TPI intake differences
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Construction Sucks! MI
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '05
TPI intake differences
I'm looking at picking up a spare tpi base manifold to experiment with. I have an 86 with iron heads. What years are same and what are the differences in the other years? I think there was a change in the intake bolts for the aluminum heads. What f-bodies would work also (if any)?
TIA
TIA
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: All great change begins at the dinner table Ronald Reagan
The early TPI intake manifold, they used a 305ci manifold for development and production. I think it was up to 87. Lingenfelter has a book on SBC, in it has a chapter on this. Lingenfelter said that any mods you do to a 350ci engine with the use of this early manifold is like using a 2 barrel carb instead of a 4 barrel. I'm not sure if it changed in later years.
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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TPI units are the basically the same in size and shape, but I believe the base is just a little different throughout the years due to EGR differences and some bolts and stuff.
I would think 86-91 interchanges but there may be one or two small things that changed.
I would think 86-91 interchanges but there may be one or two small things that changed.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: SE NY
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Intake bases after '86 have revised center bolt angles; Vette bases have the provision for external EGR at the rear of the base whereas F-body bases have internal EGR gas flow.
You may be able to use a base from an '87-'88 on your '86 by simply modifing those center bolt angles; the cold start injector was not used on '89 and later TPI so the base may differ here too (runners do).
You may be able to use a base from an '87-'88 on your '86 by simply modifing those center bolt angles; the cold start injector was not used on '89 and later TPI so the base may differ here too (runners do).
