GM TPI in the 400 SBC

[Bruce Plecan]

-----Original Message-----
From: Marc Piccioni <mpiccioni at attcanada.net>
To: 'diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu' <diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu>
Date: Sunday, January 17, 1999 1:35 PM
Subject: RE: GM TPI in the 400 SBC


>Any idea's where to get this book?

Some years ago I got my from Jegs (800) 345-4545
Bruce
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>----------
>From: Mark Romans[SMTP:romans at pacbell.net]
>Sent: January 18, 1999 11:04 AM
>To: diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu
>Subject: Re: GM TPI in the 400 SBC
>
>TPIS's book, insider hints, on page 17 shows a chart with a 383 w/airflow
>research heads, big mouth intake ported plenum, 58mm throttle body and
>modified maf using for comparison purposes the stock runners, slp cast,
>lingenfelter cast, tpis extruded and tpis siamesed runners.  Obviously the
>stock runners at 1.470 diameter id were down from the others oh hp and but
>torque was similar but at 700 to 1000 lower rpm band.  With the stock
>runners it made 469.6 ft lbs at 3750 rpm's and 390 hp at 5750. The biggest
>jump was to the siamesed runners (Which are no longer made by tpis) at
462ft
>lbs at 4250 (Actually down) and 427.7 hp at 5750 rpms.  So the stock
runners
>are not that much of a limitation.  The whole thing works as a system.
>
>I would recommend that anyone wanting to do any playing with a tpi system
>buy the tpis book.  They have exhaustive flow tests on every component
>documented in this book.
>
>A 406 with a tpi ought to be a really fun combination.
>
>Mark
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ECMnut at aol.com <ECMnut at aol.com>
>To: diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu <diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu>
>Date: Saturday, January 16, 1999 6:36 AM
>Subject: Re: GM TPI in the 400 SBC
>
>
>>Skip this post if you could care less about 400 SBCs
>>or drag racing..
>>
>>With such a low RPM torque peak, some conservative
>>rear-end gears (3.55-4.10) will probably work well.
>>Peter mentioned traction linitations in a previous post.
>>I couldn't agree more.  IF you can keep it connected
>>to the pavement, the car should provide big fun..
>>The 400 SBC makes lots of torque without such a
>>TPI intake amplifying the issue.  With the stock runners,
>>it should REALLY make torque by 3,500 RPM.
>>Some years back, I had a 2700 lb bracket car with
>>a 350 SBC, 5.13 gears decent heads, very mild hydraulic
>> cam and a box-stock 750 Holley.  It turned 11.70s all
>>day long.  It idled as smooth as a hoover vaccuum cleaner.
>>Eventually, I replace the 350 shortblock with a 13:1 400
>>shortblock, reusing the heads, cam & everything possible..
>>I reduced the rear-end gear from 5.13 to 4.10 because I was
>>nervous about turning the "strokey" short-rod 400 too hard.
>>The first day out with the 400, it idled perfectly smooth at
>>15 inches of vaccuum, and the car turned 10.80s....
>>Almost a full second improvement over the 350..
>>Even with the gear reduction, the car left the starting
>>line much harder than before.  A hard throttle stab
>>from a fast idle would pick the front tires up almost
>>a foot.  The car was a small Vega with a 3 link suspension
>>and 14 inch wide slicks, so traction was usually available.
>>If I could have EFI'd this thing, I'm sure it would've been
>>faster and cleaner.  Even with a carb, I considered
>>getting a tailpipe emmisions test done, but never found
>>the time.  The engine stayed in the car until two years
>>later, when I sold everything..
>>The 400 is really impressive as long as you keep the
>>RPMs low (below 6,000?)..  That includes the burnout.
>>Despite my persistent warnings about hi RPM death,
>>the rookie that bought my car liked the sounds of 8,000
>>RPM in the burnout area, and put a rod through the
>>oil pan his first day at the track..
>>Good luck, I bet the 400 TPI combo will be fun..
>>Mike V
>>
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