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TPI right for me??

broncoman6524

broncoman6524

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I used to be one of those guys who praised carbs, but the more I drive my LS1 the more I'm loathing my 383 K5..:(

My friend has a complete factory TPI intake setup he said hed give me. and the more research I do the more I feel likes it's a smart choice. Better torque curves, reliability, cost.

I've read alot of the older threads in here about people doing it in the past, but none of them focus on the wiring. Which is the part that scares me the most. I'm well versed in re-wiring stuff but I like to plan ahead for what I'm doing.

So, anybody got any opinions? Past relationships with this set-up?

Chris
 
I would look into other options. If it's free I'd go ahead and do it though!

I was wanting to TPI swap my K5

but after looking at tons of info on them

I'm probably going to ditch my TPI junk pile for a Holley Stealth Ram, Edelbrock Pro Flo or a GM Ramjet
 
The wiring is very easy, and well documented both on thirdgen.org and chevythunder.com keep mind that the TPI intake setup is going to choke your 383. It hardly flows enough for a 305 as it is. You might get 3800 rpm out of it... Also, factory EFI does not do well with any kind of a performance cam, it'll have all sorts of cold start and hot idle issues without a ton of chip work.

You can buy aftermarket intakes, or have an LT1 intake drilled for a distributor, but an entire aftermarket sequential multiport system might be better for you.
 
there are parts for TPI that will help you on the flow issues, if you really want a custom setup you should look into using a mega squirt to control the system, then you can put together what ever EFI setup you want
 
1979jimmy350 said:
there are parts for TPI that will help you on the flow issues, if you really want a custom setup you should look into using a mega squirt to control the system, then you can put together what ever EFI setup you want
Click to expand...


Dude megasquirt is hodge podge home brew radio shack resister garbage. Take a look at MAP ECU2 if you want easy adjust ability. Its a really big up and coming piggy back with loads of support for imports AND domestics.

That being said why even bother with a piggy back on a TBI/TPI setup. Get a prom burner, make a cable to data log, and tune with a desktop program.

Now as far as TPI goes dont do that man. 3800 rpm is not the RPM limit. Its more like 4800 but to get your self fuel injected just go TBI. It'll flow better with less work. Theres plenty of guys on thirdgen.org running VERY healthy motors through TBI.
 
The base and the long factory runners are the restrictive points.
After market parts will let TPI flow at higher RPMs. 6500+

I converted my junk to TPI years ago and would never consider anything else.
By far the best bang for the buck.

A stockish engine will work best with OE computer etc.
 
odin said:
The base and the long factory runners are the restrictive points.
After market parts will let TPI flow at higher RPMs. 6500+

I converted my junk to TPI years ago and would never consider anything else.
By far the best bang for the buck.

A stockish engine will work best with OE computer etc.
Click to expand...


tbichips.com or tpichips.com

The guy isnt a bs low thermostat bump timing chip guy. He takes your specs and tunes you a chip based on your engine combo. He'll also revise the chip if you want to data log the car.
 
My current setup is a TPI from street performance....my uncle had the vehicle for 15 years prior to me and installed a crate 350 rated at 210 hp with a new TPI in 1998. It is now 2010 and I have had it since 2008. The only thing I have had to do is rewire the fuel assembly ground and replace the short hose in the tank. It's geared to 3.90's and is fairly quick for it's size. The torque off the line is great.

If you do go this route I would consider cutting a trap door through the floor to the fuel tank assembly. The upside is easy access to the fuel pump from the top of the tank....I have pulled the tank down a few times already due to mis diagnosis but it is a pain to do with 30 gallons of fuel in a tank on the side of the road. I can't bear to cut her though as she has never been wrecked and only had one ding her entire 28 years.
 
82TexasBurban said:
My current setup is a TPI from street performance....my uncle had the vehicle for 15 years prior to me and installed a crate 350 rated at 210 hp with a new TPI in 1998. It is now 2010 and I have had it since 2008. The only thing I have had to do is rewire the fuel assembly ground and replace the short hose in the tank. It's geared to 3.90's and is fairly quick for it's size. The torque off the line is great.

If you do go this route I would consider cutting a trap door through the floor to the fuel tank assembly. The upside is easy access to the fuel pump from the top of the tank....I have pulled the tank down a few times already due to mis diagnosis but it is a pain to do with 30 gallons of fuel in a tank on the side of the road. I can't bear to cut her though as she has never been wrecked and only had one ding her entire 28 years.
Click to expand...

Trap door is the way to go. Nice piece of aluminum and some allen head pan screws and it looks like it was suppose to be there.
 
I have read that the factory TPI intake was the downfall of this sytem. I really don't want to spend 2k plus on an edelbrock MPFI or the like.

I was aware I would have to get a custom chip, that was something I figured would be necessary. I figure that this was a nice system to use for entry level EFI. If I get a noticable powerloss I fiured I'd put a stealthram on it, or just cut my losses and get a better system.

In regards to TBI, I always thought it was a glorified carb. Maybe I'm wrong, but I figured it wouldn't give me the power Im wanting.
 
broncoman6524 said:
I have read that the factory TPI intake was the downfall of this sytem. I really don't want to spend 2k plus on an edelbrock MPFI or the like.

I was aware I would have to get a custom chip, that was something I figured would be necessary. I figure that this was a nice system to use for entry level EFI. If I get a noticable powerloss I fiured I'd put a stealthram on it, or just cut my losses and get a better system.

In regards to TBI, I always thought it was a glorified carb. Maybe I'm wrong, but I figured it wouldn't give me the power Im wanting.
Click to expand...


It is a glorified carb but glorified in the ways that make carbs suck and FI awesome. It has no issues with angles, cold starts, stalling, and the like that carbs have.

It still has simplicity to diagnose, wire, and set up but gives you all the staple advantages of fuel injection. I love TBI to death. Do you have fuel? Well **** a gauge I can look right at the f'in injector and see if pressure is weak or if theres fuel at all.

It can be built and tuned up to handle some pretty stout motors. Start by porting and polishing the TB its self and getting spacers for the injector pod and base of the TB. From there you can get bigger injectors, or from a 454 motor and begin tuning the chip.
 
TBI is a glorified carb IMO.
With TPI the runners are dry which equals more power.
An its multipoint injected, which also equals more power.

And stupid easy to diagnose if there are any problems.
 
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