Hey everyone,
Well, finally diagnosed the problem with my 82 Elco with a 305 and TPI... bad lifter... really dont wanna dig into it, and really, I know I can pull more out of this TPI unit if there was just "a lil bit more underneath it"... So, over the next year I'm planning a build for a MONSTER TPI build... please chime in if anything sounds fishy or funny... I just started my research but VERY excited!!!

Block: 4-bolt craigslist 350 bored over to around 360ish... $hopefully cheap and decent.
Rotating assembly: Balanced Eagle crank+pistons+rings+connecting rods (full balanced assembly). Dont have part number... just remember it being around $500
Valvetrain: TFS-K314-420-395 (http://www.trickflow.com/partdetail.asp?part=TFS%2DK314%2D420%2D395&autoview=sku) (trick flow's aluminum head combo deal;claimed 420 hp on barebone 350... we'll see about that...) $1800 kit
Intake: Origial TPI lower plenum, SLP Runners and factory plenum; all port matched and polished. Maybe BBK or Holleys larger throttle body to cap it off... Around $600
Fuel delivery: Definetly upgrade to AT LEAST 24lb injectors... maybe 28s??? Some help here would be nice...Current pump system should work...$200+ through FIC
Exhaust: Found a set of street legal headers... cant remember name or P/N. Like $350



Looking to make this a full roller motor with all the goodies... I know the computer will need to be HEAVILY modified to handle the spark tables and Fuel Ratios... That and an upgraded ignition system sure wouldn't hurt anything! First step for me right now is just finding a block... Like I said, Im shooting for 450hp, which puts this idea somewhere around having the same amount of power out of a TPI as an LS1 or 3... without the price tag of a used LS... I have read a few various articles too on this "450hp" number and it IS possible provided all calculations are made and everything around the motor can handle it... The key here I believe is the heads and fuel delivery, which brings me to the idea of emissions??? These heads are 50-state legal, however I'm not entirely sure how well my ECM will react (even with a different programmed PROM) to this kind of power??? Tranny is a 700r4 which should work for now, but WILL need new rear end to support the power to the ground! Currently has factory gears... If anyone's ever put this kind of motor together, any part numbers, spread sheets, clearances, ANYTHING is helpful! And if anyone's got any good info, maybe this thread can be used for someone else looking to make this kind of power??? Thanks again!!!

Only a couple of thoughts this early. The cam appears to be a flat tappet cam- not roller. The HP numbers they show are at 6500-7000 rpm's. TPI's, especially on a 350, run out of air at about 5000. For the block, bore it out only as far as you need to clean up the cylinder walls. Thinner walls are harder to cool. You won't see any difference in performance from a couple of cubes. Flow on the stock base, even ported, may be a limiting factor. Compression ratio will need to be high to get the HP you are looking for- 10.0 +.

What are your plans for the Cruck? If it is a daily driver, then I would focus a little more on driveability and torque rather than HP. Remember, it's torque that get's you moving, and HP that keeps you there. If it's a drag car your building, then HP is important for the top end. For a DD, Torque wins the stoplight races and pins you in the seat. For more torque, go with more lift on the cam, and less duration. You could also consider building a 383, since you are changing out the rotating assembly. Your additional cost would be minimal. Those build a lot of torque!

Just dug out my 2001' printed catalog from TPIS, which has a bit of tpi info.
Injector ratings- 19 lbs-38hp/cyl, 24lbs-46hp/cyl, 27lb-54hp/cyl.
On intakes,large tube runners good for 10 plus hp &1600 to 5200 rpm range. Their big mouth base is good foranother 22 plus hp.For higher hp, you really need their mini ram manifold which looks similar to lt1. Looses low end, but gains 90 plus hp@5200 rpm on a stock 350. Their built 383 example with this intake is 437 ft/lbs &463 hp @6000 rpm. The 420 ci example is 507 ft/lbs & 542 hp.
Their cams are also specifically designed for tuned port. Their zz-x cam made 408 hp in a factory tuned port 350 & 465hp with a mini-ram 350@ 6500 rpm.
This should give you a little start as to what you need .I agree a 383 is better for the big numbers& don,t bore more than needed. The slp cast runners are not for you, you really need the mini ram to pick up the top end hp #'s you're after& a 383 will give you back the low end torque.
Hope this helps.

I'm also building a projected 450ish Hp sbc for my 87. Hope to drop in before June.

However, I'm going with a carb, and knocking out the computer system as much as I can.

I agree with the 383 as well, seems it would be mostly cheaper since you arr changing crank and all that anyways.

I have been looking around, and you can pick up a 383 stroker kit (crank,pistons,bearings,rods, and depending on kit, even a flywheels) for less than 800$ new. And some as low as 450$ with cranks, rods, and pistons only.
this was just quick research on ebay though...

But there's not much I can say that hasn't really been said already. Hope you have fun with it!

Thanks for the input everyone... I considered the 383 option, but Im trying to limit the build to under $3k and finding a stroker setup for under $800 is pretty difficult considering the heads i want alone are around $1800... I know the torque 383's put out and LOVE the feeling of sinking into the seat with them, so I may begin to pursue that route as well... Im wanting to make this elco streetable, thus the 450 number... anything beyond that to me would be AMAZING, yet impracticle... thats why Im shooting for a more High perf based components... may consider supercharger/turbo down the road... and want to make sure all the components inside are good to go, just in case... on the note of turbo's though, I've heard the 450hp number getting reached VERY quick with an ebay turbo and a few little goodies... May just consider building 350 with some strong internals and a nice set of heads and run a turbo??? Just a thought... but would like to stick with a naturally aspirated set up... Supercharging would be good too, but the $$$ factor seems to get in the way pretty quick when you consider the heads and other internals...

Here's the engine I'd like to build.

http://www.purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/techinfo/350%20chevy%20engine.html

Jack

Building a tuned port engine to put out 450 naturally aspirated hp reliably is expensive. However, note the 350 example I listed with zz-x cam& stock tuned port with air foil made 408 hp & was the company road race america car back in the late 90's. If you built a solid 350 with the heads you want & a similar cam, I think you,d like it. Then if you did like calloway did in his mid 80's 200 plus mph vettes & put turbos in front of the stock intake, you,d have a monster fer sure. turbos bypass some of the limitations of the stock intake, maf etc. the stock intake would give you all the possible lowend before the turbo's kick in.
Turbo,s in the later future sounds like a plan. Just don,t get the chinese stuff, bearings won,t hold out. Maybe used buick gn stuff.

Sorry everyone... figured out the problem... timing was WAAAYYYY too advanced causing that lil pingin sound... Live and learn right? :p Either way, elco is up for sale... ya i Know... but wife says its about that time... but i'm lookin for a Z28 or vette either way... Elco actually runs PERFECT... and I do mean PERFECT as of right now... gonna be hard to see it go, but i know someone's gonna get a sick lil el camino

If you want 450hp and a broad torque curve that moves things, get away from the stock TPI base and runner style. A 4bbl style is a better option. However, you mention emissions so I assume you're in Maricopa or Pima counties. Start reading the heck out of the DIY PROM stuff on thirdgen.org. Might be better off converting to the 90-92 ECM and tuning from there.

If you're on a tight budget and want horsepower, get an LS junkyard motor 4.8 or 5.3 can be had for $500 or so. This is a no-brainer

You have to decide turbo or n/a BEFORE you begin the build, compression ratios are completely different.

You're a better mechanic than most of us if you can get 450 horse out of stock Tuned Port intake and runners - many, many people have tried and failed.

"Picking" a displacement 360, rather than examining the 4 bolt main bores (please let us know how the search for an affordable, quality 4 bolt block goes) is silly.

You need to do your HOMEWORK!

82_ELCO, If you are interested in a TPI intake setup I have a TPiS Mini Ram with a Holley Throttle body with all the accessories I could let go of.