I purchased a tpi setup and i'm getting ready to do the swap on my RS. I wondered if there was anyway I can tell what year the tpi is, is there a part number or something that can tell me? Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Brad

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91 metallic blue RS flowmaster exhaust, sportline springs, K&N filter, much more to come soon

 

I just took off my plenum today and saw my year number on the bottom "87". I don't know if this is coincidence or what but you might try looking there first.

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~3.1EyeCandy~
"The Car that started my craze"

'92 Firebird 3.1 (A car sold)

My new baby: '87 flame red GTA 350 w'auto
Carmine interior with pioneer all around
Hooker Catback, Airfoil, K&N
http://3.1EyeCandy.tripod.com

 

I know that once they switched to Speed density the length of the "fins" on the plenum got shorter. I think they switched to sd in 89????
but dont quote me. I would wait for someone to tell you the part #s.

edit- oh and you can look for a cold start injector that will tell you that its pre 89 also (if it has one).

[This message has been edited by 88305tpiT/A (edited July 08, 2001).]

 

I'm not sure how you could measure it, but I know that the pre-'87 and 88-post lower intake manifold to head bolt holes were drilled at a different angle. I think the later models were at something like 72*, I'm not positive exactly what it is. Check out the casting number on it, if you really want to know, and then go check it at your local book store.

 

Ok, I looked under the plenum and mine says 84, but I thought TPI started in 85. I wish I could go and look it up in my local bookstore, but my local bookstore really sucks and I seriously doubt they'd have any useful info. Is there any place online where I could look up the part number?
Thanks for the help.

[This message has been edited by Brad91Rs (edited July 09, 2001).]

 

OK, here goes my .02..... Yes, TPI started in 85, and the TPI setup itself, the parts that sit on top of the intake, were basically the same for the most part until 1990, when MAF went bye bye and along came Speed Density. One exception is in 89, where there is no provision for the cold start injector on the driver's side runner & intake. If it's a S/D setup, (1990-92) you can tell by looking at the passenger side of the plenum for the port for the MAP sensor.

There were a few other changes, like the one that was mentioned earlier about the fins getting shorter, (or was it longer??) and the IAC passage on the bottom of the plenum being a little bit different but I can't remember what year that was changed.

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Kevin Irving
85 Trans Am WS-6, 305 TPI, custom burned '86 PROM with '87 "165"ECM, Accel Supercoil & 8.8 Wires, Rapidfire #2 @ .055", MSD 6AL, 1.6:1 Roller tipped rockers, Homemade AFPR, K&N cone, no airbox, Aluminum Driveshaft, Wonderbar, TB Coolant Bypass, Ported Plenum, Descreened MAF, Syclone Fuel Pump, JET Airfoil, Mobil 1 synth in all but transmission.

http://www.geocities.com/transam85tpi/

 

The number 84, maybe that is a number stating the year the part was made? it would make sense if it's an 85 tpi setup, the part would have been made in accordance to the model year, which would run from what, september to july? see what i'm saying? some parts were made in 1984 for the 85 model year, then when the year rolled over into 85, maybe the numbers changed to reflect.


just a guess.

 

here is a list of ID numbers found on the fuel rail:
17085052 1985-87 305 Bosch
17087254 1985-87 305 Multec
17089024 1989 305 Rochester
17090100 1990-91 305 Rochester
17085050 1985 350 Bosch
17085019 1986-87 350 Bosch
17086106 1986-87 350 Bosch
17087265 1987-88 350 Bosch
17087266 1987 350 Multec
17088065 1988 350 Multec
17089025 1989 350 Multec
17089026 1989 350 Rochester
17080101 1990-91 350 Rochester
17080102 1990-91 350 Rochester

i hope this helps.
Bryan