Have you got an L98 TPI you want more power out of ??? (Page 1/12)
California Kid DEC 08, 10:39 PM
Here's a link with some recent tests conducted on an L98 383 using various combinations of TPI setups. The end of page 1 and onto page 2 shows HP and Torque off Dyno runs conducted. While this engine was bored out a little, used Trick Flow heads, hotter than stock cam, it is a road map to getting more out of your L98. I'm not going to go into everything done to mine, just sharing this info:

http://www.thirdgen.org/ techbb2/showthread.php?s=582ae6c9ac418df10bc041aa8f3216c1&threadid=273727&perpage=75&highlight=Super+Rod+Magazine&pagenumber=1

The cube difference between the 383 and 350 using an optimum ballpark of 1 HP per cubic inch, would result in a 33 HP difference.

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Car History: http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/025670.html

[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 12-08-2005).]

daniel87fierogt DEC 08, 11:57 PM
So Calikid, that dyno has really got me interested in a L98 swap. What kind of electronics are required to run your motor and does anyone make a premade harness and computer to run the L98. What kind of bang for the buck does this swap give you. I see there is a huge aftermarket for this motor, what kind of motor could i get with about 6,000.
Formula88 DEC 09, 12:05 AM
Painless wiring makes a harness to put a TPI engine in just about anything. You need the ECM for that engine. If you mod the engine, you'll need to burn a chip to properly tune it - likely requiring some dyno tuning to get everything out of whatever combination you do.

TPI engines have been hot rodded countless ways and swapped into countless types of cars.

California Kid DEC 09, 03:31 AM

quote
Originally posted by daniel87fierogt:

So Calikid, that dyno has really got me interested in a L98 swap. What kind of electronics are required to run your motor and does anyone make a premade harness and computer to run the L98. What kind of bang for the buck does this swap give you. I see there is a huge aftermarket for this motor, what kind of motor could i get with about 6,000.



First let me say that I've got a rough estimated $27,000 into my car. Secondly, I wouldn't recommend for someone in High School to venture into these waters (unless they're rich of course). There are more important things to be doing at your age. Not trying to lecture, just giving advise.

As already posted, you need the ECM, and preferably the engine wire harness with the purchased engine. In addition the ECM out of your Fiero should be supplied along with it for modification/fabrication. Here's the outfit that did mine, and everything works same as the electrics in the Fiero right down to pulling correct error codes:
http://www.hotrodlane.cc/

Chips have to be burned for the setup, I had one burned with the "hot setup", and one burned for "moderate setup". My original thought was to swap in the moderate chip for long trips, but the moderate chip never seems to find it way into the nest !

As far as "Bang for the buck" you can't beat a properly built up SBC, and the L98 (preferably the Corvette engine) is no exception to this rule. It wil treat you very well without the long term durability issues of pumped up smaller engines.

daniel87fierogt DEC 09, 03:43 AM
Calikid,
Okay i understand everything you have said. Now i am by no means rich and thats why i am going to be buying a 3.4 DOHC and putting it in over next summer. But i was wanting to hear what you had to say about the L98. After Highschool i am going to be swapping a SBC into my fiero and im taking the time and deciding which V8 i am going to go with. I dont like stock engines so any SBC i get, i am going to be modifying and building up. I just want to have one that responds well with the mods and runs well enough to drive it on the street. If i do go the L98 route, then i will definitely buy the motor complete with harness and computer and i am going to make sure it comes out of a vette. When it comes time to do the electrical issues ill be sure to give those people in your link a call and see what they can do for me. I am going to be getting the archie kit to install it, and i know you use the highly modified Zumalt kit. A + to you Cali for the helpful info and could i also get that companys name that built you those axles you have in it right now? Thanks Daniel
California Kid DEC 09, 06:17 AM

quote
Originally posted by daniel87fierogt:

could i also get that companys name that built you those axles you have in it right now?



Thanks Daniel ! Just saw a picture of your car with description posted in another thread. You are commended for achieving what you have so far on your car, and still being in High School, my hat is off you !!!

You can get the custom fabricated Halfshaft Assemblies through:

Evola Service
250 North Rose
Mt. Clemens, MI 48083
586-463-8380 Ask for Todd or Keith

The cost is now up to a touch over $1,700, and I believe they need your halfshafts, required for the end units, and getting the exact length right to order. Expensive, yes, but I was shearing Mark Williams Enterprises racing axles every 10,000 miles. These custom fabricated assemblies are guaranteed for as long as you own the car. Knowing what I know about this outfit:

http://www.300below.com/

I'd even go the extra measure, by having Evola Service cryo all the parts prior to assembly. With strenght increases of 100 to 400% with this treatment, you can't go wrong with the $3.50 per pound treatment fee. In addition, if your going to use a getrag, or auto, have all the parts treated (works equally well for ferrous and non-ferrous parts).

A note on the Corvette L98 Aluminum Heads (used by quite a few hot rodders), they can be ported / fitted with larger valves to produce results very close to aftermarket heads. Lower stock aluminum intake porting also produces some very good results. You just have to way what you can correctly do yourself, v/s shop expense, v/s purchase after market replacement parts. Mix in a nice cam, with 1.6:1 Roller Rockers setup, and nobody will wipe the smile off your face.

[This message has been edited by California Kid (edited 12-09-2005).]

RCR DEC 09, 08:09 AM
I have to bow to California kids experience with the SBC/Fiero combination, but I played with one for quite a while when I had my Formula Firebird. The final combination I had was a GM crate CC350 engine. Similar to the ZZ3 without some of the goodies. I had a pair of Trick Flow G1 Twisted Wedge heads, GM LT4 Hot cam, Kieth Black 10:1 Hyperteutetic pistons, LT1 manifold (modified similar to John Millican: http://www.lt1intake.com/ ), Accel DFI, etc...It was a lot of fun to wipe the smiles off smug LT1 Camaros and Firebirds, and I could run with the LS1's. Mustangs were not a problem at all. Prior to the LT1 intake, I hogged out the upper and lower plenums on the LTR tuned port setup, using siamesed SLP runners. That setup would run up to about 5500 RPMs before dropping off. (Normal TPI is good to about 4800 RPMs).
If I were to do it again, I would go with a stout GM crate engine, topped with AFR heads, and a LT1 or MiniRam intake. Then I'd have to figure out what to put behind it...

Check out the archives at www.thirdgen.org for lots of SBC info. Good luck with your project...

Bob

California Kid DEC 09, 08:05 PM
Yep Bob, they can be fun engines, mine pulls hard to 6,200 rpm before the runners peak over rather sudden, set my shift point 5,900.

Bump for the weekend warriors.

thismanyfieros DEC 10, 12:03 AM
hmmm...i just purchased a tpi system myself...i believe out of an 86 camaro..minus wiring harness.. been debatiing which route to go with this set up...but i see some doors are definitely open and possibilities seem endless...thanks for posting..tim..
AaronZ34 DEC 10, 01:22 AM

quote
Originally posted by California Kid:

Yep Bob, they can be fun engines, mine pulls hard to 6,200 rpm before the runners peak over rather sudden, set my shift point 5,900.


And how exactly do you know this?

You don't. I swore up and down my Z34 pulled to 7200rpm. Then I stopped being rediculous, got it on a dyno, and low and behold power fell off hard after 6000. Quite a bit different than what my at home dyno said.

Furthermore, you don't "set shift points" with manuals. Also, if your car pulls hard to 6200rpm (Which I find highly unlikely do to your intake manifold resonance), why not shift at 6200? Better yet, why not put the thing on a dyno and figure out your actual shift points using your gear ratios and tires sizes?

You know NOTHING about the power curve of yoru enigne, you know nothing about its air:fuel ratio, and you have absolutely no idea on optimum shift points. Just like you have no idea on whether it's making 100, or 800hp.

Also, I don't think you're in a very good position to be talking about dyno numbers, especially other people's numbers.

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"all pushrod motor are better than the dohc because it has less rotational mass"
-rick17, MyMonte member, owner of a 3100 Monte Carlo LS

[This message has been edited by AaronZ34 (edited 12-10-2005).]