cwyates4

iTrader: (1)

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I found a t ram for sale on ebay today. but wow!!, The guy wants $2500 for the thing. So whats the exact story behind these things anyway?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

It came from SLP; was supplied as part of their Firehawk package. Long since discontinued and unavailable.

It's highly sought after these days by a very small handful of people who aren't "performance" enthusiasts, as such, but rather, Firehawk enthusiasts. $2500 sought after? I kind of doubt it; but who knows.

If it didn't have the Firehawk connection, it probably would have been long since forgotten. While it has substantially more potential than TPI (not saying a whole lot), other intakes that cost ALOT less can produce more power, and parts can actually be obtained to service them. So IMO it's probably best left in the domain of the Firehawk people.

cwyates4

iTrader: (1)

So, is it correct that the factory producing them burned down and the molds were destroyed? Too bad that happened, we may have progressed alot further already had it not been for that. Wonder why they never tried to recreate it?

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

That's the story I've heard also, but I have no verification of it. You could maybe call them and ask, the times I've had to deal with SLP, they've been fairly responsive.

Considering that it came out in 1991 or so, right at the VERY END of the existence of TPI; and that it wasn't copmpatible with what came after, namely the LT1, or after that, the LS1; and that BOTH of those engines will SMOKE a Gen 1 350 with that thing on it; then it is reasonable to conclude that a company like SLP, whose bread and butter is "packages" for NEW cars, would have no interest whatsoever in resurrecting a dead product for VERY OLD cars that doesn't fit their business model. And no one else really would either, because the alternatives to it are simply better in the real (cost/benefit) world of hot-rodding. I can't imagine how it would have contributed to "us" "progressing further" in any way, regardless. It was a specific-purpose thing whose time came and went, and will never return.

cwyates4

iTrader: (1)

Well, i think that the t ram would have lead the way for the aftermarket intakes for tpi. The t ram was obviously a better platform for performance than the tpi, so maybe we would have seen the same products, but sooner. It don't matter though, I love the mini ram, and the other alternatives tpi systems are nice as well.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

The MiniRam pre-dated the T-Ram by several years. Main difference is, the MR isn't smog legal (no EGR provision), but AFAIK the T-Ram is. The SuperRam, which IS smog legal, AFAIK also pre-dated the T-Ram.

Call SLP and tell em what you think. See what they have to say. Not much anybody out here can do, I don't suppose, except offer to buy one (or more actually, LOTS of them, like, enough to cover the cost of creating a mold and casting a run of them, probably a couple hundred or so).... they'll listen to MONEY and not a whole lot else, I'm inclined to suspect.

Doesn't take much to be a "better performance platform than TPI"... that, by itself, isn't good for much, since almost anything else is better than TPI for performance. TPI is what is is, and is (was) good for what it's good for, and there's not much of an upgrade path without taking a whole bunch of stuff off, throwing it away, and replacing it with something TOTALLY different. I'd respectfully disagree about "leading the way" though, that's not what the T-Ram was made for, and it really had no chance at all of doing that anyway, by the time it was introduced. It was already beaten. Too late to market, for any kind of aftermarket interest.

Beast407

They kind of have a cool factor because they are so rare. I scored mine around 2 years ago for $600 with all the wierdo fuel regulator fittings (it uses a TPI regulator) and cruise control/TV cable bellcrank, which is very rare in and of itself. If it sells in the noted auction it will go for more than a lot of F-bodies are worth.

Your AFAIK is correct Sofakingdom as the T-Ram has EGR provisions. The fuel rails are cast into the top, which is nice for packaging but makes one pay attention to avoid hurting an injector o-ring or two when lowering the top. One must work each injector into the top by gingerly twisting after applying a generous amount of lube. The integral fuel rails make the fuel line plumbing a sort-of Mickey Mouse affair with more than a fair share of fittings and adapters just itching to leak. It makes one wonder how GM signed off on this kind of plumbing arrangement on their endorsed product (Firehawk).

I haven't had mine on a dyno yet, but by SOTP it pulls way harder than the gutted SLP runner/Accel base combo I used to run. Still, I'm sure it can be outdone by a Stealthram or Miniram on an apples-to-apples basis. I have been toying with the idea of building a Stealthram-style top for it to shorten the runner length and eliminate the quasi-restriction after the throttle body due to the runners while still having an EGR valve. Maybe we'll get to it someday after my other projects.

Just my $0.02.

Thanks.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Interesting... I had wondered about that, since in all the pics I've seen as well as the only one I've seen in person, there were no fuel rails visible....

avro206

While you may be correct--a stock TPI 350 with just a T-Ram swap will not beat an LT1/LS1----it's highly unlikely anyone would be stupid enough to put a T-Ram on and not change anything else--that would compliment it.

My car is almost as fast as a Firehawk and I still have TPI.

92droptopws6

iTrader: (10)

Kevin Woodruff of SLP designed the T-RAM for the firehawk,the car had dart heads mild cam(compared to nowadays)roller rockers and the ZF-6spd from the vette..The key here was the 6spd it made use of the intake volume.
My best buddy had the T-ram on his 91 z small SLP cam,2600 stall,the first set of G2 twisted wedge heads,real tunning etc..the car had no problems running 12s with 3.23s sorry about the pic it was back in 94 so i scanned it..

400Z28Racer

iTrader: (4)

here is ebay link http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SLP-T...QQcmdZViewItem

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

.....and it has zero bids.

racer J

I have heard what that intake was called or seen one for sale before. The first time I had even heard of a 92 Firehawk was because it was listed as a car in the lists that Motortrend used to do where they listed cars A-Z and gave the specs, times, prices, etc. The first time I ever saw a Firehawk was in the first catalogue that NextGen did. I'll have to get a shot of it with my camera and upload it later. It has a very clean pic of the intake inside the car.

Beast407

FYI, here are some pic's of my T-Ram before installation I dug up.

badgta

iTrader: (4)

man holley really made things like that go away quick when the stealthram came out..... talk about overpriced toilet paper..... i mean in all reality what would be the purpose to buying such a piece exactly? for resteration perhaps? it, and all other aftermarket intakes are designed to open up the intake tract, why pay 2500 when you can pay 500 for a stealthram? crazy man just crazy.... he could atleast make it a open bid for people that was really interested, just another ebay a$$hole trying to take advantage of people that dosen't know better..... i hope no one buys it, would serve him right.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, it's ALOT better than TPI (but then, what isn't), but not all that good.... like I said earlier, its value mostly lies in its connection to the Firehawk product. It's not a "go fast" piece to be sought after like some kind of Holy Grail by those of us who are interested in mere function. There's lots of other ways to just go faster than that thing will go, for ALOT less money. Rather, if you're trying to either restore or clone a Firehawk, nothing else will do. To people in that position, it's beyond price: and the guy who has it clearly knows (knew) that. This is one reason I've never got into Firebirds, and have in fact actively avoided them, since the mid-70s; too much of this sort of "rare" "original" "only {x} of {y} with both {a} and {b}" and "yours isn't as genuine as mine because {insert RPO code here} triggered {insert other RPO code here} and yours doesn't have that" and "mine is 'worth' {insert 2-digit number} thousands, but I got it for $2000 and sold it for {insert normal price here} I wish I still had it because someday it's going to be 'worth' alot" spank-off, and that sort of thing. Just not something I care to participate in. But for those who are into that, it's a different story.

Reid Fleming

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I'm pretty much like that with the 1LE cars. Sure they're rare. And the bigger tank and better brakes are always a plus. But half the stuff in the package could be had with a regular IROC or later on Z28. The lack of A/C takes a lot of fun out of the car if you live in the south as well.

And it's the catch 22. If you wanted to take the car racing, you'd get the 305/5 speed. I'm not sure why people ordered 350 1LE's other than if they didn't want A/C in the car. But the 1LE/no AC combo cost more than an air conditioned car anyways. I suppose a 350 1LE would have been more fun if you lived in the north. But it's still a marginal difference over a regular car. It wasn't like you were getting bigger wheels or a 3.70 axle or something of huge difference.

The "delete" cars always seem to attract more interest for some reason. Hey look, a 1960's Corvette with heater and defroster delete, no A/C, and radio delete....how much fun is that?

Getting back on topic, I'll admit that the T-RAM will always have a bit of a soft spot for me. The looks alone make for quite the eye catcher. And the rarity of them means that nobody will brush it aside as just another SLP runner/SuperRam/Holley. But at these prices, the dollar vs HP and looks comparison starts tilting more towards the dollar side. Too expensive for my tastes.

Except for the Firehawk restorer (and are there any? Aren't they all still in mint shape), I would pass on a T-RAM.

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

Interesting.I knew 1LE1 had better brakes and all but didnt know about a bigger fuel tank?

AC

iTrader: (3)

UGH....stop the larger 1LE tank rumor. PLEASE. I realize you guys have just "heard" of this tale but thats all it is. All 3rd gens got the 16gallon tank. I own a 1LE, have researched 1LE's, all the guys I've ever spoken to with 1LE's all have the 16gal tank.
As far as that T-ram goes, I like the wow factor there...BUT I don't like it so much to pay 2500 for it when like others said already a NICE intake setup can be easily had for 1/4 the price or even 1/2 price (super ram / mini-ram).

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

If all thirdgens got the 16 gallon tank how come I can barely sqeeze 13 gallons in my car when its dead empty.I always figured I had a 12 gallon tank.

avro206

actually the tank size varied slightly in some years.

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

I know this is old thread about something differant but I`d love to have a 3 extra gallon capacity.Is it the 91 and 92 cars that for sure have the 16 gallon tank.

Fast92RS

iTrader: (2)

I dont mean to hijack the thread but the reason why you cant squeeze 15 or 16 gallons is becuase where the filler neck goes into the tank. This is for fuel expansion. If you filled the tank to its complete capacity the tank would buldge when the fuel expands and will cause porblems with fuel delivery. It also has to do with the EVAP system for fuel vapor recovery.

Guest

The tanks are all the same. How much you can get in is directly related to how much you can get out. I've had an 84, 85, 86, and 89 and none of them would fill the same amount when run dry... dry to what the pickup would take out of the tank. I'm talking differences of gallons. The 84 I could easily put 15 gallons into, the 85 was in the mid 14's, I cant get much more than 12.5 into the 86, and my 89 hovers around the 13.5 mark.

There are some aftermarket tanks that claim to have more capacity than stock, if you are concerned about how much fuel you can put into and get out of the tank get one of those and make sure the pickup is at the bottom.