Hello everyone,
My question is:
If i were to use the Fuel Injected carb style intake manifold (similar to Guido's) will it make more power than a TPI set up?Also, has any aftermarket companies made a throttle bracket for this type of set up? I still hate the price of a miniram!

 

from what i understand tpi produces 30% more power than carbs

 

LOL! Where'd you hear that? Doesnt have anything to do with his question anyway.

Anyways, back to reality... chances are if you need the extra airflow past what the TPI can support, it will make more power. Below that its probably a tossup or minimal improvement and wouldnt make sense to swap. 383 right? It might not be a bad idea on your car, depending on that cam. I havent looked at the specs of it yet.

 

I would say that depending on the manifold you choose, you will probably gain hp and loose a little torque. The more important thing about this swap is the shift in the hp/torque curves. You shouldnt run into the 4800rpm breathing problems often associated with stock tpi intakes. I think with your 383 you would probably get a nice real world performance increase. But I doubt you'll get big changes in peak hp on the dyno.

-peace

 

Motor Trend told me that, im just quoting someone elses test so please dont go bangin me...and if you look again it does have to do with the question

 

Well, you should be very careful with what you read and quote as truth. And it doesnt have anything to do with his question, he isnt switching to a carb.

 

o i c thanks

 

How about a Miniram setup? Then you could have high flow into the upper rpm range and with a 383 down low torque loss wouldn't be a problem. Just another idea to think about.

 

Do people even read the posts before they reply?

86Tra/maro said "I still hate the price of a miniram!" in his original post. I would think he/she would have considered it already.

Back to the topic, which manifolds have you considered? Any?

 

Depends on where you want to make power. Below 4500 RPM, it's almost impossible to make as much torque as a TPI. I'm assuming, however, that since you're looking at a mini-ram, you want more upper RPM power. Essentially then, the answer is yes. Any single plane carb intake manifold will make more power at 5000+ RPM than a TPI (assuming your heads and cam can support horsepower at this RPM level).

You will give up some low end torque, the biggest difference will be around 3200-3500 RPM. Depending on what kind of carb manifold you use, you might lose as little as 10-20 ft-lbs or as much as 60-70. But once again, there will be no comparison between the two on the top end. The single plane manifold will kill the TPI, and produce numbers more comparable to a mini-ram.

I don't know how the two compare exactly. I guess that also depends on which manifold you use. I never really looked into using a single plane manifold for my motor, but I looked at TPI vs. Mini-ram vs. Super Ram extensively. What I eventually decided was that if you displace less than 400 cubes and you don't rev it to more than 5200 or 5300 RPM, an upgraded TPI is your best bet. If you plan to spend any time at 5200+ then the mini-ram, or single plane will work better. And of course the higher you rev, the bigger the difference will be. Hope some of this helps.

Willie C.

 

I must have read too fast and missed the end.

It was a mistake, relax

 

sorry this is off topic but i just noticed 86tra/maro has a tramaro? do you have a pic?

 

One thing I didn't see mentioned here is the cost of converting a carb style manifold to FI. You may want to check that, 'cause last I checked it's pretty expensive as well by the time all the machine work is done, you've got the fuel rails, throttle body, and getting it to work with the stock computer.
John

 

Im doing to do the same thing using a edlebrock air-gap manifold,injector bungs are about $60 plus welding $50-$100 or i might just get this from holley

 

Sorry no pictures yet! Car has to be painted. Eman, how much is it for that intake with the fuel rails installed from Holley? That's one of the intakes I was considering for my car. Does anyone know if a throttle bracket is made for the "ELBOW"? & Who sells the elbow?

 

I converted a Weiand EFI Tunnel Ram base (link below) last summer - heres a quick rundown - also I'm a complete novice at this

tunnel ram base 260
holley fuel rails 20ea
sheet metal box intake 30 in materials

I drilled out the injector holes (drill press $100) on the base and fuel rails - used a dremel tool with 300 and 600 grit sand paper to get dimensions correct

I could not use the fuel rail mounting post on the base so I cut them off and fabbed a bolt on fuel rail mounting similar to 82z's pic of the same

I made a throttle bracket, then bought fuel lines , fpr etc

yep it was a lot of work but like I said I had no clue going into this and once I decided there was NO turning back

It works great -no leaks- more power than my 350 ever made and there has to be more because I have a fast chip burned for the LTR setup I had before- I'll work it out

http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin...MSM/f5954.html

hth

92TA 350 AFR58cc LPE 219/525 1.6rr dual exhaust with hooker long Xpipe dynomax bullets Tremec 3.73 walbro pump

 

The manifod is $270,fuel rail is $200 it comes with cross-over tubes,regulater and fittings.Accel sells the elbow around $250 no throttle bracket.I made my own elbow out of a 2" carb spacer($26) and a tuned port plenum(used $75) that I cut in half and cut the bottom out.Welded the spacer to the bottom and a plate to the back of the plenum($50).I can use the a stock TPI throttle bracket because when I cut the plenum I did it right behind the mounting holes.

 

I have thought about this idea using a Weiand Team G manifold, drilling it for 8 injectors and fuel rails, but what are you using for butterflies or throttle plates on top of the manifold? And what are elbows? Where this idea needs some more advice is the Throttle plates that control the air flow has to have places for throttle position sensor,etc so that you fool the computer into thinking there is still a TPI unit there. How do you do this? Just to answer another question the stock TPI unit will not cover the intake ports in my Aluminum heads.

 

The elbow bolts to the top of the (carb style)manifold and bends forward then the TPI throttle body bolts to the front of the elbow.That way you have all your sensers.

 

BINGO.....gotcha.....Thank You

 

Has anyone used a setup like this with the stock ecm? it's alot cheaper than all the ugraded parts for a tpi and should make power in the higher rpm range.

 

Instead of the miniram try this:

http://www.lt1intake.com

 

Anybody see that incredible 69 Camaro with the custom built suspension last year in CHP and just about every other magazine on the planet? He modified a TPI plenum to sit right on top of a dual 4bbl intake. Made a TON of power. It just got me thinking about the feasibility of doing something like that or fabbing up a sheet metal base that you could plunk a modified TPI plenum on. Hmm. This might wind up being easier (albiet slightly more expensive) than the LT1 swap, and would sure be unique!

 

Sounds good to me! How do u mod the stock plenum? Who'd drill the intake for the injectors & the fuel rail?
It does seem to to be very do>able!

 

Yea man I was just looking at that car in one of my mags the other day and got my brain ticking. It set on top of a big block in a yellow first gen. I will try to find the mag again and post some specifics about the intake later.