seat of the pants upgrade, and while not as cheap as a carbed vortec swap, it's still not gonna break the bank. (probably,lol). It's fairly straight forward until you get into valve lift limits, but even then there are plenty of options. MY main personal hang up is that you're ultimately limiting what you can do later. There's only so far you can push that vortec TPI.

 

That's not necessarily true. With some effort, a well tuned carbureted engine can overcome all of those shortfalls.

 

x2
EFI is dead accurate for the most part but if youre computer dumb like myself, a simple AEM wideband and a modern carb you can really make a carbed motor run impressive not like the old days where you had to dik with them all the time
AED makes some nice stuff, talk to Jeff he will build one for your specific build it shold be spot on, adjust the idle and go. love mine...very finicky combo big cam behaves well. no bucking surging goofy stuff. Try and get your EFI working though its all around better