Need some expert advice please!

[DannyC4]

Hello, well, Im gonna need some advice, but more than anything, tips and pointers. Lets just say that I just got $8,000, which Im going to spend on my 84 Vette, and I want to do it in a smart way. I do want to keep the CFI and I also want to keep it legal (smog devices). I remember reading something about a guy that had a 383ci with the CFI a while ago, he had the X-ram, and bigger throttle bodies, and thats pretty much what I have in mind, rebuild the engine with a stroker kit and get some work done on the heads as well, I also want to rebuild the tranny with a shift kit and the rear end with 3.73 gears. Now, what kind of cam should I go for? I do want to use the 1.6 roller rockers, Im so exited, becasue I have been wanting to do this since I bought my Vette, which was like around 3 years ago, I cant wait, Im gonna go get bids to the performance shops here in town (Tucson, AZ). Thank you so much, any help will be greatly appreciated!

[NCMR8CMan@af]

I would advise against putting $8K in your 84 Vette...

Here is what I would do...

Sell the 84...Say you get $4K out of it...

You will then have $12K and could get a 94-96 Vette and pay it off...This to me would be the smart part...You would have a better and more reliable engine, better interior, better looking exterior, etc..

JMO of course!

Adam Boca

[DannyC4]

You're right, but the insurance cost for the newer Vette would be higher (I already checked), and besides, I like my 84, because I was born in 1983, and that would have been the 83 model, and because its my first one. I have had it for almost 3 years now. I do plan on getting me a C5 when I turn 26, but for now, Im gonna enjoy my 84.
The tow truck its on its way to pick the Vette up right now, to take it to the Tranny Shop, Im getting a heavy duty setup on both the tranny and the rear end, with a transgo shift kit, and 3.73 gears. But I dont know what kind of torque converter should I go for, what do you guys reccomend? Form what you know and have heard from others.
Also, I was thinking about getting the X-ram and the bigger throttle bodies, but its too much money, I think, what if I just have the engine shop port the stock intake manifold and the throttle bodies? Or how hard would it be to swap the CFI with a TPI system? Has anybody have tried to do this before? I saw a couple of used ones on ebay, complete with the ecm, injectors and everything, for like around $200-$300 bucks. Thanks a lot!!!

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

It sounds like a really cool project. it's always fun and exciting, so I hope it all works out.
I have plans to build up a 400 small block that I have for my '88. I would keep the whole stock engine assembly complete and stored on an engine stand (and never sell it) and replace it w/the completed 406 assembly. Swapping complete assemblies makes for less down-time too.
My TPI is a good unit, made for nice torque, but pushing bigger cubes will make it more restrictive. I am converting a Victor Jr. to port injection so I can use my stock harness/ecm and just plug back into the modified manifold. It won't be actual TPI, but it will still be EFI and the ecm won't know the difference. I have plans to make and adapter to mount a 1K cfm butterfly (facing forward) to the Holley mounting flange, and still use the stock snorkel/air cleaner housing.
The cross fire units are good but the runners are really small. The spare CFI manifold that I have has really small runners, almost like half-sized runners. The throttle units are in a bad position too. The fuel/air mixture comes out of the throttles and has to make an abrupt turn, making the fuel droplets separate from the air mixture and pool up on the floor of the plenum (make any sense?). The throttle unit is positioned directly over the runners on most other manifolds.

I would go w/the 383. You can get balanced rotating assemblies for a reasonable price and just have the block bored to fit the pistons. The cranks are already machined for a drop-in fit. You'd have to have the pan rails clearanced for the rod bolts, but no probs for a good machine shop.
Use a rollerized cam. You can get way more valve lift w/good duration, making for a nice idle too, it won't sound really radical (and you wouldn't really need 1.6 rockers). The bad point? 1984 (1983?) blocks don't have provisions for a roller cam, so an expensive ($350/$450) set of retrofit lifters will be needed (I have a set for my 400 block). 1984 blocks have the cheezy 2-piece rear main seal too. The later blocks use the better 1-piece seal and came w/factory roller cams. I have a good 1999 4-bolt main 350 block core that came from a 1-ton truck that I planned to use (until I found the 400). The crank is trashed, the roller lifter system is good, and it is really clean inside. It's for sale if someone wanted to buy it.

Use Competition Cams parts, they have really nice/reasonable Magnum roller rockers. Stock heads are crappy,Canfield heads are good, Air Flow Research heads are better and by all means, use a better intake. Running throttle units doesn't leave any room for air cleaners, so the next step is a ported/big runner TPI. Farther up will be an LT1 style box, but making it more expensive. You'll have to swap to a high pressure fuel pump (from 17lbs to 50+lbs). An adjustable fuel regulator is a good choice (since the manifold will be in pieces) and higher flow injectors will be needed for the bigger cubes. If you do get a TPI/harness/ecm, get a performance chip that makes all the usual improvements and disables the function of the egr valve.
The next system is the exhaust. Stock tubular manifolds are ok, shortie-styled headers aren't any better than manifolds but a nice full-length header will greatly improve everything. It will then have to be finished off w/a good system (Magna Flow makes some nice stuff).

Something like this is always more than just putting parts together to build an engine. It's matching parts and pieces that complement each other to have a great package. Don't build something radical, you'll hate it. Build it correctly, keep the compression lower than 10:1 (w/aluminum heads, 9:1 w/iron heads), bore the block using torque plates and don't do anything half-assed. It won't be cheap, it will take some time and you can easily spend the $8K. It just depends on what all you want to do.

If you have any questions, send me a P.M.

Good luck!

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

An Edelbrock intake manifold would work good. They make one for dual 4bbl. carbs. Have some adapter plates made to fit the TBI units in place where the carbs would go. That would look cool and flow well.
I installed a 4bbl intake on an late '80s Camaro and used a TBI unit from a 454 truck engine. It flowed better than the stock intake and the 454 unit was way bigger than the car/350 truck units. It ran better and wasn't hard work. That would be something to consider too, cheaper than converting to a TPI.

[DannyC4]

Do you think a would be able to get a "decent" or even a good amount of horsies, if I go with 2" thorttle bodies, a 85 fuel pump, and port & polish the hell out of the stock manifold and heads? Im still rebuilding the engine, using the Eagle 355ci kit, dont know which kind on pistons yet. Dont know which cam neither. The Vette is still at the Tranny shop, getting the tranny and the rear end done, Im stopping by tomorrow to check on it. I just bought a complete 3" exhaust system from www.TPIS.com, custom made for 84's-86's Vettes, ceramic coated headers, with the AIR and O2 fittings (because I want to keep it legal), custom front and rear Y-pipe, and cat, and 3 chamber Flowmaster mufflers with dual tips. Its gonna be a sleeper! They are gonna see it and think "ohh, its just another 84", he he he, its gonna be a "BADASS 84"!!! Thanks a lot for all your help.