Sbc 400
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Sbc 400
I have a SBC 400 that I wish to use a corvette TPI fuel injection system. I would also like to ues Vortec heads. I heed all the advice that I can get as I am new to fuel injection. Thanks for the help in advance
PS the engine is going in a 1957 Corvette
Bill
PS the engine is going in a 1957 Corvette
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
The vortec heads have slightly taller ports and the TPI manifold probably wouldn't fit without some welding to build up the flange and some port matching. Even at that you'd also have to have the heads drilled for the manifold bolt pattern as the vortec heads are different there as well. Scoggin Dickey and Edelbrock both have a TPI intake for the Vortec heads that is a bolt on, but it's expensive, and hard to find used.
Having said that, I don't think you'd want to run the TPI on 400+ cubic inches. Even on a 350 it really starts to fall flat at 4500 due to the long restrictive runners.
Since you're putting this in a '57 Vette, have you considered the small block Ramjet manifold from GMPP? It gives you a bit of the retro look on the FI, is designed for Vortec heads, and is a great value for what you get in the box. Just a thought.
Dan
Having said that, I don't think you'd want to run the TPI on 400+ cubic inches. Even on a 350 it really starts to fall flat at 4500 due to the long restrictive runners.
Since you're putting this in a '57 Vette, have you considered the small block Ramjet manifold from GMPP? It gives you a bit of the retro look on the FI, is designed for Vortec heads, and is a great value for what you get in the box. Just a thought.
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
SDPC makes a Vortec TPI base. I have not personally used one.
You'll need a custom chip for the TPI - and my admittedly limited understanding is that the programming gets dicey for heavily modified engines.
I agree with Danno that the Ramjet would be a really cool retrofit...if it will fit under the stock hood
You'll need a custom chip for the TPI - and my admittedly limited understanding is that the programming gets dicey for heavily modified engines.
I agree with Danno that the Ramjet would be a really cool retrofit...if it will fit under the stock hood
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 4
From: Grand Rapids Mi
I think at one time Arizona Speed & Marine was selling a modified Ramjet that looked more like original Vette injection. Both setups are performance limited without mods. I have Scroggin-Dickey intake but has some porting for improved flow for vortec Fast-Burn heads. Would be interested in how your project goes! 
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 467
Likes: 3
From: Dover AR
Like everyone else here states, you can't use Vortec heads with TPI unless you want to buy an expensive base. But that's OK, as long as you have a complete TPI system. You'll blow $1.6k or up on a new system , so blowing $500 (or whatever that base is) is cheap by comparison.
Summit lists the Edelbrock Hi-Flo TPI Vortec base plate at $480. Part No. EDL-3817.
GMPP large port cast iron vortec heads list at $500 each at Jegs. The aluminum heads are $630 each.
Non-vortec Patriot aluminum heads are about $900. You can save the $480 on the vortec TPI base.
Hope you're starting with non-dented TPI runners.
Take the runners off the TPI base and plenum. Grind the inlets where the runners attach to the plenum, you'll see the lip inside that will be a flow restriction. Do the same where the throttle body attaches to the plenum.
Remove the screen on the TPI mass flow restrictor, I mean, sensor. That's about the most you can do with the stock setup other than getting it chipped since you can't hook up a programmer to one of those old ECUs.
Do that and you'll have a stump puller up to about 4500 (like they said above), which is where you'll be attracting a lot of cop attention if you spend any time there on the streets.
If you wish to run higher revs, you'll need an Edelbrock Hi-Flo base for $405 and runners for $337, and 58mm throttle body for $260, about $1007 more. You'll still need a chip. After spending all of this you'll wonder why you didn't just buy a Holley Stealth Ram for $2400 or Commander 950 multipoint for about the same.
Fuel injection is simply expensive. But if gas goes back up (which it will do), then you'll be better off cause while carbureted systems are cheaper, they aren't mileage friendly. They produce as much, if not more, torque and horsepower then FI but they simply can't adjust to your engine like an FI system can. If you get 10 mpg with a carb and only get 2 mpg more with an FI system and you only drive 10K miles a year, then you'll still save $667 in fuel costs with gas at $4 a gallon. But you'll probably see an improvement of 5 mpg or more with an FI system. Long as you didn't buy some wild *** cam with a lot of overlap.
FYI, old Corvettes with the Rochester mechanical FI could get about 20 mpg as long as they weren't equipped with 3.90 or 4.11 rear gears (which a lot were). And those old things had zero feedback from an O2 sensor.
My two cents on this issue.
Summit lists the Edelbrock Hi-Flo TPI Vortec base plate at $480. Part No. EDL-3817.
GMPP large port cast iron vortec heads list at $500 each at Jegs. The aluminum heads are $630 each.
Non-vortec Patriot aluminum heads are about $900. You can save the $480 on the vortec TPI base.
Hope you're starting with non-dented TPI runners.
Take the runners off the TPI base and plenum. Grind the inlets where the runners attach to the plenum, you'll see the lip inside that will be a flow restriction. Do the same where the throttle body attaches to the plenum.
Remove the screen on the TPI mass flow restrictor, I mean, sensor. That's about the most you can do with the stock setup other than getting it chipped since you can't hook up a programmer to one of those old ECUs.
Do that and you'll have a stump puller up to about 4500 (like they said above), which is where you'll be attracting a lot of cop attention if you spend any time there on the streets.
If you wish to run higher revs, you'll need an Edelbrock Hi-Flo base for $405 and runners for $337, and 58mm throttle body for $260, about $1007 more. You'll still need a chip. After spending all of this you'll wonder why you didn't just buy a Holley Stealth Ram for $2400 or Commander 950 multipoint for about the same.
Fuel injection is simply expensive. But if gas goes back up (which it will do), then you'll be better off cause while carbureted systems are cheaper, they aren't mileage friendly. They produce as much, if not more, torque and horsepower then FI but they simply can't adjust to your engine like an FI system can. If you get 10 mpg with a carb and only get 2 mpg more with an FI system and you only drive 10K miles a year, then you'll still save $667 in fuel costs with gas at $4 a gallon. But you'll probably see an improvement of 5 mpg or more with an FI system. Long as you didn't buy some wild *** cam with a lot of overlap.
FYI, old Corvettes with the Rochester mechanical FI could get about 20 mpg as long as they weren't equipped with 3.90 or 4.11 rear gears (which a lot were). And those old things had zero feedback from an O2 sensor.
My two cents on this issue.
Last edited by 64_365; Oct 30, 2008 at 11:33 PM. Reason: additions/clarifications/can never be satsified!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 4
From: Grand Rapids Mi
with the analysis for original 65 Corvette mechanical FI. Had 327 built with 11:1 pistons and GM slant-plug heads could pull steady 22-23MPG with 3.55 gears and close ratio 4-speed in 1966 roadster!! We thought that was pretty good in early 70's 
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 467
Likes: 3
From: Dover AR
I also found this site while looking around the net:
www.corvetteplenum.com
This guy ports TPI plenums and big port SLP runners, claims to remove the 4500 rpm "wall".
www.corvetteplenum.com
This guy ports TPI plenums and big port SLP runners, claims to remove the 4500 rpm "wall".
