lameusername

Could I get some of you to tell me some pro's and con's of TPI vs. Carb. I'm looking into a 383 stroker and am wondering which one would be better for me with keeping price down as well. I'm just looking for street muscle around 300-400hp with good torque. If I went TPI is it possible to keep my stock computer??? If I went carb what would I have to change??? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!!

duckmanquacker

Well for starters you need to give us info on your car, your question is very vague.

lameusername

Well, right now the block is a stock TPI305. The tranny is a stock 700R4. I have done a couple of mods such as, bigger throttle body, k+n air filters, hooker headers, a 3 inch cat back system, flow master dual exhaust and a stage II chip. Oh and 3.73 gears. I was going to do the ol' make the 305 super powerful but after pricing everything I was wanting to do I stumbled across a TPI 383 stroker crate engine by Tuff dawgs and thought it's gonna cost almost the same and I would have a new, more powerful engine....then i started thinking again.....then started wondering do I have to stay TPI, why can't I throw in a carb'ed 383 in my Iroc??? I'd like to stay TPI since for some odd reason I've convinced myself without any research that I think it's better??? But I'm sure there are lots of people that know way more than I do about engines. And then I finally decided to ask you guys here. I pretty much know just enough for someone to say wow, he has no clue what he's talking about. Hope this helps???

camaronewbie

Federally, you'd have to stay TPI, unless maybe your year car was available with a carb, then you'd have to retain the stock emmissions equip for either setup.

In reality, it's going to depend on emissions requirements in your state/county. If your in Colorado, Cali, or numerous other states, you'll have to remain TPI and keep all emissions equip to pass inspection, so check with local laws first.

duckmanquacker

Well the computer doesn't care what displacement the engine is, it just gets readings from all the sensors then tells the injectors and timing what to do. (complex yet very simple) Switching to a carb you would need to address the TCC in the trans, the distributor, the fuel pump, Just to name a few. For lowest cost stay with the TPI as long as it all worked before.

camaronewbie

But more than likely you'll need chip programming - different motor means different readings from those sensors - way more air flow that the stock programming will want to dump too much fuel on top of for example. There will be larger injectors to feed it, different fuel and timing tables, etc.

There's alot of difference between a 200hp 305 and a ~350hp 383 that will need tuned for in the chip. This you can learn to do yourself with a programmer and a laptop, or there are alot of TPI chip programmers around that can do it for you.

duckmanquacker

yes I consider tuning far cheaper than purchasing all the extra parts to convert to carb.

lameusername

Does that mean that I can keep the stock computer that I have and just have it reprogrammed or would I need to get a completely different computer?? Also, if I bought a "turn key" crate TPI would or should all the specs come with the engine or do I need to ask for them???

camaronewbie

I wouldn't buy a crate anything that didn't come with specs.

You should be able to reprogram your existing TPI chip for the engine, or have it done. There's alot of dyno shops that do this - about $100 an hour for dyno work as I understand it.