Smaller engine to better fit the smog-legal induction?

Sounds like a torque reduction plan.   Given all the work that SLP and Lingenfelter did on TPI, surely there are some smog-legal parts that will support more than a 302/325. And there's always centrifugal supercharging.

But a de-stroker would be different.

Maybe it would also facilitate a "302" shoot out in CC? One team destrokes the FireTURD-in-white (not a typo, Mr. Firebird Jim) and the other team builds a sweet, emissions-legal DOHC Ford Modular stroker (e.g. http://www.modmaxracing.com/stroker.htm) or even a more conventional 5.0 for a Fox or SN-95 Mustang . . . .

BTW, here's a 2V stock-stroke, "NA 4.6" modular in the 10s . . . . (admittedly not cheap or emissions-legal)

http://www.foxlakeracing.com/index.php?src=news&prid=49&category=Front%20Page&PHPSESSID=7da32fd5c80da47562b6d7d4c75f06eb

A GTA with three pedals?  Is it a TPI 350?  My understanding when these cars were new was that the GTA was exclusively TPI 350 with the 700R4, and that if you wanted the 5-speed, you got a TA with the 305, whther it was TPI or TBI.

Was curious.  A friend has 2 GTAs, an '87 and an '88, and they're both the TPI 350/700R4. 

O.K., so 13's are the short term goal with a couple of bolt ons or something then? Excuse me for saying so, but it seems the project needs a bit more direction before you start showering it with parts, wouldn't you say? All that's been in the mag so far is the troubleshooting, which any high mileage thirdgen wrench twister is familiar with, but now you bring in destroker ideas into the mix??? The big butted thirdgen won't like that much without a higher stall with gears, or perhaps a stick swap (6 speed is rather easy...). Is this going to be a daily driver? Small cubes and more gears would lend itself to better gas mileage too if you do go that direction.

A destroker 350 to 302 has crossed my mind as well, along with cutting down to smaller early size main and rod journals (to minimize bearing speed) with the needed block spacers... Extra long rod ratio with short skirt coated pistons to maximize the chamber efficiency... Also thought about oil squirters to cool the pistons enough to where I could get a few more degrees advace before ping in highway mode. 13's and 30 MPG, not there's a goal!

In light of recent primedia EFI coverage, are you at least going to put more tuning into the car than an off the shelf chip, AFPR, and timing bump? I hate it when the mags do that... That's the first thing TPI owners do before they really learn anything about real tuning on these cars. Please say you'll pony up for a chip burner?!?!? thirdgen.org 'ers can teach you the basics in just a few minutes if you buy the right parts (which I can also direct you to). There's more to beating the snif tests than buying CARB numbered parts. What they don't see, doesn't hurt you, IF you know how to tune. Granted, I live in Iowa, without a visual or snif test of any kind (neener neener).

I still make sure the car is in a good state of tune though. With a Summit Racing flat tap cam (1104), SLP runners, cold air intake (you can buy an SLP one to keep you CARB happy), home made 2.5" cat back, and my own tuning, I've got 50 more dyno proven HP (over stock) in my '86 305 TPI, 30 more TQ, and get 26-27 MPG on interstate (18-19 in town). With stock stall, heads, restrictive stock exhaust manifolds, and 2.77 posi 9 bolt rear, it ran a 14.3 at 97MPH. A good running 350 TPI should be able to beat that easily with minimal bolt ons. A set of headers and a better cat back would have me in the 13's... Don't let me beat you!!!

Yes Make smith atone for all of that SHAMELESS shilling. If he had stayed editor I would have cancelled subscrition.  Oh and yes Fireturd is correct spelling I beleive.  

Chill, bro.

That speckled white paint looks like the pidgeon poop my baby mama hoses off her hooptie.  And a wack short that spends so much time on a AAA stretcher ain't got much "fire" in it no mo.  So I call CC's new waitin-fo-th-Auto-Club ride PROJECT BIRDTURD!  It's th' poopie hooptie.

Peace out.

Grandstangmaster Buzz

Project Birdturd?  Crude but funny.   That peeling paint does sort of resemble bird do-do.  

Personally I'd just put a junkyard LS1 in it. It would cost the same as getting the TPI into the 13's n/a and it would be capable of 12's dead stock. You could get it to go 11's with just bolt ons and it would have no problem at all passing emissions or getting 20+mpg.  

It might be harder to smog because I think CARB would use the emission standards the LS1, not the TPI.  I recall reading somewhere that on engine swaps, Cali's Smoglets enforce the rules applicable to the new engine, unless the car is "uncontrolled:" 

I could be wrong, though.

I agree with bnoon...run an article about programming a third-gen ecm, I bought the hardware (chip programmer, eraser,etc.) a while back, but would feel more comfortable if someone walked me thru the whole process.  

What do you need to know sleeprrr??? Which burner did you get? Which tuning software are you using?

I like the freebie sharware stuff like TunerPro for GM's (and soon the other Big 2). I then burn 27c256 chips that you don't need an eraser for. You can get them at moates.net. My burner is the Pocket Programmer II.

What bin and mask are you using?

Also, very little mention of the project in this month's mag. Did it break again and make you miss deadlines???

BTW, here's the thirdgen.org thread going on about the project car...

http://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=295487

To borrow generously from an earlier poster . . .

maybe Project "Birdturd" crapped out?

Never fear, I'm sure it will be back (probably with yet another how-to-paint-your-car for cheap story)

Of course nobody will ever beat Cam Benty's (I think that's who wrote it) story about repainting a '69 Camaro in his driveway!  Where were the Cali smog police back then?  And too bad Cam didn't follow up with "How to sand dirt out of your driveway paint job."

That surf wagon would be sweet!

Project "Birdturd?"  That's cold!  

I think chevysxz should write for Car Craft.  He cracks me up.  I have not laughed that hard reading about cars since the mid 80s when Tony DeFeo wrote for Cars Illustrated.