Thank you for the video. Straight to the point. I'm not a gear head but just a fan of classic cars in general. I've had fun bringing cars back to life visually but from what I'm told, doing upgrades can result in newer parts usually exposing or breaking weaker parts of a car specifically the engine which is an area I don't have much knowledge about hands on.

I’m in the middle of restoring a 87 305 TPI in a 79 jeep CJ. This video was helpful, thank you!

Finally! A good video straight to the point! Thank you!

Keep coming w the 3rd Gen videos!! Loved it.

Picked up an 1989 IROC. Loved the video and information. I’ll be starting with these mods you went over for sure. Build on a budget. Had the same thoughts. Mild build to keep it stock but w some power adders.

Thanks! I like my 86 IROC (305 TPI) but am just wantin a little more Torque. You have given me a great place to start

I just got a 1988 Iroc Copper Red with the Irocz Red and Black stripping and gray interior with the 5.0L (305) with the T5. Dyno'd it, maxed out at 227hp and 289tq @ 4800rpm. It has a modded exhaust system but engine wise I have no idea what has been done to it. Nethertheless, here in Europe you hardly ever drive past 160km p/h (about 95Mph). These things are great fun from 30Mph to 80Mph. I find the power plentiful and good fun. I get about 29mpg (UK) at 70Mph @ 1600Rpm in 5th gear... I just expected it to be worse in performance and economy but since I don't know what's been done to it, I just don't think I'd change anything on it.

I'm thinking about going too in a 87 C10 so yeah keep it coming 😊

Probably hard to find today but a supercharger really wakes these cars up. I’ve had a Paxton on my 89 Formula 350 for about 20 years. The instant throttle response never gets old.

Good video. Very insightful. I have an 1983 el camino i swapped a 355 with tpi setup running slps and vortec heads. Had to swap injectors to 24lb and get a prom made for it .

If you want to transform your TPI get a longer duration cam but keep the LSA wide (112 or 114, a forced induction cam is perfect for this) and siamese the base. You literally cut the dividing wall out between each runner several inches into the base. You still have the look of the TPI and you'll have more top end. You can also open the stock bases a LOT. I have one that here that is just ported but not siamesed, you can feel the weight difference in it.

Simply adding a throttle body air foil and exhaust cutouts, allowing the TPI engine to breathe, makes a significant difference. This was done to an 85 Corvette 350. Through the mufflers there was a very noticeable decrease in power.

Good info. The best thing I ever did was a custom chip . Went from 14.7 to 13.9 really woke it up. I still have it and never get tired of it.

Headers are by far the best bang for your buck mod for these cars.

The best mod I did was a 180 thermostat with a Hypertech early fan turn on switch. The cooler temps help the 700 transmission last longer. Add a B&M Transpak and now you got the reliability it should have got from the factory. The Southside Machine weld in subframe connectors stiffened up my 1989 350 Formula perfectly. A big improvement with those stupid lexan t-tops. Then box the trailing arms and add a polyurethane torque arm mount. GREAT launches. My TPIS adjustable fuel pressure regulator was set at 47psi. For exhaust, it doesn't matter what muffler, run a 3in pipe. 6200 rpm in 3rd gear equals 145 mph. Yes, it does spin that high.

Cool video!! Thanks for the info I own a 92 Z28 TPI and its no show car but fun to drive.

I was 14 or 15 the first time I saw a TPI engine. I was amazed at how cool it looked. My first car in 1998 was a '90 IROC 350, and I still have it. I have done most of the mods in this video with the exception of the internal engine stuff. I run a 14.1 @ 97 mph with a tired original engine and damp street tires (no way around the water box). Not that impressive, but no way I'm getting rid of the runners on this car. Too rare and too cool looking.

Throttle Body Airfoil makes difference ! not really in power but you feel it in smoothness in the pedal. Air intake is a big help. Don't use under drive pullies. Exhaust is a big difference if you use headers. 160 therm don't work well. 185 and a custom fan switch. 160 will go through the radiator to quick and not get cooled enough. These are 1single core radiators. The tpi 5 spd cars are the fastest. I had an 88 Formula with 5 spd and the stock 3.45 borg warner rear with 130k on it. Stock with a dual cat and k&n air filter. The car ran 14.3 @ 94 at the track. These cars were rated at 215 hp. There is no way it could run like that with that little power. Probably more like 265hp.

The best bolt on mod to me, was the mini-ram intake monifold. It essntially took the L98 TPI engine and made it an LT1 minus the opti-spark. I had a 1992 Formula 5.7L

My brother replaced his 305 with a gm target 350 truck engine. He added vortec heads and a one off base intake to fit the degree change of the vortec heads. Popular hotrod and car craft did articles on the swap so many years ago. Slp headers and cat back opened her up. He ran out of fuel in the top end but she was a screamer. Mind you this is a heavier auto forms conversion convertible car with a tpi. In fact it may be the only afc car that had tpi. He still has it in original condition with very low miles. The 305 is on an engine stand in the corner. Last year he added 1le sway bars and new bilstein shocks.

I love the ultimate warrior wwf type intro music

Have a few $$$ engines, but somehow just refuse to let my tpi 350 go,,,,and when I'm done with everything else I'm going to rebuild it! Thanks for the post!

I'm restoring a 1991 z28 Camaro and a 1995 Corvette. I have Edelbrock lower intakes and high flow runners and ported intakes/throttle bodies for both cars. Like you mentioned, I'm looking for a factory engine look with a little more power. I don't plan to race, just cruise with a little extra power.

I've got a 92 T/A 305 TPI. Gonna LS this thing but would keep the original engine to put it back to stock when ready to sell it. Thanks for the ideas.

In 83 the firebird t5 standard option was a 3.73 end. Of course thats a carb car.

I miss my 89 Formula 350 damn. I went through all the phases of modifications. Mostly studied TPIS and John Lingenfelter stuff back in the day. TPI makes so much low speed torque. The best gas small block truck motor never put in a truck! If you look at some of Richard Holdener's TPI dyno stuff, a modified TPI setup with heads and a cam, makes crazy torque, and then just 6-8 psi of boost makes insane torque numbers down at 2800-3000 rpms. Of course a short mid-short runner combo makes more on top every time. But where do you spend most of your time driving? How much does the vehicle weigh? If it's a race car, no question take it off. But a street car, or truck, you might be surprised how fun, and fast you can go, without a stall converter, steep gears, or turning 6500. It's just dramatically different power curves. I've had Lt1"s several carb set-up small blocks, and 5.7 LS1's that were easy too make fast. But they were all more or less the same power delivery and amount if the same size and comparable $$ in heads/cam ect. Probably be easier too just build a SBC from a cheap truck roller cam block with vortec heads, because nothing under that TPI intake is really going to help anything, unless it's a 87-92 vette then the L89 alum heads might be useful.

Thanks!

I just picked up a 87 Iroc Camaro for $5000. I got lucky. Can’t wait to fix it up!!

No mention of a manual transmission conversion for the 350?! The manual on the 305 Pontiac is basically the reason it can sell for more than a 350 of the same year. I'm planning on putting a straight-cut dogbox transmission in mine - it ought to free up some space under the car for some proper dual exhausts too - and there's a whole conversation to be had about that and what's involved in doing that. The Detroit Speed Camaro's probably the best example I've seen of duals on a 3rd gen.

My 91 z28 l98 with 3.73s, slp runners, bumped timing, gutted airbox, airfoil and coolant bypass went 13.55 @ 101.72 with a 1.98 60'

A short video on the 305 TPI Throttle Body Coolant Bypass would be great. I have just recently learned that the throttle body is liquid cooled and want to bypass mine.

I have a TPI setup in a 1980 Corrvette. Stock 30 over with flat tops. Eldebrock heads. I am controlling fuel and fire using a 0411 LSI ecm. The low end and top end gains are certainly impressive because it can be tuned very easy. With the individual coils, and no distributer it fools a lot of people. Yes, it is not the cheapest mod, but for me it has been by far the best

This video is speaking my language I have 2 camaros with the tune port

Guys if you don't install camshaft don't get headers. I would use just go with LT1 exhaust manifolds instead.

Gotta disagree on the pass on the rear gear swap. I have a 91 GTA with the 3.23 stock, I put in 3.73 and what a difference. Off the line is a huge improvement, in my case I don’t run wide open on the highway so take off was beneficial

I disagree on the tuning part. I think it’s a MUST! Pcm of nc will absolutely tune your vehicle AND send you mail order tunes. I have a 1990 corvette with the tpi engine. Full exhaust with headers back, built trans, free/cheap mods, plus a tune. The tune helped me VERY much as well as making it run cooler. My plan is to get a ported first tpi intake. That, with a full exhaust and a tune, is really all you need. They’re soooo much fun and are pretty damn quick! Ofc if you want real power I’d recommend building the entire engine etc. I would recommend doing really DEEP research on the forums to really get an idea of builds. I think most of what you said is pretty damn good and is a great help. I will say tho.. the comment about 2800 stall well.. I don’t think I’d go that high either. My last converter was 2400-2600 and I have a HORRIBLE time with traction and that’s will good tires! I’d recommend something like what I have now which is about 2000-2200 stall. I’ve been researching my vette extensively and I’ve done a little bit of modding myself so I’ve been able to see firsthand how this all affects me. Also, last note.. I would not go with a 160 thermostat. 180 is PLENTY good! Plus, if you get your car tuned by pcm of nc they will make your fans come on sooner so you won’t have to worry about it being too hot. Great video! I enjoyed!

My best mod on my 86 305 tpi was trading it in on a 90 5.0 LX, back in the day dollar for dollar the Ford would always be quicker. I wish I still owned both

Best "free" or cheap mod possible, 6 degrees base timing, bump the fuel pressure to 50psi off vacuum, port the plenum, runners, and base. There are two brick walls in the plenum entry you can totally grind out. Bone stock 89 engine picked up 4 tenths with the porting.

Back in 2017 I pulled the LB9 of my '88 IROC. I thought about a swap, but decided that after 30yrs of ownership, it was best to keep it essentially stock. I had a "performmance" ROM and K&N since the 90s and my "mods" in '17 were installing Dyno Don headers, 3" exhaust (including GMMG "muffler"), porting & polish plenums, lowering springs, and both inner and outer subframe connectors.

People are charging crazy prices for performance tpi parts on eBay glad i got mine back in the day...grabed a set of Arizona Speed and Marine from a Corvette forum for $250 ... people are changing $700+ now 😂

My father sold me his Tpi 350 camaro most of these mods are already done minus the newer intake runners are they really worth the money to change?

Going to rebuild the engine in my 91 GTA 305 this winter, and although I've already got a lot of these bolt-ons done, we've talked about a lot of what you said re:internals. As far as gears, i always worry that going from stock 2.72 to 3.23 would hurt the mileage... but I've been in a car with them and it was like a different car how much it came alive. Can you offer any experience on the mileage? Thanks in advance!

TPIS did every conceivable test on these during the 80's into the 2000's. Them and Lingenfelter were the guys to go to, and they're still in business.

First tpi

What the 350 engine blocks in these trans ams how horsepower can the engine block with stand without catastrophic engine failure?

I have a tpi 96 suburban 2wd. I definitely would like more knowledge on how to make hp

👍🏼👍🏼

My 5th time i think can't remember something about my 91 z28 i just want the best for it I've had 3 6th gens and 1 c7 grand sport and 4 3rd gens the one i have now the 91 convertible z28 is my 2nd favorite behind the vett of course

how much hp can you gain from these mods

Get a first thing with the new ecm computer set up

The best bolt-on for tuned port injection Is nitrous oxide😂

Yeah, nice video but... what's that all about the 305 and not wanting to spend any money on one..? And with all do respect, what is it all about the desperate aim to gain power, when there is already 215 Hp available in the all original 305 V8 -5 speed manual gearbox setting, and the Borg-Warner manual gearbox- drive train setup is not capable to handle much more than the standard 215 HP to begin with, witch basically is the very reason the 5,7 Liter V8 which comes with 225 HP was not available with this Borg-Warner drive train setup because this Borg-Warner Gearbox/drive train was not capable to handle the 5,7 Liter V8 225 HP. So trying to gain power actually really is not a very smart thing to do, unless you've got a automatic in there or you've got an entire upgraded drive train in there witch can handle all kinds of power upgrades to begin with. So if you do not want your all original Borg-Warner drive train to be chewed up by gained power...you better think twice. And one more thing: the cars that actually go up in value are the all original ones...so modifying really does not ad any value, in fact it will decrease value.

Your performance parts will amount to nothing on a TPI engine unless you have fuel. I spent thousands AFR heads , headers, $550 com chip, msd, siamised runners, ported intake, ect, while making a order for high dollar parts a tech wanted me to add in a cheap $ part i sais sure 40 bucks, it was a ( adjustable fuel pressure regulator } OMG it was like it woke up every performance part i ever put on my 350 tpi all at once. These cars tpi dont have strong fuel pumps, the name of the shop was called TPI spec out of minn, i guess their still around they had a catalog back then 25 years ago and no one knows TPI like these folks. simple too install also.

These cars are getting old so replace distributor, plugs, wires (NO MSD Garbage!!!!!!!! If ya need a red cap get an MSD cap and rotor but thats it! Go Davis unified Ignition otherwise), coolant flush change thermostat for peace of mind, new injectors if you got multecs or originals, clean your EGR out or delete it with a tune (ensure its working the EGR solenoids are obsolete and usually burnt out from engine heat) A.I.R delete, move the HVAC bypass off the valve cover (longer coolant hose) along with throttle body bypass, throw some nice valve covers on, and headers absolutely. SFC's are a MUST if you MUST upgrade something!!!!!!Dont go anywhere from there in my opinion without considering tuning (TunerPro RT and MOATES is gone so chip burner and data logging equipment can be found at tunercat). Trust me on this guys..been through it all with mine. This will save you headaches and chasing your tail rough idles, start stall, etc. Also a good idea to get some new MAF relays on hand if its MAF equipped prone to failure due to age if yours is an oldy. DOnt run them with MAF codes, if the burnoff circuit isnt functioning you will destroy your sensor. ANd no chinese junk stuff or remans, you will think you changed a part and eliminate the issue and chase your tail again. Dont let this overwhelm you just study and get to know the car (TPI). They are picky but worth it in the end :) For help and advice thirdgen.org Have a good day

Original owner 1985. Did a Dynamic efi swap. Vortec block. Everything is roller 383 CNC afr heads scat bottom end. Re pin some ecu connector pins. Ditched the maf. Its map based fueling now.

NOS 5151. Bolt on. Installed right it will not hurt engine.

Thanks for this video. I have a 85 z28 with the 305 tpi. It was the first year for tpi in the Camaro and the car is still 100% original. Still has smog pump, a/c , and everything. I would like to get a little more out of it, but I definitely don't want to change anything since it is a survivor.