TPIS offers this Mini-Ram Intake Manifold

They claim:

This fabulous one-piece casting is ideal for the serious car nut. If used as a replacement over a stock Tuned Port intake, on a mild 350ci motor, you will see a 75-95+ HP gain. If you build the motor on the mild side, i.e. small cam and some porting, stroker motor, 100-125+ HP,over the stock or modified TPI intake is very possible. If you go on the wild side you will be able to exceed any single four barrel power numbers, all with greater driveability and economy.

What do you think?

 

I like mine.

 

Went 11:80s on motor two years ago. Ive used them on three different cars. Good product.

 

Their claims are pretty close. I believe they are WAY overpriced. That's why I started doing LT1 intake conversions. It's the same manifold style and half the price.

 

the design flows well.

but ive heard horror storys of casting flaws from them

they're WAAAAY overpriced.

impossible to find used parts for

and their customer service sucks.



if i was going that route, i would look into a LT1 intake... the cost is reasonable, the power gains are same (or better) and if you get it done by john Millican (or whatever his name is, i think thats it) he'll make sure it fits.
there are tons of LT1 guys making over 400hp with that intake, no problem... and its a factory casting, so no casting probs....might as well save the money and get a cam or almost a set of heads... lol.

 

Prices are high!

 

Here we go again..LOL I love mine,went high 11s on street tires with a slipping trans.. Like how it looks almost factory and doesn't look like it was thrown together or an after thought .. Don't have to cut the hood on a firebird and can run a STB very easy.. room for MAJIOR porting ...... BIG downside is that it costs a bunch ..

 

also, the LT1 one IS factory, looks like it belongs there, and is lower then TPI so you can run any STB you like... and it has room for porting, but is close enough that alot of people dont even match it.



the miniram is nice.... its cost doesnt justify it though... atleast IMO... if you have the money and you dont have a problem with its cost, and you dont mind dealing with TPIS afterward if needed, then you'll have a great opinion of it like tony does above.... its a nice intake if you get a good one.

 

Hey 89GTA2LV,

I see you are from the OC...
Do you want this car to be smog legal in Cali?
If you do, dont expect to pass with a MR on your engine.

 

The LT1 is factory, but you have a few extra coolant lines on it which isn't really a big deal, just doesn't look right .. .. thats 1 reason Y the Mini is a little taller ... it also has to do with runner entry angle.. I think..
I just like a cleaner looking install...
I'm not knocking the LT1 conversion at all.. I think its neat ... hell I have a dual quad tunnel ram that I converted to EFI back in 91 (kinda like the stealth ram but I made mine to fit under the firebird hood).. same hight as a TPI unit...
I know guys that have made the mini ram work with EGR its really not hard at all .. it just makes it ugly

 

Mini ram. no substitutions very happy.

 

I own a Miniram as well as a couple of buddies. In ALL of our "complaints" about various parts we've installed on our cars, this is the only thing we don't complain about (other than the initial hurt of purchasing).

Also, "lack of bottom end torque" is a myth. Flat is probably more appropriate. I intially installed my Miniram on a basically stock engine and I actually had more torque below 2,500 rpm and definitely above 4,000 rpm. The only place it loss torque was from 2,500-3,500 rpm.

The only other intake other than a Miniram (or converted LT1 intake) would be the HSR that I would consider. I have helped tune a number of guys with the HSR and I've been very impressed with the HSR's performance.

 

did you guys read the february 2005 mag of super rod, they did a test called the ultimate tpi shootout this is what was found. motor used was a 383 strocker with a stock tpi it made 410hp and 500 foot pound of torque.next was edelbrock high-flo base and runners hp was 431 and torque was 501.next was extrude hone base and port-matched the plenum and tpis big tube runners and 52mm tb 451hp and peak 534foot pounds of tq.next was tpis big mouth base and large tube runners ported plenum 52mm tb made 460hp and 534 foot pound tq.arizona speed and marine siamesed runners port matched plenum high flow tb made 464 hp at 5,300 rpm 510tq at 3,800.next was slp firehawk intake 466 hp and 495tq.next Accel SUPER RAM peak hp was480 and tq was 506 at4,100 rpm.next was Holly efi converted single plane intake 493 hp and tq was480.next was HOLLEY stealth ram hp was 501 and peak tq was 493 at 4,600 rpm also 58mm tb was used.next is TPIS mini ram was crowned horsepower king making 505 hp four more than stealthram tq was low at 471. ok info on the test engine 10:1 trickflow heads,cam is comp cams xr288hr.

 

Thanks for the info. Would you have more data other than the peaks? Peak numbers are only part of the story. What is more important is the graphical representation of the TQ and HP lines and comparing those (as well as how well each was tuned).

I have worked with a variety of intakes with a dyno and TPI (and TPI like) intakes tend to be very peaky on TQ from 2,500-3,500 rpm. While the Miniram & HSR tend to be very flat on TQ with more TQ below 2,500 rpm and above 4,000 rpm. Also, the Miniram seems to have no limit in how far it can rev.

There are other factors to consider as well. What is your engine combo and what is going to be it's power charateristics? The Superram gets very good marks for engines that aren't going to pull more than 6,000 rpm. It's a pain to install, but I know a few guys who say that "after a few times, and once you learn the tricks, it really isn't that hard".

And, there is even simple things like "estetics". Even though I own a Miniram, it really isn't the sexiest looking intake IMO - in fact, I think it is rather boring looking. But I give it TOP MARKS for ease of install.

Probably the MOST important thing to consider, is the performance a person wants to attain.

 

Do any if these meet CA Smog? It makes no sense if they don't for me here in SO CAL

 

edelbrock high flo base and runners are smog legal,and tpis large tube runners and big mouth base smog legal and accel super ram is smog legal to.

 

MiniRams can be bought to match a 1204, 1205, 1206 gasket. LT1 ports are raised over a Gen I SBC. Get back to us when you're having castings made.

 

Yup...
Super ram is probably ur best best for remaining smog legal.
Unless u wanna do an LS1 swap

 

i think it depends on the application and what you intend to do with the car.

i would only run one on a low compression, forced induction motor or one that you plan to use outrageous high rpms with. for the street i wouldn't want one as the torque range is terrible. if you got one free or cheap that's one thing but they are very pricey.

the benefits are one piece intake, very easy/quick to install and if motor height is an issue then the mr is nice. the disadvantage is the above mentioned as well as it's made by tpis. i've seen a handful that have worked well on basic applications and i've seen a few that have worked well on heavy forced induction. it did nothing for my n/a high compression motors when compared to other intakes like the superram and stealth ram.

it's all preference but i wouldn't recommend it, you can come very close to it in similar applications for alot less.

 

i personally belive the miniram is a piece of garbage. having tunned a few motors with them on i can tell you intake plenum reversion is a big issue and compared to other intake designs it striaght up sux. if you were building an 8500rpm 327 sbc then it might be worth considering.

the plenum is to small. the runners are pinched from the injector boss intrusion,the casting quality is about **** poor and everything ive seen and the damns things leak, water,air fuel. porosity is about unbearable. for the money a stealth ram not only out performs it its also a better value and with minor port work a stealth ram would eat it up.
stealth ram is even better now that you can get it in a vortec flange,port

 

Damn Funstick, tell us how you really feel, let it all out my friend..............

 

Yes, that is a great option that you can buy a closely port matched MR.

No, the LT1 ports are not raised over a Gen 1 SBC. You are thinking about the LT4.

I have no plans to make a new casting or anything. The LT1 intake is a perfect casting as it is orginal GM. It was mentioned above that the MR has casting issues and they still ask THAT price?

I can tell you why they are so expensive. It takes money to make castings. Lots of it. There is also that supply/demand thing that makes this country so great.

 

You're at it again.

Yes they are.


You're catching on.

 

Also SLP runners are okay as well as the siamesed runners from TPIS (that look fugly IMO). But runners are not the important part for emissions; it's the base. And you really have only 3 choices for a base that are CARB certified: The Edelbrock (also sold by TPIS), the Accel and a ported stock base from a F-body.

For "bolt-on" or CARB certified, the above are the only option at this time for emission legal intake swaps. If you state/province doesn't require CARB certification but only specific equipment be working (i.e. an EGR), one can be fashioned to work.

 

I and a few of my buddies have never had any such problems with ours. We have owned ours for a few years now, so maybe this is a problem with the later castings.

I have also heard a number of similar complaints of poor casting with the Stealth Ram also. Most of them were one of the first ones, so it may have been an initial problem and they have subsequently fixed it.

 

TPIS knows about their casting problem and their answer to me was it's cheaper to fix those who complain. you do the math, after two returns to them and then having to have another shop fix mine.... no thanks TPIS.

:nono:

 

THREE Minirams with poor castings? WOW, I'd be pissed too. What specifically was wrong and when did you get these?

I will say, that I have noticed a number of Minirams on e-Bay recently...ALL from TPIS and some with "blemishes". I wonder if they switched from aluminum to chinesium?

 

beyond the deck being uneven which means it had to be resurfaced their wasn't enough material to cover the heads... they tried to build it back up but it looked like globbed on welding. basically that's what had to be done but i eventually had to take it to another shop to have them add material and it worked but wasn't really asthetically pleasing. the inner workings had to be smoothed and some material needed to be added or taken away. overall the whole thing just needed work.

 

When did you get your mini ram?? I know some of the older ones weren't up to snuff but the ones I have done were great...

 

 

The reversion thing can be fixed with a BETTER cam ..

They tend to work better on a bigger motor than a 327 hell i have a push mower with a bigger motor than a boat anchor 327

 

JAN 2003

 

on both a 383 and my last 388 with different compression ratio it wasn't anything to write home about but if yours works then i'm very happy for you as i wish mine had worked. i like the one piece idea so much more then anything else out there but it just wasn't a performer on my engines.

 

My Miniram was definitely a great performer. I had no casting issues with mine and it installed fine with no leaks what so ever. I had a Super Ram before and hated working on it. The Stealth Ram wasn't out at the time i bought my miniram, neither was the Millican LT1 conversion. My options were the minram, t-ram, superram, or work with a LTR setup. I chose the miniram and have never looked back.

 

I was wondering something else, had any work ever been done to the heads or were they new???? angle milling and or milling will cause probs if not done right.. where all did yours leak from??

my motor is well over 400 ci

 

they were new at one point and worked... you could visually see where the intake didn't cover the heads... not enough material. even when it was fixed as i had said the intake was only a slight improvement over the tpi and nothing to write home about. i lost 60 lbs of torque between the miniram and superram alone. i'm not saying it didn't work as it did, what i'm saying is it took alot of work to make the casting right and when it did work it was marginal at best. my 388 was making 475 with it and i wasn't happy, now that i've sold the miniram and bought a used superram i'm very happy. the power is definately there, if it weren't for working on the damn thing it would be perfect for my application.

 

Thats cool.. but it sucks you had probs.. Another thing when you change fron a long runner to a short runner the cam really needs to be changed for the best results.. its always good to hear what works and who has probs and Y ... it helps the learning thing

 

when you buy everything from TPIS and it doesn't perform it isn't a performer. when you match it on your own and get lucky then that's great... not the otherway around. my heads, cam and bottom end as well as my useless stage 6 chip were all hand picked by tpis to meet a certain required range that was 100 horses below what was agreed upon.

it may work, i've seen the work but i've never seen one first hand that has worked more then something else on the same combo ever. in it's day it was true that the miniram was the best option but now it's more rumor then anything. while it's better then the stock option it isn't at the top anymore.

 

i think that they are over priced also, my friend has a holley stealth ram on a zz4 short block and it kicks. so of course thats what i went with

 

I have seen may people try to buy a chip through the mail ..It just dosen't work ,every car is different and needs tuned in its own way (It could be close by luck ) the guy or gal needs to be in your car to tune it log it and make changes then do it again as you found out there is no majic chip as a lot of people believe ..

I have tried a bunch of other chips as well and found the stock chip with 16degs of base timing and the knock sensor unpluged worked the best for me...
I know the mini ram needs a ton of lowend timing put in the chip

1 more thing what cam were you running???? oh and what headers ???

 

the combo is listed all over this site and in several magazines. it's of no real importance as TPIS chose it all but if you must know it was a gm 383 shorblock from SD, TPIS zz-409 cam, fastburn heads untouched from SD, miniram III, svo 30lb, gm 1.5 rr's, gm ignition all new, march pulleys, msd 8.5's, and NGK tr-6's using a tpis stage 6 chip that was worked several times.

all in all it wasn't the best setup you could get but it was suppose to do well according to TPIS. well it didn't so i stripped it, found out the cam was off slightly on it's grind, the intake obviously had issues and the chip was way off yet and then went at it again with a 388 bottom end, new cam, fixed intake and a whole slew of better parts as well as doing work to the heads... the price of a new ss later and it still wasn't what TPIS claimed.

similar instances with others here... point being is your going to take a chance. if you decide to at least go used and save some money.

when it comes to the chip thing your correct, if anyone tells you they can make it perfect over the phone they are lying, you need the car to do so. i bought into TPIS and their hype..

no more.

 

sounds like you took all the right steps to try to fix a big prob .. it just sucks it didn't work out for you ....
I really think the mini needs and likes a solid roller to work like it was designed (sp)

 

I must be one of the lucky ones. I go 13 flat with a miniram and zz-409 cam on stock iron l98 heads. I've got the level 6 chip and its pretty much dead on according to my diacom. The people who have them and are fast say the key to miniram performance is a set of very good flowing heads and a large cam (you do have to rev it). If im going this fast now then 11s might be a head swap away. I am very happy with it.

 

i would be too if a cam and intake was your only swap...

 

As far as the motor, it is a stock l98 longblock (besides cam and valvespring swap). The heads have never been off. Ive got the usual bolt ons, but the edelbrock shorties and flowmaster catback arent exactly optimal. Timeslips dont lie though. It did what they said it would do.

 

Can we or "i" get some pics of thie intake set up please

 

Which intake? Miniram?

 

well definately pretty good as my stock internal l98 with a few bolt ons and full exhaust could only hit 13.7 with 1.8 60's.

as i've said i've seen the miniram work, i've never seen it work so much better then another intake though to make it worth the price. however for ease of install if all else is correct that alone is the only thing that gets my approval.

 

For the Mini Ram Intake Manifold and about how much does the whole intake cost..

is it worth it to go with that rather then Carbed on my 350

I have vortec heads would this intake fit?

 

I am not at it again, I say the LT1 ports are exactly the same as SBC ports. The LT4 ports are raised, NOT the LT1. Here's proof which is more then you can produce.

A SBC head SBC gaskets.




A SBC head with LT1 gaskets.