350 TPI question

[Guest Anonymous]

I am planning on pulling the original l24 our of my 72 this coming winter and doing a buildup. I have done countless hours of research about doing a 2.8L buildup with my SUs. However, I have come to the conclusion like many of you have that it will probably be cheaper to do a v8 swap to get the power I really want. I also have to have AC since I live in Dallas, and I am planning on swapping in a power steering rack from a zx. My 240 also has a 3 speed auto so I will have to change the tranny either way.

 

I have decided on a 350 but I would like fuel injection because I this is going to be my daily driver. I have read about the TPI systems chevy has been using (since 85???). What I would like to do is pull the complete engine/tranny from a donar camaro or firebird.

 

I am a little confused at what I should look for. I see TPI systems going for close to $1k on EBAY but from what I have seen most junkyards will sell you the entire engine for less than that. Are the junkyards not including the TPI system, or the ECU? I am a little confused on what to look for and ask when I start looking. I am very mechanically inclined but have never swapped or rebuilt an engine before.

 

Anyway, I didn't know if I should post this here or the EFI board but can anybody point me at some sites or information on how to find a good donar and what I should look out for. I hang out alot at the zcar site and I hate when people come in and ask questions like "what is the biggest wheel I can fit on my Z?" so it pains me to ask what is probably such a simplistic question to you guys. I am a programmer and part time woodworker/carpenter so I have to plan everything down to each part before I even start buying parts. I also have a family so I need to start figuring out how much it is going to cost to do it right before I even turn a wrench.

 

Sorry for the long post, thanks in advance for any help you have.

[Dan Juday]

I did the tpi swap. Call around the local yards and tell them what you're doing. That way they will know from the begining that you will need EVERYTHING. Get the jtr books. The tpi/tbi book is very helpfull. I paid $1250 for the "package", the motor and anything else I needed off the car. I went back about 3 times. You can click on the link below to see my swap. Feel free to ask any questions either here or by e-mail.

[Mike C]

If you are going the FI route, I'd go LT1. They make more power than TPI (in purely stock form) and they have more potential for big power because of their shorter intake runner design. Also, you don't have to modify the Z hood latch since they remove the distributor from the rear and replace it with one driven from the front of the camshaft.

[Modern Motorsports Ltd]

Big ditto on all Mike C said. Much newer technology/efficiency and performance gains. Far cheaper and simpler to bump up in power if ever needed and driveability of the LT1 is great. TPI driveability is great as well but almost 50+ hp more in an Lt1 if not more in stock form once you toss the OE exhaust manifolds and cats. $2500-$3500 can fetch a complete powertrain if you're patient. Helluva a deal when you account for the excellent EFI system (worth at least $1k), motor (another $2k to build similar setup min.), T56 complete ($1.2k). The very effective aluminum heads are often underestimated in value as well. It'd be my 1st choice if I was starting another build (if Ls1's were more common that'd be my first choice but toooo pricey up here).

 

my .02c CD