Looking for tpi performance
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Looking for tpi performance
I have a 85 tpi vette. My engine is old and tired. Should I put heads, cam, intake, on the original engine to give it a boost or is there an engine package out there that would drop right in that would work well in a 85 TPI. It is basically stock just added 3.54 rear gears, k&n, chip. But would like a little more power.
Budget $15,000 or less
Can take it anywhere to get the work done.
Budget $15,000 or less
Can take it anywhere to get the work done.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 763
I have a 85 tpi vette. My engine is old and tired. Should I put heads, cam, intake, on the original engine to give it a boost or is there an engine package out there that would drop right in that would work well in a 85 TPI. It is basically stock just added 3.54 rear gears, k&n, chip. But would like a little more power.
Budget $15,000 or less
Can take it anywhere to get the work done.
Budget $15,000 or less
Can take it anywhere to get the work done.
Budget $15,000 or less
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 23
From: mesa az
You could buy a 2003-2004 Z06 for that kind of money. I say that for a couple reasons MONEY being the first. Your money will be gone if you spend it on a C4's performance. Sure you can really wake it up but the Z06 will sell for what you paid for it. It is VERY easy to squeeze another 100 horsepower out of a Z06. If you are dead set on doing it good luck and please post the progress. If I had lots of disposable income I would really enjoy stroking a 6 speed LT. But I feel my money is better spent on a Z06 which stock for less than $20K will run circles around a C4.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 871
Likes: 15
From: Shepherdsville Kentucky
First off, I actually like the C4 platform. I also like the look of a TPI engine and its lack of plastic.
Z06s have a lot going for them. That said, Z06s are a dime a dozen. I get a lot of attention on the street and at car shows because it's much less common to invest money in the C4 Corvette. In the end you decide what you'd rather have.
I had about the same budget and I did a 383 stroker with everything but the block swapped out. It drives great and will beat the Z06. However, if I were to do it again I'd seriously consider an LS swap. I may not do it, but it would be tempting.
As far as kits, you can follow one of the builds people have posted here or put together something on your own. You or your builder can make a lot of scenarios work.
Z06s have a lot going for them. That said, Z06s are a dime a dozen. I get a lot of attention on the street and at car shows because it's much less common to invest money in the C4 Corvette. In the end you decide what you'd rather have.
I had about the same budget and I did a 383 stroker with everything but the block swapped out. It drives great and will beat the Z06. However, if I were to do it again I'd seriously consider an LS swap. I may not do it, but it would be tempting.
As far as kits, you can follow one of the builds people have posted here or put together something on your own. You or your builder can make a lot of scenarios work.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Never thought about upgrading to a newer vette. I have no more room in the garage and the wife said it would be stupid to own 3 vettes. I almost had her into buying a viper but no dice. 
. So I was thinking on squeezing more power out of what I got she wouldn't notice the money gone anyway.
. So I was thinking on squeezing more power out of what I got she wouldn't notice the money gone anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,062
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
If youre stuck on a LTR setup a FIRST intake,AFR heads, stroking it headers etc would run strong
Otherwise stroke it go to a shorter runner intake youll be worlds ahead...and money/power gain
When you add more stroke you dont need to crutch bottom end with a longer runner its already there.
Otherwise stroke it go to a shorter runner intake youll be worlds ahead...and money/power gain
When you add more stroke you dont need to crutch bottom end with a longer runner its already there.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
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From: Park City Utah
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
I am just looking at all my options. The best suggestion was to upgrade to a newer vette then I wouldn't have to take all of your C4 abuse. You really know how to crush a TPI dream. I will just putt around in stock form and avoid anybody so I don't get beat from the stoplight.
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 62
Likes: 2
Any of the various engine platforms can be transformed into a potent performer, lots of ways to skin that cat and I for one appreciate the different ways to go about obtaining the additional power, I've never been a one size fits all type of guy or feeling the need to switch to the latest greatest shiny sparkly things. If a person is only looking to consider swapping a stock TPI, LTI, LS1 etc into a project and starting with nothing yeah go ahead and want more power then get the newer stuff. But for me I leave nothing stock so regardless of which I'd pick they all would be pretty comparable powerwise once completed. An engine is an air pump simple as that with the right combination of parts.
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,336
Likes: 15
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Central PA Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I am just looking at all my options. The best suggestion was to upgrade to a newer vette then I wouldn't have to take all of your C4 abuse. You really know how to crush a TPI dream. I will just putt around in stock form and avoid anybody so I don't get beat from the stoplight.
Be sure to keep us updated - with pics.