It's come down to a choice between 3 intake setups.

I am going to go with either the Miniram, StealthRam, or beef up my TPI.

To be honest, what I'm looking for here is not an absolute raw power solution, but more of a balance. A balance between looks, power, and driveability.

This car will be an everyday driver, but I want some serious street/strip ***** under the hood. Cost isn't much of an issue at this point, that is unless we're talking 3 or 4K, then it becomes a noticeable factor.

To be honest, I really like the way a TPI setup looks the best. If I kept the TPI, I'd give it the works. Maybe Port the plenum, get a widened throttle body (I was checking out the 58MM one holley has), and I heard those edelbrock TPI manifolds are good, and they look sweet as well. The runners on my TPI setup I discovered are SLP high flows, so all I'd need to do in the runner department is polish them, along with the plenum. I'm also planning on gutting the MAF sensor, and installing an AirFoil, although if I go with the Holley thorttlebody by the looks of the construction I wouldn't have to worry about that.

BTW, anyone got any good recommendations for aftermarket fuel rails? I doubt the stock ones are going to be adequate for my desires...



The Miniram looks nice, but I think it kinda lacks that ballsy appearance the TPI setup has.

StealthRAM...I'm not sure if I should even be adding this into the equation. I seriously doubt I will go this route. I mean, it looks good an all, but It's appearance seems borderline obtrusive, not to mention the hood clearance issues some people are having. And on top of that, I read you can't use a strut tower brace which is UNACCEPTABLE!


All in all, I really to keep and build upon my TPI setup, i was just looking for some second opinions out there before I decide to take this route.

 

Well, you left out a couple very important things: what year, model, and engine size are you talking about? And what tranny?

If you like the TPI looks, then I would buy large tube runners (not the heavy cast SLP runners); port the plenum; buy the large mouth intake manifold from TPIS (or port an aftermarket unit, like the Edlebrock that you mention); and buy really good aluminum heads, like Air Flow Research 195 Elimenators or if those are to pricy, then Edelbrock RPMs. And what about a cam?

 

Well, I can say I dident like the powerband output of my old L98 350. I had the LTR and ported Edelbrock base, cam, heads, and most of the time a bolt on LT1 would run me down on the top end. I HATED that!! Now Im running a Miniram on my 383 and LOVE IT!!! I can chase almost everyone down that I rac... I mean play with on the street.

I think your best bet would be the Stealth Ram, (cost wise) I think your gonna like the extra pull you'll get from the shorter runner intake, just make sure to match it with a cam/heads made for the power range your gonna use it for.

I wouldent worry about a STB too much, if your running the stock strut mount plates, it wont make any difference anyways cause the bearings in them are rubber supported. So its gonna flex on you all day regardless if you have a STB or not. Just my opinion.

 

In a world where looks are more important than performance...

-- Joe

 

I prefer a balance. And besides that this isn't going to be a track car.

To each his own my friend. To each his own.