I have 69 with a BB but I have been thinking about an engine swap. Like many people I assumed an LS would be the way to go, but they are a dime a dozen and MAN I love the looks of a tuned port injected SB. Back in high school I lusted for the new C4 Corvette and loved how that engine looked. So, how hard are these engines to build to get some good power and how do they compare in cost?

 

Others can discuss this better than I - but the TPI engines make decent low RPM torque, but no high end power. The way I understand things - they just can't handle the airflow for high RPM power, Are there improvements that can be made - sure - but the TPI setup was not that common, and it's now 30 year old - aftermarket support is minimal....

 

Keep the big block and install aftermarket modern injection system if you must! Don't ditch the big block. A big block with tri power or dual 4s is much better eye candy in my opinion!

 

Thanks for the reply. That sure sucks. Such a nice looking engine.

 

In the defense of the LS engines....



They can look good too...


In all seriousness though when I was in Summit Racing the other day they have an LS motor on an engine stand with a "retro" kit on it. I had to take a long look at it to realize that it was an LS. You can accessorize them to look completely different.

 

Edited to say that IMO on a 69 what I think is more tasteful is staying carbed.

Do a FIRST TPI 396 stroker build!
It will sorta look like a TPI L98 motor but is likely to make a whole lot more power.

I too really love the look of the long runner tuned port L98 motor. I made a thread the other month titled "Most Power From L98 TPI" and unfortunately a lot of the thread devolved into a short runner vs long runner intake discussion, but if you look through that thread there are some good posts showing decent power (IMO) being made on long runner TPI motors.

The basic takeaway that I gathered is that with a big stroker, 383 or 396, and a good cam, tune, heads, and a well done long runner TPI intake setup (there are a few options), you should be able to get somewhere between 300-400rwhp depending.
For example if you really wanted to maintain the stock L98 TPI appearance you could use this intake combination:
The runners from here:
https://azspeed.com/product/1989-199...ntake-runners/
Arizona Speed and Marine TPI runners
The base could be an Edelbrock, or Accel, or TPIS big mouth or some other aftermarket TPI base. These seem to run between $400-$750 these days:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/16531776227...IAAOSwxY1h~bFn
The factory plenum would work:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/37396915704...wAAOSwzfBiKWuR
Then to make the most power from that setup you might want to send it to Extrude Hone for their porting and honing service.
https://www.extrudehoneafm.com/industries/automotive/

By this point you're in somewhere around $2000 for the intake setup alone. Some good heads will be another $1500-$2000, then you'll need your stoker kit which might be between $750-$1750. Throw in some misc accessories and machining cost, you're easily around $6500 or so. No guarantees but I think that sort of setup might be around 300-350 rwhp.

Similarly you could instead go with the FIRST TPI intake setup:
https://firstfuelinjection.com/shop-...nish-first-tpi

This will save some money vs going with the more factory looking setup, and is likely to make more power as well. It still looks like a TPI, but not identical.

 

X2

Zak, I do understand where you're coming, but I think one of the dual throttle body EFI kits (I think the Sniper kit looks better) and a dual quad RPM intake like below would look even better sitting atop a BBC under the hood of that 69.