Dose anybody sell a TPI compatible 383 engine?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento California
Dose anybody sell a TPI compatible 383 engine?
it's me again looking for a 383 engine replacement for my 91 L98 engine yes i was directed to Smeding performance located here in Sacramento but they tell me that they don't build engines for TPI vehicles, so where can i find a engine builder that who builds TPI compatible 383 engines? one Ebay engine rebuilder "rebuilt car engines.com" was telling me that they won't reuse my clyinder heads they are telling me that a stock corvette cylinder head isn't rebuildable even though there's NOTHING wrong with the head, whats up with that? all i want to do is to replace my Tired L98 with a 383 and i need you forum members is a recommendation to direct me in the right direction to acquire a TPI compatable 383 engine
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,161
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I can slap a TPI on any Gen 1 SBC. Theres no rocket science involved there.
It might be a crappy combo however, and you have to figure that out before you go thinking of buying a 383 crate from somebody. Dont expect them to figure it out.
It might be a crappy combo however, and you have to figure that out before you go thinking of buying a 383 crate from somebody. Dont expect them to figure it out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
However the bigger engine would benefit from larger heads / intake change.My 383 ran well with ported TPI until I changed to HSR.
Head change also lets you go to common 64 cc chamber instead of having to have engine built to suit 58cc Vette head
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
With everyone on the fitment and as far as performance I will add a question for the group for the OP's benefit...
Wouldn't the TPI work well in the bottom end with the right cam and give the OP a real nice grunt on a stroker motor for around town fun?
I am not a TPI guru but the consensus seems to be that the TPI is strong enough for most motors to about 4500RPM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Savannah Georgia
http://www.jegs.com/i/GM+Performance/809/12498772/10002/-1/754258|10763
you will lose power with a stock TPI unit, ported TPI will help some and let you pull up to maybe 4800rpm, if you really like the TPI look I would go with the First Injection setup for nothing but gains, the First unit pulls all the way to 6000-6500rpms and will allow the 383 to breath well.
you will lose power with a stock TPI unit, ported TPI will help some and let you pull up to maybe 4800rpm, if you really like the TPI look I would go with the First Injection setup for nothing but gains, the First unit pulls all the way to 6000-6500rpms and will allow the 383 to breath well.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by boonie
but they tell me that they don't build engines for TPI vehicles,
Originally Posted by PurtyLilC4
you will lose power with a stock TPI unit
RACE ON!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
you will lose power with a stock TPI unit, ported TPI will help some and let you pull up to maybe 4800rpm, if you really like the TPI look I would go with the First Injection setup for nothing but gains, the First unit pulls all the way to 6000-6500rpms and will allow the 383 to breath well.
I find this a bit hard to believe.....do you have this intake? do you have dyno numbers to support this claim of making power @6500 rpm, or this web site promotion from First?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,161
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
You cant just put a 383 under it and expect it to run like you want it. You have to do your research.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
(11:1 226 / .550 cam 195 heads SLP , home ported intake)
However I was very impressed with performance and would have no problem using it if it was not the fact that this is my race engine for strip use.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 3
From: Citrus Heights California
I sent you to Smeding. I can't believe this. I met a guy at the track running a Smeding 383 in his TPI Camaro. It looked all stock even under the hood. He just had a ported tpi with Large runners. I think they were ASMs.
I can't remember his exact time but it was fast. I think He was in the mid 12s. He said he had no problem passing a California smog. Smeding advertises a street legal 383. I just don't understand why they would send you away.
The Brute Stroker is advertised as a truck engine. It's cheap and it will fit in your Vette. You can just change the intake and you will be flying. It is an easy swap. Go back and tell them you want this motor. Check the link below.
http://www.100share.com/Need-The-Perfect-Engine-W.htm
I can't remember his exact time but it was fast. I think He was in the mid 12s. He said he had no problem passing a California smog. Smeding advertises a street legal 383. I just don't understand why they would send you away.
The Brute Stroker is advertised as a truck engine. It's cheap and it will fit in your Vette. You can just change the intake and you will be flying. It is an easy swap. Go back and tell them you want this motor. Check the link below.
http://www.100share.com/Need-The-Perfect-Engine-W.htm
Last edited by Kool88vette; Apr 3, 2008 at 11:42 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 3
From: Citrus Heights California
The believe the First intake will not pass a california smog. No EGR or something. I don't think it is legal in California.
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 16
From: Concord CA
A 383 is basically the same block as a 350.. so externally there is no difference and no one would notice it.
The problem you would have is that a 383 does require more air flow in CFM and a stock TPI would not be able to flow enough air pass the 45000-5000 rpm range and you would leaving a lot of HP/TQ on the table.
If your going to mod a engine, you really need to research and assemble a complete package. CID need a specific about of air flow in CFM and the 383 has way more requirement than a stock TPI can provide.
CAM also come into play.. what cam you use and what RPM range it is designed for..
Bottom line, yes you can stick a 383 under the TPI intake and no one will know. .but will you be using the full RPM Range and HP/TQ of the engine can make or all of the compones can be used to gain power !?
Yes.. if everythng is designed to work together for your RPM Range and driving style...
No if you just patch different part that are not designed to work together..
my 2 cents.
The problem you would have is that a 383 does require more air flow in CFM and a stock TPI would not be able to flow enough air pass the 45000-5000 rpm range and you would leaving a lot of HP/TQ on the table.
If your going to mod a engine, you really need to research and assemble a complete package. CID need a specific about of air flow in CFM and the 383 has way more requirement than a stock TPI can provide.
CAM also come into play.. what cam you use and what RPM range it is designed for..
Bottom line, yes you can stick a 383 under the TPI intake and no one will know. .but will you be using the full RPM Range and HP/TQ of the engine can make or all of the compones can be used to gain power !?
Yes.. if everythng is designed to work together for your RPM Range and driving style...
No if you just patch different part that are not designed to work together..
my 2 cents.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
Any reliable builder CAN do it. You can keep the TPI. I would suggest you at least put a bigger cam in it. The 1991 stock cam is wimpy. If it were me I would do heads as well and just sell your stock heads.
www.golenengineservice.com
www.golenengineservice.com
Last edited by BADDUCK; Apr 3, 2008 at 04:14 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
The short answer is anyone can build a TPI compatible 383
This topic is aggravating to say the least;
I have heard it being debated on different message boards seeming forever and every time it is brought up people with little to no hands on experience or extensive research on this subject jump in to say how much power you are going to lose and that it is not a good idea to do this.
TPIS did the homework over a decade ago and found that a stock 350 TPI unit is capable of making way over 350 horsepower on a larger displacement motor.
I have personally built more stock or modded 305-400 TPI (Super ram) engines in various stages then I can count and speaking from experience, your money is way better spent on the engine itself (Building a larger displacement 383-400 engine)…
Even with a stock TPI unit, you are going to notice a huge difference and so what if your engine peaks at 4500 at first…. If you feel the need for more speed & HP at higher RPMs later, then just swap out the intake components..
Seems like a no brainer to me!
This topic is aggravating to say the least;
I have heard it being debated on different message boards seeming forever and every time it is brought up people with little to no hands on experience or extensive research on this subject jump in to say how much power you are going to lose and that it is not a good idea to do this. TPIS did the homework over a decade ago and found that a stock 350 TPI unit is capable of making way over 350 horsepower on a larger displacement motor.
I have personally built more stock or modded 305-400 TPI (Super ram) engines in various stages then I can count and speaking from experience, your money is way better spent on the engine itself (Building a larger displacement 383-400 engine)…
Even with a stock TPI unit, you are going to notice a huge difference and so what if your engine peaks at 4500 at first…. If you feel the need for more speed & HP at higher RPMs later, then just swap out the intake components..
Seems like a no brainer to me!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 163
Likes: 1
From: Idianapolis Indiana
I have a 92 camaro with a stock 85 corvette tpi setup on a 383. It has dart iron eagle 64cc / 215cc heads. 10.5:1 compression. When we built it we knew we couldn't make power over 4k. We used an agressive roller cam with a high lsa with 6 degrees of cam advance. We port matched the heads/intake/plenum, and releived the cyl walls/heads. This engine only had 440 hp at 4000 but it had 596 lbs of torque at 2800 rpm! The car has a stock 700r4 with with a stock 10 bolt rear end and 2.73 gears with no positraction and i still kick the ever loving **** outta cars with much more hp on the highway. I have hit 178 mph in this car. You CAN build a 383 under tuned port injection. As with any engine build component matching/reasearch/quality machine work/and tuning makes the difference.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
I have a 92 camaro with a stock 85 corvette tpi setup on a 383. It has dart iron eagle 64cc / 215cc heads. 10.5:1 compression. When we built it we knew we couldn't make power over 4k. We used an agressive roller cam with a high lsa with 6 degrees of cam advance. We port matched the heads/intake/plenum, and releived the cyl walls/heads. This engine only had 440 hp at 4000 but it had 596 lbs of torque at 2800 rpm! The car has a stock 700r4 with with a stock 10 bolt rear end and 2.73 gears with no positraction and i still kick the ever loving **** outta cars with much more hp on the highway. I have hit 178 mph in this car. You CAN build a 383 under tuned port injection. As with any engine build component matching/reasearch/quality machine work/and tuning makes the difference.
Thank you for confirming my above post...
The last TPI engine that I built is a CA smog compatible 400 that is in still in my 88 GTA.
Although I have smoked through quite a few transmissions and rear ends with it, I do absolutely love the torque of that car!
