I'm trying to put together a motor on paper. It's a 400ci SBC, not bored, and I plan on using an Miniram intake. I also want to use AFR heads and more than likely the Comp Cams 305 camshaft. Which would be a better head for my setup, the AFR 190 or the 195? Also I notice TPIS lists 3 different Miniram II intakes on it's site. The one you use depends on which Fel-Pro intake gaskets the heads use. Now AFR lists their own intake gaskets for these heads, not a Fel-Pro. So, which Miniram II do I use, the 505/518/ or 519 Thanks!

On a 400, the 195's will be better than the 190's for sure. Call AFR if you haven't yet and ask for Dave to learn why. The info he will give you is better than what we will give you. Can't nail a cam for you without knowing several things like gear, stall, and purpose. AFR can give you good info. on that as well.

Thanks, I'll call on Monday. I was pretty much planning on the 195's anyway to match the higher flow of the Miniram.

I'm going to use my new 3.42 rear with my 4L60 and a 2400 stall. My tranny was built to handle about 650HP so I'm cool there but I will more than likely get a Vig. 3K TQ converter when I do this engine. I may also upgrade to a Dana 44 w/3.54's if one showed up.

It's going to be driven on the street and drag/road raced. I need it to be close enough to smog legal to fool cops when I get pulled over but it won't need to pass an actual test of any kind like a visual or a sniffer so the Miniram not having an EGR is no biggie. I am however keeping my C.A.R.B. legal headers and 3" high flow cat. Since my smog tests are only every 2 years, I'll install this engine after my next test and when another comes around all I'll have to swap is the PROM and the engine it's self, I'll keep my current 305 for that.

I just configured a custom grind cam profile that by far gave me the best results so far in Dyno2003. Here are the specs and results: 230/244 544/576 114 LSA - 510HP@5500RPM 565FT/LB@3500-4000RPM. What are your opinions on this cam with a set of AFR 195 Competition heads and the Miniram? It freakin rocks on Dyno2003 using AFR's flow #'s.

Still though, who knows which Miniram II P/N I should use with the AFR 195's? I'd call TPIS but I've heard too many not so good things about them to trust exactly what they tell me on the phone and I know that someone here must be running that combo...

You're going to drop $1200 on a Miniram but won't call TPIS for advice on part numbers because you don't trust them?

Seems if I was to make a large purchase I wouldn't give a company I didn't trust that kind of money.

I would build it with AFR 210cc heads

Anyhow - I would call TPIS and tell them which cylinder head you will be running. Tell them that AFR told you that the fel-pro isn't a direct match and ask them if they have the correct AFR intake gasket laying around so that they can port it to that. If not - send them the AFR gasket and ask them to send it back to you when they are done.

They'll probably give you some crap for saying that the fel-pro's don't fit. At that point just ask them if they have access to the internet and point them to www.airflowresearch.com.

FWIW - I've always run fel-pro gaskets with my AFRs and MiniRam.

Tim

What I meant was that I already know and trust the product but I've seen way too many posts on here about dealing with their customer service and having to do things twice or more. I also figured that somoene here would already have that combo and be able to tell me.

Sending them the AFR gasket though sounds like the best way to go as long as I get it back...

The "custom cam" grind you posted looks like a CC306 on a 114 LSA instead of 112, and using 1.6 rockers vs. 1.5's.

Kinda, it started as a LT4 "Hot" cam that I modified to the point that I got a good sustained TQ curve with the best HP curve to match. I went through about 50 different configs to get that one then I put it on a 114 LSA instead of the 112 to have better street manners. It did turn out to be nearly identicle to one of the CC306 grinds your right. From the looks of it I might just be able to have Comp Cams gind me their nearest 306 grind on a 114 LSA and save from of the cost of an all out custom grind...

Ha! I just put that profile into google and your're right! Well I may have wasted a few hours on Dyno2003 but atleast I know that the 306 is the best for me without question. Hopefully now CC will put it on a 114 LSA for me.

Alright, here is my final setup:

http://www.TransAmGTA.com/400ci.html

Just curious - you didn't list the valves yet said that you were getting credit from AFR for the valves. Definitely don't use AFR valves. Too friggin' heavy.

Tim

The cam should be $250, that's what they quoted me for a custom Hyd. roller, and don't buy the fuel rail kit. If you really want one - I'll be more than happy to sell you mine. At the time when I bought mine, I didn't have a computer or the Internet... therefore I bought several things that I really didn't need.

"$319.84 Manley Performance "Pro Flo" Valves. 2.020 Intake - Jegs 660-11830-1, 1.600 Exhaust - Jegs 660-11827-1"

86 IROC, why not get the fuel rail kit? What else can I use?

If you see up close what little you get for $355 - you'd understand where I'm comming from. I believe there is a great profit margin in the fuel line kit. Look at TRXION's web site, he came right off the rails and went AN line into the stock steel lines on the frame. It's much neater and costs less too.

At least think it over and take a look at Tim's lines before you go paying $355 for the TPIS kit.

Thanks, I'll check that out...

You need to at least buy their standard fuel rail kit. What you do NOT need is their custom fit kit. But, you will need the standard kit.

Tim

Alright now I got it! Thanks!

Hell no. I'd buy a modified intake from someone who blatantly lies about port information.

Right John?

BTW, U may want to reconsider the t.c. and the afr195 to afr210 to 2800.I run the miniram,a 400,and a cam simular to the one u are running and as far as the track is concerned I would definitly
step up to the aforementionedand still be streetable.

Looking it your website and your setup is almost dead on to mine.
With very few exceptions(I used t.f.heads and had them ported )
but as mentioned to do over again I'd go with the 210's.Should run well and have very good street manners.But something you did'nt mention and is what is required/needed to make it work
is to custom burn your own chip,if not you will never see the potential dyno # that might be expected and don't reccomend anyone's so call custom chip.I have 2 friends that have spent
right at 1000.00 for custom chips myself included and still improved on there chip to the tune of .80 to1.00 second in the 1/4
mile

Actually, I have recently been checking all this information out.

The AFR 190s use a gasket with a port size of 1.23 x 1.99. This corresponds to a Fel-Pro 1204 (blocked heat riser) or 1256 (open heat riser).

The AFR 195s use a gasket with a port size of 1.28 x 2.09. This corresponds to a a Fel-Pro 1205.

I have contacte TPIS about "what it the largest size I can port out a Miniram originally designed for a 1204"? TPIS said that I would either have to "build up" the ports and then open them up, or get a "larger" Miniram (they said they have Minirams that can suppor a Fel-Pro 1207 (1.38 x 2.28).

I do know that you can open a Miniram designed for a Fel-Pro 1204 to a 1205. A friend did that when he bought his AFR 195 Competion Ported heads. His Miniram had originally been installed on a ZZ3 with ported heads and gasket matched to a 1204.

He did say that "there wasn't too much metal left" when I asked him about matching his Miniram to his 195s. But he too said, that if you wanted to go any bigger, you would need to build up the ports.

So, while it is best to get the "right size" Miniram to start, you aren't limited if you start with a smaller Miniram and then decide later to go to a larger port head.

As for "what size of head" you need, it has a lot to do with the displacement of the engine and the cam you are going to run. Most of the larger port heads only start to really breath at the higher lifts. An AFR 195 Competition Ported head flows virtually identical to a 210 Competion Ported up to .550" lift. It is only at .600" and higher that the 210s breath better. If the cam you are installing doesn't have have lift > .550", then you don't really need the larger head.

Lastly, if you are considering AFR 190s (non-competition ported), you should check out Pro Topline's Lightning 180cc heads "as cast chambers/ports". They actuall flow more than AFR 190s (non-competition ported). I am currently checking with Pro Topline if they will do CNC Chambers and/or CNC Runners on the 180s.

The Lightning "as cast" 200s flow only marginally better than the 180s and that is only at the higher lifts. The 180s have better flow at lower lifts.

true about the pro lightnings, but If I could afford a mini ram and AFR's it would be all about the miniram that fits a 1206 gasket (like the tpis # 500-519) and a set of huge like 227cc (AFR # 1067) Or even a set of pro-action 230cc, or dart pro-1 230cc, or canfield 220cc. Especially the AFR, since AFR has such great mid and lowlift #'s on even thier huge heads. I wouldnt order one single part until I had talked to the AFR tech about that gasket question and then you might not even need to talk to the TPIS tech.

Thanks guys! It looks like I'll be going with ther 195's then everything considered and what I want.

Yes I plan on a Vig 3000 stall converter.

Sorry I figured the custom chip was a given. I'd be doing my own of course as to get the tuning the best possible.

Thanks!

Brian, when did they quote you the price on that cam? I just ordered my hydraulic roller cam from them early this week and it was about $290. SImilar to above with minor changes 236/242 .555/.576 on 114* lsa....hope it'll be here early next week.

Tom, I think the difference in price might be related to the fact that I have a cam for an 87' - up factory roller block and yours is a retro fit camshaft. I think I bought mine about one year ago. Comp wanted me to go with a 248/252, .603./611 cam on a 110 LSA. It was going to be $250 + ship... I thought about it for a day & decided it was way too big for a true "street car." Rick Lindstedt and myself discussed camshafts and he helped me decide on the CC306 grind.

Yeah they just told me $294.07