Alright so here's the scoop. I'm getting kind of tired of tinkering with my old school stuff and considering TPI. Performance side, it does great for low end torque and acceleration. This is EXACTLY what I need for autocross. Economics, fuel economy and it won't cost me as much in dyno tuning in the long run. Initial cost, not much as I can get a whole thing for less than $500 probably including a wiring harness.

Now we run in to the fitment and installation. I'm going to need a 305 manifold as I have vortec heads so the C4 and 350 TPI manifold won't fit. I'll obviously need the 20 - 24 lb. injectors but those are obviously easily found. So I can get a whole unit off of a 305 and it'll fit and bolt up fine.

Now the programming and related, I'm thinking of going with MAF. I personally prefer MAF as it's happier with engine changes than MAP and requires a bit less human tinkering in the end. Also everyone and his sister knows how to program the computer, so that ain't a problem either.

Other stuff, fuel pump has to be changed. Can do an inline electric or a piston pump. Sort of undecided on that, but would prefer a piston pump as I hate electric fuel pumps. TPI uses HEI and HEI works with my tach just fine so my tach will still work. Speedo is obviously mechanical.

Ok so anything I'm missing? If/when I take the plunge I'll sell my carb, intake and distributor to help recoup some of the costs. I'm mainly just tired of the continual tinkering and pain in the butt cold drivability yadda yadda. I want my low end torque and ease of use.

Comments/suggestions please.

Also, how hard is it to make an LT1's fuel injection system fit? Top Flight Corvette has a bunch of those just sitting around. I know a hole has to be drilled to fit the distributor, but what else?

 

www.lt1intake.com

 

Under their FAQ...

Will the LT1 intake fit Vortec heads?

No, it will not fit. The intake mating flange is too narrow to cover the tall ports that the Vortec head uses. Here's a cutaway picture with a standard SBC intake mated to Fastburn heads. Fastburn heads are drilled with both standard SBC and Vortec bolt patterns.

The LT4 intake will not fit Vortec heads either. This is due to the Vortec bolt pattern being way too high on the head for the intake. The LT4 intake can be adapted to Fastburn heads because they are drilled for both standard and Vortec bolt patterns. So an LT4 intake would still require a bolt pattern change to std gen1. Some port matching on the LT4 intake will be required when using Fastburn heads.



Damn, no go. Oh well.

 

Scroggins-Dickey has a TPI base manifold designed to fit Vortec heads. It is considerably less restrictive than the stock manifold and will increase the TPI rpm range significantly without losing TPI's low end torque.

jagsthatrun.com has a very good, practical book which details the process of putting a TPI engine into a non-TPI car. This will address every question you have. It greatly helped me put a TPI smallblock into an 85 XJ6 (my wife is VERY satisfied with her car) and I'm in the process of putting a modified L31/TPI/700R4 into my 77. It's great for teveryday on the street and you will be happy with the torque, power and responsiveness.

 

Hey bud, since you already have the Vortec heads why not go with LT1 fuel injection? It would be just as easy to set up on your car as TPI would have. Get a speed density setup and you won't have to worry with MAF. It'll fit better than TPI, and you only have to make minor modifications to the manifold for the distributor.

 

Notice my last reply in the thread DB. Got it from the LT1intake.com faq. The intake runners on the vortec heads are too tall.

 

Matt, that piece from the LT1 page says that the LT1 manifold won't work with the Vortec heads. The ports don't match.

 

Yeah, brain fart, I was confusing the Vortec heads with LT1 heads. My bad.

 

Potential snag with an easy fix I just realized.

Vortec heads have taller intake runners than anything TPI was used on. Which means putting the intakes on and bolting it up and the intake manifold's ports will be smaller than the heads' ports. Simple port matching should fix that right up.