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TPIS Mini Ram WARNING!!!

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Old Jan 27, 2007 | 07:43 AM
  #1  
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From: Plymouth MI
Car: 454 Corvair, 87 El Camino, 93 Z28
Engine: 454 HilbornEFI, 406c EFI, 407ci TT
Transmission: SPTH425, SP TH400, 4L80e, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.51, 2.73, 3.31/3.92
TPIS Mini Ram WARNING!!!

Last summer I dug out my TPIS MiniRam and installed it on my newest 408ci SBC. Last December I tried to install a set of 1.6 ratio Crane rocker arms but the push rods were touching the head. I removed the Miniram and to my surprise I found that the port impressions in the manifold gaskets from the Miniram were 0.100 inch lower than the cylinder head ports. I wondered how this could be, as the ports in the GM heads are huge (Felpro 1206), 2.150" tall, and intake manifolds are always smaller to avoid a ledge that would cause significant turbulence and hinder air flow. The MiniRam Ports are Felpro 1204, which are 1.99" tall. I checked the thickness of the gasket seal surface below the port on 6 sets of standard port 23 degree SBC heads, and all had from 0.250 on stock mid 1980 GM heads down to 0.175 on all out Bowtie heads. The average of these heads was about 0.230".

Thirty years experience in the Automotive world as a mechanic, Journeyman Toolmaker and Mechanical/Electrical Engineer in areas such as cast product and manufacturing engineer, powertrain design engineering and powertrain research tells me that 0.230" is a good seal surface and that I needed to take a close look at the MiniRam. What I found was that the port floors on the Miniram from bank to bank appeared to be too low and/or too close together. If the ports are located properly on the face of the Miniram, as Tuned Port Induction Specalties insists, then the only other possibility is that the port faces are machined too close together, allowing the manifold to drop too far into the valley.

I managed to get two measurements from TPIS from one of their manifolds. The measurement they offered was of the vertical location of the port floor, the other measurement (one I requested) was the distance between the port floors from bank to bank (manifold upsid down). The measurement they supplied was useless and made no sense unless their memory or math was seriously off. I compared the measurement I requested to my manifold (which was much narrower) and calculated the thickness of intake gaskets I would need to raise the manifold high enough to get the port floors of the Miniram and head to line up. The result was that I needed between 0.175 and 0.198" thick manifold gaskets to align the port floors on three of my long blocks, all of which have much larger ports than the Miniram. Even the Miniram TPIS measured needed 0.126" gaskets to work on any of my engines. I compared the TPIS bank to bank port face floor spacing to several other manifolds, and my Miniram was much narrower, another strong indicator that it was not machined correctly. TPIS tried to accuse me of modifying the ports, but they are the exact dimension of the smallest port openings TPIS made and I know the complete history of my manifold.

I made many other measurements not discussed above to make sure I didn't have a bunch of oddball blocks, heads and manifolds. I also used some old GM performance manuals with block, head and manifold drawings.

Sometimes you just have to suck it up and move on, but this Miniram manifold was expensive! I've run into other bad companies, like Scat- rods with forging cold shuts and poorly aligned big and small ends, machine shops that bench grind splayed main cap registers before line boring, bending connecting rods to align big and small ends because of poorly installed bushings, aligned boring mains 0.002" too large, crankshaft main journals ground with different centerlines, Eagle crank journals ground to small, cam dowels mis-located, partially machined piston rings, piston sets with 20g variations......

In summary STAY AWAY from TPIS Mini Ram manifolds.
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Old Jan 27, 2007 | 08:37 PM
  #2  
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It seems thats the story going around. All of their products are WAY OVERPRICED, IMO, and once you bought it, its yours. They do not want to know you after that. A friend of mine recieved a camshaft that was off, and they replied with "too bad". They refused to send a call tag, and basically said that HE did something wrong. Maybe Floorguy might chime in and explain it better.
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Old Jan 27, 2007 | 11:43 PM
  #3  
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From: SALEM, NH
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Originally Posted by 454Corvair
Last summer I dug out my TPIS MiniRam and installed it on my newest 408ci SBC. Last December I tried to install a set of 1.6 ratio Crane rocker arms but the push rods were touching the head. I removed the Miniram and to my surprise I found that the port impressions in the manifold gaskets from the Miniram were 0.100 inch lower than the cylinder head ports. I wondered how this could be, as the ports in the GM heads are huge (Felpro 1206), 2.150" tall, and intake manifolds are always smaller to avoid a ledge that would cause significant turbulence and hinder air flow. The MiniRam Ports are Felpro 1204, which are 1.99" tall. I checked the thickness of the gasket seal surface below the port on 6 sets of standard port 23 degree SBC heads, and all had from 0.250 on stock mid 1980 GM heads down to 0.175 on all out Bowtie heads. The average of these heads was about 0.230".

Thirty years experience in the Automotive world as a mechanic, Journeyman Toolmaker and Mechanical/Electrical Engineer in areas such as cast product and manufacturing engineer, powertrain design engineering and powertrain research tells me that 0.230" is a good seal surface and that I needed to take a close look at the MiniRam. What I found was that the port floors on the Miniram from bank to bank appeared to be too low and/or too close together. If the ports are located properly on the face of the Miniram, as Tuned Port Induction Specalties insists, then the only other possibility is that the port faces are machined too close together, allowing the manifold to drop too far into the valley.

I managed to get two measurements from TPIS from one of their manifolds. The measurement they offered was of the vertical location of the port floor, the other measurement (one I requested) was the distance between the port floors from bank to bank (manifold upsid down). The measurement they supplied was useless and made no sense unless their memory or math was seriously off. I compared the measurement I requested to my manifold (which was much narrower) and calculated the thickness of intake gaskets I would need to raise the manifold high enough to get the port floors of the Miniram and head to line up. The result was that I needed between 0.175 and 0.198" thick manifold gaskets to align the port floors on three of my long blocks, all of which have much larger ports than the Miniram. Even the Miniram TPIS measured needed 0.126" gaskets to work on any of my engines. I compared the TPIS bank to bank port face floor spacing to several other manifolds, and my Miniram was much narrower, another strong indicator that it was not machined correctly. TPIS tried to accuse me of modifying the ports, but they are the exact dimension of the smallest port openings TPIS made and I know the complete history of my manifold.

I made many other measurements not discussed above to make sure I didn't have a bunch of oddball blocks, heads and manifolds. I also used some old GM performance manuals with block, head and manifold drawings.

Sometimes you just have to suck it up and move on, but this Miniram manifold was expensive! I've run into other bad companies, like Scat- rods with forging cold shuts and poorly aligned big and small ends, machine shops that bench grind splayed main cap registers before line boring, bending connecting rods to align big and small ends because of poorly installed bushings, aligned boring mains 0.002" too large, crankshaft main journals ground with different centerlines, Eagle crank journals ground to small, cam dowels mis-located, partially machined piston rings, piston sets with 20g variations......

In summary STAY AWAY from TPIS Mini Ram manifolds.
My miniram is dead on with the 1205 port.. Weird that yours was off.

-- Joe
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 11:06 AM
  #4  
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Car: Silver 1980 Corvette (L82 w/TPI)
Engine: L82
Transmission: TH350
Originally Posted by anesthes
My miniram is dead on with the 1205 port.. Weird that yours was off.

-- Joe
Most likely a casting issue. A process in the manufacturing of the intake is out of its control limits and they have made the decision not to care.

I think their whole QC process has taken a back seat to sales for immediate profit. Given their nature to not care about the customer after the sale... I'm not surpised.
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 11:45 AM
  #5  
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Engine: 666 c.i.
My Miniram 1204 ports lined up perfectly with my 1204 ported aluminum L98 heads. Is this a brand new 1204 Miniram or is it "used"?

I personally can't understand why you would try and use a Miniram 1204 on heads with 1206 ports? While it's possible to port the Miniram to certain degree, I would never try porting a Miniram 1204 to match a 1206 head. TPIS does have a 1206 Miniram. Is there a particular reason for going with a 1204 Miniram instead of a 1206 Miniram?

Typically you need to "build up" the 1204 ports with aluminum and then port match them with a 1206. Not the "best choice" if you are buying the Miniram straight off - better to just buy the 1206 Miniram to start with. And often, if a person has an existing 1204 Miniram, they are usually better off to just sell it and buy a new 1206 Miniram.

However, I won't disagree with you regarding TPIS' customer service (or as many would say, lack of it).
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 01:44 PM
  #6  
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From: Old Bridge, NJ
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 383 SuperRam
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3:23 Posi
I cant say I have a complaint with TPIS customer service. Everytime Ive called them for tech help or to order parts Ive always got a person that was helpful. I guess its just certain individuals that work there.
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 03:02 PM
  #7  
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Originally Posted by DerekKraese
I cant say I have a complaint with TPIS customer service. Everytime Ive called them for tech help or to order parts Ive always got a person that was helpful. I guess its just certain individuals that work there.
Yea, but after you BUY the parts, they do not want to know you.
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 04:13 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by DerekKraese
I cant say I have a complaint with TPIS customer service. Everytime Ive called them for tech help or to order parts Ive always got a person that was helpful. I guess its just certain individuals that work there.
I find a striking similarity between TPIS & politicians. In the beginning, they give you all the attention possible and promise you the moon. But, once the deal is done, they are hard to find and their promises mean something completely different.
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 04:28 PM
  #9  
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From: Old Bridge, NJ
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 383 SuperRam
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3:23 Posi
I still cant say Ive had a problem after ordering many parts from them..
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Old Jan 28, 2007 | 06:46 PM
  #10  
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This is kind of a common theme with aftermarket parts. I have a set of AFR heads that werent machined properly, and I had an Edelbrock performer RPM that wasnt cast or machined properly, not to mention a bunch of other stuff. The first response is that its not the part in question, its some other part that is the problem. The second response is you're putting something together wrong. Maybe at some point they'll admit it could be a problem with their part and ask for them back to 'check'. Sounds like TPIS didnt go that far with it.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 09:30 AM
  #11  
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From: Wisconsin
Car: 1992 Z28 Camaro w/70k
Engine: 427 w/4" Mufflex Exhaust
Transmission: 700R4 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4.10:1
Wow, thats suprising to me...i've had several encounters with TPIS. All pleasant. I purchased their ZZX camshaft quite some time ago, without taking it out of the box I decided I didn't want to go with that cam. I sent it back and had gotten my refund right away. I purchased their Chrome Intake bolt kit and they stripped out attempting to torque them down to spec. Probably not heat treated, so the head rounded right out. I still have one holding my stock manifold in now that I will have to drill out when I put my Mini-ram on. I called them and returned them for my full refund. Eventually purchased their Mini-ram (1205) to match my trickflow heads and just haven't had an opportunity to install it on yet. No problems YET. I'll find out though when I put my manifold on.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 09:30 AM
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
What is the deck measurement of the block ??
is it to tall than its "supposed" 2 be?
Was the intake new? used ?
Had it been milled to work with heads that had been angle milled or just milled? Or for a slightly shorter deck block??
I have built a few motors that needed 2 intake gastets per side and a adjustible dizzy collar...

Last edited by TTOP350; Jan 31, 2007 at 07:26 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2007 | 08:18 PM
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I had to have metal added to the top of the ports on my miniram to match up to AFR 210 heads. I guess if you have the motor to need 210 heads, then a little fabrication is not unexpected.
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Old Jan 31, 2007 | 10:47 PM
  #14  
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Car: 1988 IROC/02 WS6
Engine: zz3 crate w/12 psi ATI and stock ls1
Transmission: 700r4 w/2800 stall and m6
Axle/Gears: 3:42 10 bolt-both cars
I am looking at their 1205 intake? What is the difference in all of these? I am currently running stock replacment heads and understand I should get a 1204... I am thinking of upgrading heads in the future... Guess what I am asking-can the 1205 intake be ran on anything? From what you guys are experiencing it may not run on what it was designed too?
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Old Feb 3, 2007 | 02:26 PM
  #15  
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From: Plymouth MI
Car: 454 Corvair, 87 El Camino, 93 Z28
Engine: 454 HilbornEFI, 406c EFI, 407ci TT
Transmission: SPTH425, SP TH400, 4L80e, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.51, 2.73, 3.31/3.92
TPIS Mini Ram, Additional Information

I gathered some good information for my cars from this website, so I thought I would post some information. When I have time I post most often on http://web.camaross.com/forums/showthread.php?t=498527


I was at my Uncle's shop yesterday and measured a GM TPI and a Q-Jet manifold in addition to the 4 manifolds I have.

Below are some pictures of how the measurements were taken and a file containing the measurements and calculations showing how far off my Mini Ram is. If TPIS didn't put such long slots in the bolt holes it never would have bolted up.

All the heads and manifolds are stock port location and stock 23 degree angle. Felpro 1204, 1205 and 1206 gaskets are standard port locations.

Before the plastic (nylon) manifolds my employer (and department) made more than 3 million aluminum intake manifolds a year. All intake manifold port face openings are smaller than the cylinder head port opening to avoid a ledge in the direction of flow that will reduce cross-section area and result in turbulance that will further reduce the effective flow area. A mismatch in opposite the direction of air flow has little effect.

http://webpages.charter.net/454corva...easurement.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/454corva...easurement.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/454corva...easurement.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/454corva...20GM%20194.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/454corva...1%20ported.JPG

http://webpages.charter.net/454corvair/454%20Corvair/


I am milling up two 0.125" aluminum spacers and will be using two 0.062" gaskets to get the TPIS port floor up where TPIS should have made them.

The TPIS manifold is so narrow and sits so low it's port floors (if min 0.030" gaskets were used) it would be 0.095" above the cylinder head deck face. If I were to try to port match heads to the manifold the port floor and sealing face would be nearly gone. Proper port location is why I never buy used intakes that have been ported. This manifold is a case where even that level of caution would not be enough, even for a "new" manifold.

My TPIS was first run for a short time on my 355ci Gen2 Camaro and luckily ran with no leaks, I didn't port check it because the cylinder head port openings were significantly larger than the TPIS and the TPIS ports were "as made". My brother removed the manifold the first time so I didn't see the mismatch.

TPIS sounded like they would take care of their defective manifold and told me to ship it back. I been down the road with Scat (and never got my rods back!!!) so I pushed them for a commitment on what they would do. Three week later, after measuring 6 sets of heads (and now 6 manifolds) etc I had proof this manifold was machined wrong by TPIS. If the discussion would have gone beyond "...sorry your 1 year warranty is up..." I was more than willing to pay for them to CNC the spacers if we could agree on a way not to have to ship the manifold back for inspection. Stuck in the @$$ Again!!


This is the kind of problems "Engine Builders" find that "Engine Assembers" don't run into. I was acting like a assembler with that manifold (it was NEW and CNC'd D@^^ it!!!.)

Another problem I run into is double roller timing sets rubbing the block at the bottom of the center main oil galley boss. I had to do a lot of grinding to get proper clearance on the last three 400 SBC's. Years ago I used to wonder why so many cars with fresh engines were for sale.....

Back to the shop....................
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Old Feb 4, 2007 | 11:51 PM
  #16  
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Axle/Gears: 9 Inch w/ 3.55
Let me know what happens. Who have you been talking to at TPIS? Was it Chris, Jim, or Miron?
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Old Feb 5, 2007 | 09:26 PM
  #17  
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From: The Bone Yard
Car: Death Mobile
Engine: 666 c.i.
454Corvair:

I am planning on removing my intake and changing my roller lifters sometime in the spring. When I do, I will take similar measurements and see if I observe the same issue.
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Old Feb 6, 2007 | 04:34 PM
  #18  
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Good info so far let us know how it works out
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Old Mar 12, 2007 | 12:45 AM
  #19  
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Car: 1991 Z28
Engine: 383 TPIS Mini Ram
Transmission: D&D Perf Viper/GM T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.73's Eaton Posi
I know everyone has their own opinion. I have had no problems at all with anything lining up correctly with my Mini-Ram. Only issue I ran into was the thermostat housing. But that seems to be the popular one. Sorry to here so many negative threads about the MR...I can only say that the price is high, but as far as being helped with customer service after making a purchase...Again, opinion, I haven't been tossed aside at all..if anything I was impressed by the phone conversation, and the emails that I was sent to further help me with the install...(install was about 1yr ago)
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