Cascade Crew

chevymad · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:56 pm Post subject: First TPI

After 13 years of wrenching on probably 6-10 cars a day, I finally had a tpi powered car come in to be worked on today. 85 corvette. The owner says it has all the "goodies" like rv cam and such Laughing

Anyway, it's squirting water out of the intake gasket. So I'm pulling the intake manifold off today.. thinkin this thing just can't be right.. grab my magnet, hmmm.. iron heads.. watcha know. Then after I get the intake off, I shine my light down behind the head and look at the casting #. 201.. Look on mortec tonight 80-85 305. Shocked

I knew the car didnt sound like it should. Someone slipped a cam in probably a maro 305, popped on the tpi and added a muffler, then stripped most of the smog stuff off. So now its a hotrod motor.

Debating now whether or not I tell the guy. Not really my business, and I know he thinks its hot hate to ruin his self image!

At least it doesnt have swirl ports Wink

iansane · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject:

That's gold.

Although is he going to accuse you of the swap if you tell him?

Xophertony · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject:

i would have called him as soon as i noticed, you gotta tell him. YOU'd wan't to know, i know i'd want to know.

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject:

I remember reading on TGO or somewhere about a guy who swapped an L98 out of a Vette, and put the LG4 from his Camaro back in the Vette. Rolling Eyes

So it's been known to happen before.

rjmcgee · The Hammer Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 2328

Sucks for that guy.

Tell him, he won't care. He might argue with you it's still a 'Vette motor.

QwkTrip · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:33 pm Post subject:

I think the customer should be kindly advised that there are signs that the engine may not be original. You never know... he might have been victim to false advertising. And then to keep yourself out of the middle of a mess, offer to refer the customer to an "expert" who can investigate further.

Xophertony · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:58 pm Post subject:

juat give it to him straight. you are an "expert" right? i mean your a mechanic right?

QwkTrip · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject:

I use the term "expert" in a marketing manner, not in terms of skill or knowledge. For example refer them to the local Corvette club. They love investigating things like this because they are so anal about originality. And naturally they have a lot of free time because they rarely drive their cars.

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

I got two "owned" in one night so I'm calling it good and turning in. Missed me these last couple years, didn't ya? Very Happy

aaron_sK · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:48 pm Post subject:

*points to joined date*

Twilightoptics · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:10 am Post subject:

Heh not the first time and wont be the last.

My 5.0L Peanut was passed off to the previous owner as a 5.7 just because of some stickers.

Quasi-Traction · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:50 pm Post subject:

I passed off a Ford 260 V8 as a 289 once........the only real way to tell is to take the head off and measure the bore size.....260 I think is a 3.78" and the 289 is a 4"

That's enough potty mouth out of me...I said enough of the F word for one night.