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TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance!

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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 02:36 PM
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Default TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance!

If I just do porting and polishing on the runners and plenum and not do any work on the lower intake, what performance enhancements can I expect?
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 03:23 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

TTT
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 04:30 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

I wouldn't waste my time if I were you. Probably not much gain if any. You could remove the humps behind the throttle plates for a slight gain. Porting the stock runners is a big waste of time though!
John
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 04:48 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

apparently the single biggest thing you can do is siamese the runner end of the intake manifold....about 4" down the runners.....and maybe with a cam change, it's supposed to wake the engine up a whole lot....as in about 40 hp...or so.....see another thread on this issue here on forum...

GENE
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 05:35 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

No gain from the runners and ported plenum without the lower intake work.

Vic
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 05:37 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

The single best mod you can do on a TPI Vette is Exhaust work.

Ypipe + High flow Cat + TPIS catback = nice gain

Vic
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 05:45 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (Vic'89)

Heres my belief...if you remove the runners and plenum and gasket match everything,then have them cleaned out in a steam tank,the most gains would more likely be if yours have so much carbon it became a restrictor to begin with.In a sense,getting any lost airflow back.

The plenum holes arent always consistant with each other,and Ive gasket matched my plenum holes and had everything cleaned.
She ran like a champ more so afterwards.
The stock runners really cant be ported out because theres no material to remove because the tubes are so thin and are seperated.

I had a bit of carbon build up inside the plenum,runners and intake.The intake manifold is more difficult to clean out if its not off the car.
I believe the most gain one might see if its really dirty and mis matched gasket to holes,and thats cleaned up and ported to full gasjket size,one might get maybe 5 HP.
Thats just a guess.If you have high mileage or over 55,000 miles,it may be wise to clean the TPI out real good just for maint.
:)
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 09:10 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (Bill's86Coupe)

I have seen many post about the "Y" pipe. What is this about? Replacing the "Y" pipe without the cats?
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 09:13 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (Vic'89)

I have seen many post about the "Y" pipe. What is this about? Replacing the "Y" pipe without the cats?
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 11:11 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

I have seen many post about the "Y" pipe. What is this about? Replacing the "Y" pipe without the cats?
Well now, that wouldn't be legal ;)

I'm told how ever the car will still pass emissions without any problems (at least mine did). Just don't have anyone do a good visual (if they know what there're looking for !!)
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 11:24 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

If I just do porting and polishing on the runners and plenum and not do any work on the lower intake, what performance enhancements can I expect?
Not much. Why don't you want to do the lower intake base?
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Old Jan 1, 2002 | 11:41 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (89 Paul in cal)

Walker makes what they call a 3 way 49 state emissions legal front Y pipe with no precats and a new main cat.
So if anyone would ask,you tell them its the walker 3 way E-legal replacement pipes.
I have the front Y pipe with n precats and a new main cat.Dont know if I gained any real power but it was much cheaper then buying the 600 dollar Y pipe from GM.
I hear a good catless Y pipe can help free up almost 10 HP.Cant hurt to switch over the precats which is prob. more so a restriction anyways when its over 50K miles.
:)

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Old Jan 2, 2002 | 01:04 AM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (89 Paul in cal)

Well, I don’t know how much I will gain doing the porting, polishing and also doling the base. I was just curious if I just did the runners and plenum, what the gain would be.
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Old Jan 2, 2002 | 10:20 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (Bill's86Coupe)

Walker makes what they call a 3 way 49 state emissions legal front Y pipe with no precats and a new main cat.
So if anyone would ask,you tell them its the walker 3 way E-legal replacement pipes.
I've seen there pipe and I agree with you as to their claims. Just so you know however, that anything that changes the exhaust configuration from how the manufacturer had the car certified for emissions is not legal. I don't agree with the law because these cars are very clean and pass without the pre-cats, but if somebody does a visual and they know what to look for you will fail inspection. Just an FYI.

Well, I don’t know how much I will gain doing the porting, polishing and also doling the base. I was just curious if I just did the runners and plenum, what the gain would be.
There's really nothing to port on the runners. You could spent a little time on the plenum (removing the humps behind the TB). Usually the only thing of any use on the plenum is port macthing to large tube runners. Most of the gain will come from installing a super ram base (15-20hp).
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Old Jan 2, 2002 | 10:32 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1MoorTym)

1MoorTym, Walker has a Y-pipe and main cat setup that is EPA approved for 49 states. The republic of California (CARB) has not approved this setup. It is perfectly legal everywhere else. We are talking about the EPA here, and they approved the Walker setup. They make the rules, except of course in California that likes to make their own rules. It will not fail a visual inspection anywhere except in California.
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Old Jan 2, 2002 | 10:59 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (PeteL)

PeteL - We seem to be on opposite sides of the fence tonight. I've seen the pipe, the ads and I know exactly what you're saying. However, the emission regulations I paraphrased earlier are correct. Any changes to the way the manuafacturer had the car certified are not permitted. I found this out while I was trying to convert a C3 to true duals with the installation of two cats where the car only had one to begin with.

We can agree to disagree.
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Old Jan 2, 2002 | 11:26 PM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1MoorTym)

Maybe, but in this instance you are wrong. I have the Walker setup, I researched the Walker setup. They have 49 State EPA approval for the Y-pipe / cat for direct replacement on the L-98 (at least on my 89) without pre-cats. This is not approved in California, but it is approved (at least now) for every other state in the Union.

So you can disagree, but then again you would be wrong. Call Walker, Call the EPA, call your State (long as you are not in CA), I did!

Best regards, Happy New Year, and so on;

Pete
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Old Jan 4, 2002 | 03:45 AM
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Default Re: TPI performance enhancement question...need some guidance! (1991C4)

I was just curious if I just did the runners and plenum, what the gain would be.
Again, with my track testing, there was no gain from the runners and ported plenum with the stock base.

Vic
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