Ported Chevy 083 heads, the tpi project

[F-BIRD'88]

Good stuff on the 083 heads.

To me, the TPI induction is going to only be wanted for low rpm big torque use. Towing etc. As opposed to high power high rpm racing stuff. For that I'd go to a tunnel ram style intake for efi. Like the Stealth Ram EFI.
Straight direct runners.

Wonder what the stock lower TPI intake (in ported form) could do if with straight intake runners running off it with say dual plenums/ throttle bodies over the valve covers instead of the wrap around runners of the gm tpi.

The gm tpi induction has 2 things going for it.
1. -Boss looks
2. - Fits under the hood.

[Carnut1]

Good stuff on the 083 heads.

To me, the TPI induction is going to only be wanted for low rpm big torque use. Towing etc. As opposed to high power high rpm racing stuff. For that I'd go to a tunnel ram style intake for efi. Like the Stealth Ram EFI.
Straight direct runners.

Wonder what the stock lower TPI intake (in ported form) could do if with straight intake runners running off it with say dual plenums/ throttle bodies over the valve covers instead of the wrap around runners of the gm tpi.

In one of my notebooks I designed such a system, dual throttle bodies, dual plenums. I even did one that removed the 5,7 issue. looked like hell on paper.

[Carnut1]

How about putting a full cost to a customer who came to you for all this work on his heads and complete TPI set-up?

My wife is funny like that. Quote, "Did you make more than $5 an hour on that job?"
Charlie answer," Nope, and if I did I wouldn't admit to it!"

[F-BIRD'88]

There was a Merc Marine tunnel ram style efi intake for this 083/217 head. It was used just prior to the Scorpion ski boat motor series that used vortec heads. Pre 1996.
Shorter direct runners Relative low hood height.
Lots of meat for porting. I believe they were cast by edelbrock.

[F-BIRD'88]

The full on siamese porting method on the tpi system is great with supercharging.
Getting the 083 heads flow up in the 245+ cfm range really helps too.

Sorta the "Camel Back" head of the 80's.

[Newold1]

How about putting a full cost to a customer who came to you for all this work on his heads and complete TPI set-up?

My wife is funny like that. Quote, "Did you make more than $5 an hour on that job?"
Charlie answer," Nope, and if I did I wouldn't admit to it!"

I totally understand your efforts and creations here and your long hours and good hard work result in some nice creations but for anyone reading on Speedtalk or needing to make a stock GM TPI make more power I think a better solution is to go to this site and get their much larger out of the box manifold and throttle body.

www.firstfuelinjection.com

[Roundybout]

I was 18 in 1985 and remember trying to make power with the TPI stuff. Only thing that made them fast was forced induction or nitrous. Going to an aftermarket system, well it’s not really TPI then. The base that allows for the Vortec heads makes for a nice street engine. I still have the Arizona speed and marine long tubes around someplace I used on a Vortec head 383. Great to see someone playing around with this.

If you get a chance dig out those runners and take a few pics for me. I need to start working on a runner plan. I don't see either set of runners I have making my buddy happy. Thanks, Charlie

We just got a bunch of snow and it doesn’t look like I’m making to the shed anytime soon. I found a link from when I was working with the TPI stuff. The AS&M stuff was ok. QC was lacking a bit. I had a hell of a time getting valve covers to fit with out and extended boss on the bolts. These were like the ones I had, never tried the Siamesed versions.

https://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28/buildup/runners/

[Carnut1]

How about putting a full cost to a customer who came to you for all this work on his heads and complete TPI set-up?

My wife is funny like that. Quote, "Did you make more than $5 an hour on that job?"
Charlie answer," Nope, and if I did I wouldn't admit to it!"

I totally understand your efforts and creations here and your long hours and good hard work result in some nice creations but for anyone reading on Speedtalk or needing to make a stock GM TPI make more power I think a better solution is to go to this site and get their much larger out of the box manifold and throttle body.

www.firstfuelinjection.com

No argument, I will not be doing another tpi project like this! A aftermarket tpi system that can flow 260 cfm or a miniram is more my style. Thanks, Charlie

[Carnut1]

I was 18 in 1985 and remember trying to make power with the TPI stuff. Only thing that made them fast was forced induction or nitrous. Going to an aftermarket system, well it’s not really TPI then. The base that allows for the Vortec heads makes for a nice street engine. I still have the Arizona speed and marine long tubes around someplace I used on a Vortec head 383. Great to see someone playing around with this.

If you get a chance dig out those runners and take a few pics for me. I need to start working on a runner plan. I don't see either set of runners I have making my buddy happy. Thanks, Charlie

We just got a bunch of snow and it doesn’t look like I’m making to the shed anytime soon. I found a link from when I was working with the TPI stuff. The AS&M stuff was ok. QC was lacking a bit. I had a hell of a time getting valve covers to fit with out and extended boss on the bolts. These were like the ones I had, never tried the Siamesed versions.

https://www.eecis.udel.edu/~davis/z28/buildup/runners/

No worries, snow... I don't miss it!

[Carnut1]

How about putting a full cost to a customer who came to you for all this work on his heads and complete TPI set-up?

My wife is funny like that. Quote, "Did you make more than $5 an hour on that job?"
Charlie answer," Nope, and if I did I wouldn't admit to it!"

I totally understand your efforts and creations here and your long hours and good hard work result in some nice creations but for anyone reading on Speedtalk or needing to make a stock GM TPI make more power I think a better solution is to go to this site and get their much larger out of the box manifold and throttle body.

www.firstfuelinjection.com

I like that first system, I didn't see any flow numbers on the site but it looks like they addressed many of the stock tpi shortcomings. Thanks, Charlie

[Orr89rocz]

The first base i seen posted 300-306 cfm

[Carnut1]

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Ported 083 exhaust.

[Carnut1]

The first base i seen posted 300-306 cfm

That is something to look into. Thanks

[David Vizard]

Charlie,
This is book grade material - you are doing a great info service here for ST posters.
DV

[Carnut1]

Charlie,
This is book grade material - you are doing a great info service here for ST posters.
DV

It is nice to get some input from ST from those who know and have done it before. I find this whole tpi design interesting. I can really see how it was originally built for a 305 to make 350 torque in a heavy car. If you look at it that way it was a good design. Add cubes or rpm and it gets limited in a hurry! Thanks, Charlie