I've always been a huge Vette fan and finally got the opportunity to purchase one yesterday. She's a fixer upper but I wouldn't have it any other way!
My questions are mostly pertaining to the engine rebuild I have in front of me:
-I want a good mild cam. Any suggestions? I was eyeing the Comp 12-364-4 "XFI" cam. Thoughts?
-How beneficial would it be to upgrade to aluminum heads? I found a pair of 58cc recently machined heads locally that I can get for a pretty good price from a guy. Should I go for it or would the stock cast iron heads be fine after a trip to the machine shop?
-Intake manifold...upgrade or port the stock one?
-Do I need to upgrade the stock fuel injectors? If so, need suggestions I have no clue what lbs/hr and PSI would be needed.
-With the above mentioned mods, do I have to do anything to the CPU? If so, how complicated is that process? I've heard the CPU and intake are kind of restrictive on this model year so I want to make sure I'm checking all of the right boxes to optimize my mods.
My goal is to get it to about 300-325 hp (not at rear wheel) so nothing too extreme. I'll have all of the necessary bolt-ons to help me get there (headers, exhaust system, intake). Just need some guidance on some of the internals. Thanks!
the first logical step in any potential engine build will be to step back and logically consider the realistic goals time required your budget and local engine shop resources, and your personal experience and access to tools and a place to work on your car,for many guys it makes a good deal more sense to buy and install a similar engine family CRATE ENGINE, as that generally in the long term will be both less work and CHEAPER. Now Im not trying to dissuade you from an engine rebuild, I'm simply pointing out facts!
a careful assessment of your goals and budget , and resources will be helpful
making a detailed list of NEW parts, MACHINE WORK cost, and labor costs at the local machine shop, including all the new fasteners, gaskets will be helpful.
you can be certain that the stock exhaust system, heads, intake manifold and cam are all rather restrictive on that 1985 TPI corvette and the concept of the weakest link in the chain still applies, thus it will do little good to stick killer heads on the car if the intake is still restrictive or a fantastic high flow intake manifold on restrictive heads, or to expect a great heads and intake to flow near their full potential with a mild cam, that barely allows the ports to flow, the heads to breath or if matched to a restrictive exhaust!
yeah! DOLLAR SIGNS $$$$ it will cost money to play the game and expect to get an impressive boost in performance and doing the job part way usually results in a disappointing level of power for the money spent.
heres a suggestion, in parts to buy and install based on personal experience,
(and your goal of a high torque 330hp range engine)
(BTW while NOT MANDATORY with this combo below,swapping to a 3.54:1 rear gear and 2700-2800 rpm stall converter, and 28-32 lb injectors will maximize the power curve accessibility)
the mild 114132 crane cam suggested below will get you to exactly the power level you requested when matched to the other suggested parts listed but its now the limiting factor, you could use a bit more cam if you install the rear gear and higher stall converter and pick up significantly more power
something like a crane 119661 hydraulic roller ,or a CROWER 00471 hydraulic roller would match nicely then, and provide a big power increase
http://www.melroseheaders.com/products/smooth_flow_exhaust_systems/c-4.php
http://www.melroseheaders.com/products/ ... ms/c-4.php
CRANE 114132 cam and lifters
http://www.jegs.com/i/Brodix/158/1021004/10002/-1
Satin First® manifold without electronics. Prices starting at $1050.00
All intake manifolds without electronics include any style base, plenum, 1.75" runners, throttle body, all required gaskets, all stainless steel hardware, TPS bracket, throttle bracket, and fuel rails.
262-857-3333
Bristol, WI 53104
the CASTING #642 cross fire heads and even most fuelie heads, and all the TPI heads, are compared to today's better designed cylinder heads... well pathetically restricted,
I would strongly suggest you select an aluminum cylinder head (with at least a 190cc and 200 cc port is better in most cases,that flows a MINIMUM of 250 cfm at .500 lift)
TRICKFLOW
http://www.trickflow.com/egnsearch.asp? ... 4294867081
http://www.trickflow.com/customerservice
1-330-630-1555 • 1-888-841-6556
BRODIX
http://www.brodix.com/heads/heads.html
479.394.1075
DART
http://www.dartheads.com/products/cylinder-heads
Dart Machinery; 248/362-1188; DartHeads.com
AIR FLOW RESEARCH
http://www.airflowresearch.com/
toll free: 877-892-8844
tel: 661-257-8124
Patriot Performance
Patriot Performance; 888/462-8276; Patriot-Performance.com
RHS
http://www.racingheadservice.com/rhs/cylinder-headshtml
Toll Free: 877-776-4323
Local: 901-259-1134
EDELBROCK
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new ... main.shtml
Edelbrock; 310/781-2222; Edelbrock.com
BMP (world products)
http://www.theengineshop.com/products/cylinder-heads
Tel: 631-737-0372
Fax: 631-737-0467
BUTLER PERFORMANCE
http://www.butlerperformance.com/products/cylinder_heads/cylinder_head_labor.html
866-762-7527
BLUE PRINT ENGINES
http://www.blueprintengines.com/ind...sb-chevy-aluminum-cylinder-heads-cnc-machined
1800-483-4263
PRO-FILER
https://www.profilerperformance.com/
937‐846‐1333
YOU CAN BUILD A tpi BASED ENGINE ON THE ORIGINAL LOW COMPRESSION 350 SHORT BLOCK BUT THERES POTENTIALLY A VERY GOOD BOOST IN POWER AND TORQUE IF YOU INCREASE THE DISPLACEMENT TO 383-406 AND INCREASE THE COMPRESSION TO THE 9.5:1-10.2:1 RANGE.
the intake selected should be port matched and if possible ported to maximize flow
the FIRST TUNED PORT intake provides exceptional results
- FIRST TPI Intake.(good choice)
intake comes with a new throttle body
if matched to a cam and cylinder heads and a low restriction set of headers and exhaust, that allows it to breath.
the crane 119661 roller cam works rather well, on a brisk street performance build (especially with a wet nitrous TPI set up) even more power is available with the crower 00471 roller cam or crane 119651 roller cam
all three performance hydraulic roller cams will require a 3000 rpm-3200 rpm stall converter and are best matched to a 3.73:1 REAR GEAR RATIO
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/ideal-tpi-build.12203/#post-76070
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-stock-tpi-engine-components.1509/#post-74581
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...rger-intake-runners-l98-tpi.13785/#post-72541
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...lay-switch-locations-and-info.728/#post-66935
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...intake-for-cross-fires.2796/page-7#post-56659
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...8mm-throttle-body-on-your-tpi.290/#post-54181
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ps-on-building-a-tpi-383-c4.10434/#post-51507
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/can-you-get-there-with-tpi.10494/#post-44299
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/tpi-flow-info.10382/#post-43474
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...m-dyno-results-and-other-info.433/#post-37683
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...y-current-corvettes-383-combo.430/#post-32660
LINKS AND SUB LINKS CONTAIN A WEALTH OF USEFUL INFO
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...the-links-you-posted-grumpy.12020/#post-57474
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...efore-moving-to-the-add-ons.10672/#post-46046
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/can-you-get-there-with-tpi.10494/#post-44299
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ing-parts-and-a-logical-plan.7722/#post-57946
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/c-4-exhaust-system.1174/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/matching-the-combo.11020/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/c4-corvettes-fuel-system-info.67/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/engine-build-grumpy-please-help.9894/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ck-aluminum-corvette-l98-heads-any-good.5521/
http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...k-for-in-a-good-engine-combo.9930/#post-46399
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