TF pickups with TPI engine photos wanted.

[roger55]

I'm putting a '91 TPI engine in a '57 and I'd like to see photos of some if possible.

In particular, I'd like to see how much room there will be for my radiator if I mount the engine as far back as it will go to clear the distributor cover with a stock firewall.

I'd also like to get ideas on how to run my air intake off the front.

Thanks in advance.

[pgf545]

Check out this build thread, he was around for a while but haven't seen him on here in a long time.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=daniel

Bernie

[Midgets50]

not a task force build, also not sure how much similar they have in space under the hood

[G&R's57GMC]

Here ya go

[roger55]

Thanks.

That one is a Ramjet though. It's a nice install of one of those.

I've still yet to find a TPI in a '55-59.

[tpimuncie]

Originally Posted by roger55

Thanks.

That one is a Ramjet though. It's a nice install of one of those.

I've still yet to find a TPI in a '55-59.

once I mock up my engine I can measure if it would fit in the bay, I have a 91 tpi in my bubble top

[G&R's57GMC]

I've looked through my photos and I have no TPI's.

But I do have a LS just for fun.

[TX58]

I know what you're looking for, I don't know of any pics around but I love the TPI engine. I have one (5.0) in my '92 Trans Am convertible. I also have the setup to install TPI on a Vortec 5.7 engine ( special intake and SLP Siamesed runners). Saving my engine (rebuilt Vortec 5.7) to one day install it in a TF truck. I think the engine looks great in a classic vehicle, its something about those runners that look really cool.
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[_Ogre]

g&r posted my ramjet install. i believe a tpi will need the map sensor in a straight tube on the intake tube.
you'll only have a foot of room between the hood and engine when it's installed, i'm sure you can fit something in there

[roger55]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

g&r posted my ramjet install. i believe a tpi will need the map sensor in a straight tube on the intake tube.
you'll only have a foot of room between the hood and engine when it's installed, i'm sure you can fit something in there

Thought you might like to look at the Ramjet install I did in my '55 Bel Air. The first picture is latest one I have after installing my cruise control. I just bought a different set of valve covers for it and I'll get a new photo once I get them on.







Here's a video you might be interested in too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=pIk13rAmPWQ

I still hope someone will find some 55-59 TPI photos for me. However, I plan to do a mock up with my engine before I remove the cab from the frame. I want to know what kind of mods I might have to do before I do that.
I bought a new American Eagle radiator and a Maradyne 16" electric fan last week. I dropped them off at a shop here in town yesterday so they can fabricate an aluminum shroud for me. I'm going to mount the fan to the shroud as I don't care for mounting an electric fan directly to a radiator's core.

[OKGMC4]

Sorry I don't have a better pic. You can tell its a tune port but no good detail. A REALLY good pic of one with an LT1 if that would be useful? Probably not if you don't want to see a ramjet.

[OKGMC4]

Couple minutes with google. 1957 chevy, in Truckin magazine.

[roger55]

Thanks!

I guess you are a better googler than me!

Wow, that's a beautiful job on smoothing the firewall. Looks like the pocket area at the back of the engine is the stock shape which helps put the rear of the engine in prospective for me.

I'm wanting to do something similar with the air intake like I did with my Ramjet install in my Bel Air. I'm a believer in true cold-air intake setups.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by roger55

....I just bought a different set of valve covers for it and I'll get a new photo once I get them on...

I just updated that photo with my new valve covers. The Ramjet should have come with these. I really like the way they look.

Btw, after seeing the photo of where that TPI sits in the truck, I was able to do some rough measurements. I think if I get one of these intake reducers, It will have room for me to set up a cold air intake with a setup like I did with my RamJet. It will be tight though and I will mock it all up before I remove my cab from the frame. If I have to modify the firewall to move the engine back a little, I want to know that before hand.



http://www.siliconeintakes.com/produ...d59e3365c8445b

I like this one better but it's more expensive ($60). It's a GM part for a 93-97 Ram Air Trans-Am. It's for an LT1 but the throttle body is the same size as the TPI.

[roger55]

Working on this now.

I have my engine in place where I want it (I think). I was able to move it back further than that other photo posted of the blue truck because my TPI has a small HEI distributor and his had the large version. I've got both the engine mount crossmember as well as the transmission crossmember in place and tack welded. With my frame level, my rear end was 3 degrees up so I set the engine at 3 degrees down.





I'm thinking I should have plenty of room in front for a cold air pipe but I'll know more when I get my radiator, fan and shroud mocked up in place.

I'm a little concerned about my header / steering box clearance. I still have the original box in there now and have the new CPP 400 power steering box on order (should be here next week). In this photo, you can see it's a little tight. I've got about 1/4" at the #7 tube and about 1/2" at #5.
I guess if I have to, I'll cut the tack welds and move the engine to the passenger side a little.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by roger55

I'm a little concerned about my header / steering box clearance. I still have the original box in there now and have the new CPP 400 power steering box on order (should be here next week). In this photo, you can see it's a little tight. I've got about 1/4" at the #7 tube and about 1/2" at #5.
I guess if I have to, I'll cut the tack welds and move the engine to the passenger side a little.

Quoting myself here to answer the question. Bummer. Those block hugger headers I bought won't even come close to fitting with the CPP 400 power steering box.



I guess I sell them on ebay which is where I got them.

So, what should I do, any ideas?

Maybe one of these? They are inexpensive but look pretty good.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/360660614945...84.m1438.l2649


http://www.ebay.com/itm/380642060653...84.m1438.l2649

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by roger55

Thought you might like to look at the Ramjet install I did in my '55 Bel Air. The first picture is latest one I have after installing my cruise control. I just bought a different set of valve covers for it and I'll get a new photo once I get them on.

nice install
truk has cruise also, the cable runs straight back to the box is in my console
i too need valve covers, those cheesy chrome stampings don't do the truk justice

[1956chevtruck]

Here are a couple of shots. Before and After and I realize that mine is an EFI motor rather than a TPI motor.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by 1956chevtruck

Here are a couple of shots. Before and After and I realize that mine is an EFI motor rather than a TPI motor.

Well done!

Where did you get that 90 deg. intake pipe and the rubber connector at the throttle body?
That should fit my TPI too.

[1956chevtruck]

Check out this link for a truck on EBAY right now,

http://www.use.com/55_chevy_pu_49404...?p=35#photo=35

[1956chevtruck]

I got the 90 deg. and rubber connector from Street and Performance. I think that this link will get you what you're looking for.

http://www.hotrodlane.cc/flipper/flipcat2013.html#p=6

That link is wrong, (it will take you to page 6) you want page 4 of the catalog. Just thumb back one page using that link and you'll find that elbow mid page on the left.

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Wow, I had no idea there was still this much interest in the old TPI engines. LS motors are so cheap these days I really am surprised there are still so many of these being installed. One thing I can add here is that you should never use one of those filters connected straight to the throttle bodies. It really makes your intake temps go way up and cuts power. Always run an intake tube so that you can place the filter in the flow of cooler air outside of the engine compartment.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by 65Ch3v3LL3

Wow, I had no idea there was still this much interest in the old TPI engines. LS motors are so cheap these days I really am surprised there are still so many of these being installed. One thing I can add here is that you should never use one of those filters connected straight to the throttle bodies. It really makes your intake temps go way up and cuts power. Always run an intake tube so that you can place the filter in the flow of cooler air outside of the engine compartment.

I still think the TPI was the best looking engine Chevy ever made. I still like the way they run too. I got this 63K mile engine and 700R4 for $1000 will all the accessories. I think it will be a perfect little combo for the around town driving that my wife will be using the truck for.

Yes, I indend to do the same sort of air intake for the truck that I did with my '55 Bel Air that I posted pictures of above. For that one, I built an air box for the filter inside the fender and it grabs the air up behind the headlight completely away from engine heat.

Here's a couple of pics of that box when I was building it:

[65Ch3v3LL3]

Nice work on the air box. I'm an LS guy. I've swapped several into various vehicles. They get really good gas mileage, make tons of power cheap, and if you do upgrades then you just dump a new tune in with your laptop, no more having to burn chips. With truck 5.3 pullouts running about $500 its cheap power. That being said, I'm planning on doing a Duramax in my 1 ton 52. That will be my first DMax swap.

[roger55]

I got my radiator back from the shop yesterday after having them fabricate a shroud for me (did a great job). This is an American Eagle radiator and a 16" Maradyne electric fan.

So, I got it all mocked in place today. I had over an inch of clearance between the water pump pulley and the electric fan motor so I was pleased about that. I've got plenty of room for a cold air pipe. I'm going to get that designed and mocked up before pulling the engine back out. I am also going to get an A/C condenser and get it mocked up too. I may modify the core support braces in the front so I can get a really large condenser to fit.