TPI Guru's Enter Here
 

Here is the story.

My father in law got a 1986 Corvette, the guy he got it from said it has work done to it and claims it has around 480 h.p. *Just to clarify I am NOT the mechanic in the family, I get all my answers from my dad or brother but they cant be bothered because my father in law doesnt listen anyway! I basically want to know for myself and because he was contemplating parting it out. One more thing, I have a broken leg and cant do this, I am trying to explain to my wife where to find the part #'s on the block and heads.

With all the accessories on the engine she cant see much. Can you guys see your part #'s(block/heads) when you pop the hood? Basically can I find out what I want before pulling the engine?
Aside from the evidence of the throttle body having traces of silicone, everything else looks stock, intake manifold, exhaust.
Can a stock TPI set up support that kind of HP?
If you ask me its stock but I am not an expert(by far)

Any HELPFUL info is appreciated.

<- not a TPI guy but you should be able to pull the numbers off of the heads when you pull the valve covers.

As far as I know a stock TPI will not produce that much HP. The person to ask might be Josh over at JS. He knows his TPI's in and out

Ok, she'll have to do that tomorrow, he would flip out if he saw us go near it. He doesnt know anything about cars and doesnt trust me with it. Not that I want it, the only good thing is that it runs and drives, it is not even close to road worthy! I told him he could find one already done for less than it would cost to restore, being that it isnt a very desirable year. I wanted to just get it dynoed and be done with it but his so called buddy was supposed to put a steering cloumn in, took the entire dash apart and never came back, so now its worse than when he got it!

Thats what I figured. Also, I figured I would title it like that so it would catch Josh's attention! This isnt important enough to bother him at his shop!

It couldnt approach 480 hp NA on a good day. It needs aftermarket induction to build any significant hp, torque is where the Tpi succeeds with its long runners. Im talking generally here, Josh knows more.

I would be willing to say that without a TON of work, you aren't gonna see 480hp out of a small block with a stock TPI setup on it unless you start talking power adders. As stated above, TPI's long runners build good torque, but not a ton of HP.

As an FYI, the most powerful TPI 350 available in a 3rd gen (90-92) was rated at 245 hp / 345 tq. Vettes did slightly better thanks to their aluminum heads, but they still weren't screamers.

- Justin

OK you got my attention..

Unless there is some SERIOUS work done to that engine there is no way it can make that power.. Easiest way would be to see what injectors are in it.. stock 22 lb injectors will not support that much power even 24s wouldnt do the job..

Thank you, what does she look for on the injector to tell if it is stock? Like I said she has to do it alone, the garage is too cluttered for me and my crutches!

tell her to get the numbers off the side of the body of one of the injectors.. Then google the part number.. If you want, post up the flow rating and I can tell you what max HP could be..

Thanks, I'll have her do that and post when I know.

Ok, I googled it but I'll put it here so you guys can confirm, Part #5235211 = 86 Vette RP 5235211 TPI injectors -- 21.6 lb/hr (Bosch design with plastic tip).

sounds like someone got their numbers crossed. that thing is probably as stock as the day it left the factory.

Thats what I have been trying to tell him! It runs good, I just want to make sure if he parts it out, he doesnt give out the wrong info.

yeah definitely. i'm sure if you see the heads are stock castings and you look at the runners and valves, you will be able to tell if they were touched or not.

If it's the stock TPI setup it will NEVER make those kinds of power numbers n/a. The stock plenum, runners, and intake start choking for air around 3,800 rpm or so...and definitely a wall at around 5,000.

i wouldnt bother parting it out... ebay it in its whole form

The most power those injectors will support is 334 BHP N/A and that is at 95% duty cycle...

Thanks. I will pull the valve cover to check the heads, just in case. If he goes through with it, I'll be the one to list everything for him.

If the heads are stock, they should be aluminum, #113. Put 'em up on TGO, the 305 guys love 'em because they have 58cc chambers, flow pretty well, and weigh quite a bit less than stock F-body 305 iron heads.

- Justin

I just figured I would let you all know that I was right! It is a stock 350.

LOL. Yeah, that's close to 480 hp. Or maybe HALF of that.