TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
#101
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Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 420 EFI
Transmission: TKO500
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Idle has been hanging a bit since I finished this car. Over time is has gotten progressively worse. Decided to take a look at the throttle body. The butterflies looked horrible in it. They looked like someone cut them out with a jigsaw and had several areas binding in the bore. Took them off and took a file to those spots and it still binds. Got a 58mm holley on the way along with pipe for the cold air intake.
Sorry to hear about the Miniram casting quality. Do you have an original Miniram or Miniram II. I have a II and it is ok.
Best Regards,
Bruce
#102
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Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Idle has been hanging a bit since I finished this car. Over time is has gotten progressively worse. Decided to take a look at the throttle body. The butterflies looked horrible in it. They looked like someone cut them out with a jigsaw and had several areas binding in the bore. Took them off and took a file to those spots and it still binds. Got a 58mm holley on the way along with pipe for the cold air intake.
#103
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
With some stock size kumbo street tires on it, it did a best of 12.9 with a 1.9 something 60. Had to load the converter and baby it for that. Next time I go I will have a tire on it along with the 4" air intake and tb. I also lowered the rear control arms. Car had half a tank of gas and me in it and came in at 3755. I think the car will go 12.4-12.5 without a problem. Looking at the dyno sheet, it looks like it needs a 3600 instead of the 3200 stall. I kinda wish I had went a little larger on the cam. Something like a 226/232 duration.
Last edited by sheikss; 05-24-2015 at 02:03 PM.
#104
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
I have the newest, I want to say it says miniram 3 on it. Tpis are the ones I used to port the stock tb. Between the intake quality, the tb and the missing throttle cable bracket. I decided tpis had gotten enough of my money for a while.
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Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Cool times for street tire. What was the MPH? Don't change the converter. Put a tire on it first. When you do, load the converter to 1000rpm. You want the converter to flash off the line for the best E.T.
#106
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Car: 91 Z-28
Engine: 420 sbc
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt/4.10 gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
I just thought I'd chime in again and tell the guys that have camaros you are wasting your time with cold air intakes. Modifying the factory intake is all you need to do. When my camaro was n/a I had the stock y with the baffles removed, hawks ram air boxes, k&n filters, and the coffee can mod to keep the bellows from sucking shut. That setup was good for 7.18 at 98 mph in the 1/8 with 420 inches spinning to 6800 rpm. It doesn't show on the dyno but with the fog lights removed and the boxes in place the faster you go the less the engine has to suck the air in. The cross section of the intake over the radiator looks like a restriction, but in the real world it flat out works well.
#107
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
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Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
It was 107, that was with the factory intake setup that was killing 25 rwhp. I figure the 58mm tb and 4" cold air intake with a huge filter should get those 25 back. If that happens I should gain 2 mph.
#108
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Swapped the tb out and it seems to have cured the problem. Once I got the old one off I noticed the throttle shaft had a ton of slop in it. It wasn't like that before i sent it. I will get the radiator, fans and cold air fabbed up this week. Think I am going to put an msd ignition box on it.
#109
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
What stall and gears are you guys running with the mini-ram? I've got a ported long tube runner tpi set up and I want to switch over to a mini-ram. Properly built gen 1 small block with a miniram is more than a match for and LS motor.
#113
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Car: 88 5.7 Iroc, 2000 SS
Engine: Vortec Hot cam TPI/LS1
Transmission: Pro-Built/T-56
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
No way, I'm sure one of the reasons he was selling it. Would not pass visual anywhere I know of in California. If he's moving out of state I would keep it. If I didn't live here I would run that in a heartbeat.
#114
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Ha yeah that's what I thought. I like the torque the long tube runner set up has but it's really rpm limited. That miniram intake lets these gen-1 small blocks make LS levels of power (with the right set up) and none of the swap headaches. I wish TPIS would get a C.A.R.B. certification on that intake. Maybe we can get a group together and get them to do so.
#115
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Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
I had 2 Minirams and sold the one in the picture. I'm still using the EGR set up on my 388cu. Check the sig. The Miniram will not perform well with out proper tune. No way around it.
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Took the car to zz17iroc to finish things up. 6 day work weeks take it out of me. So far he has finished the 4" cold air intake, installed a msd digital 6 box, and installed the fan harness. He took the car to the track last night with 315 mt's on a 17x11 zr1 replica on the back. Did 1.7 60's at 7.86 or 7.89 in the 1/8th at 89 mph. Probably going to put the car on the bottle and hit it with a 125 shot.
#118
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
At the end of the day the LS's motors cant be beat in both cost and power. I hate to say it but this is a true statement. There are guys make great power for $4000 with junk yard motors and adding parts.
#120
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
The gap isnt as big as most think. When you factor in all the swap parts to get an ls into a thirdgen your adding to the cost. If you get a good builder a 383-434 could be built with very comparable power numbers. Im not sold yet anyway. I still love the old pushrods.
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Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
That's right. Even the donor car cost money. But for me, my short block cost me $2400 to build plus parts. The Miniram was free
#123
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Just had a buddy finish mine up. I bought a 4" 90 bend and a 4" u bend and made mine. Really tight under the hood. I gained 25 or 26 rwhp on the dyno removing the factory intake on my gta. That's the only reason I even made my own intake. Figured 4" should support plenty of power in the future.
#124
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
#125
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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
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Still working on my 4" setup, the maf will be a different approach ;-)
#127
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 383
Transmission: 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt-3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
I had an inlet from the fog light location feeding the intake pipe like you have it above and at the track I picked up 1.5 tenths and 2 mph. This mod is worth it at the track. I did not run a filter, just connected all pipes to get air from the fog light opening.
#128
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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
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
I drop open the front of the upper deflector (piece the bolts to the lower bumper cover and fender) and I have similar results.
It sends cool air up into the fender where the SLP box grabs it an sucks it in.
It sends cool air up into the fender where the SLP box grabs it an sucks it in.
#130
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Camaros get air from the foglight area,already a pressurized area.
#131
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Some nice looking stuff. 89gta383 with that nitrous plate how much room do you have by the water neck and what water neck are you using? I would like to get my filter located on the drivers side but im not sure I can fit it past the hose.
#133
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
In the middle of changing out valve cover gaskets. I love my miniram I have had no issues with it of any kind except making way more power. I had a tpi vortec lower with slp runners before a simple intake swap turned my cars frown upside down.
#135
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 383
Transmission: 4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt-3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
If you zoom in to the attached pic you will see that the base of the thermostat housing where the waterneck goes into the plate that bolts to the intake was cut and re-welded to sit flatter so I could get the nitrous plate in there.
Your only option other than cutting and re-welding the water neck is to use a nitrous nozzle instead of a plate.
Your only option other than cutting and re-welding the water neck is to use a nitrous nozzle instead of a plate.
#136
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Car: 87 IROC
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Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Sorry for the late replay. Been chasing car issues for awhile.
Regarding my 4" intake, I bought an Airaide kit and then fit it to the car.
Best Regards,
Bruce
#138
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Car: 91 Z-28
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Axle/Gears: 12 bolt/4.10 gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Not sure what the actual cfm is but the camaro system works very well fully modified. My car with some ram air boxes, fog lights removed, baffles cut, and coffee can mod to keep the bellows from sucking shut, dynod 472 rwhp. At the track it ran 98 mph in the 1/8. At 3550 race weight. The calculators say that's 500rwhp. I saw no reason to modify it as it doesn't really seem to be a restriction. It's also speed density.
#139
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
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Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
I know this is really late. I have a different water neck than you, it came with my miniram. I am using the nitrous outlet plate and it seems like everything will clear just fine.
#142
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
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Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Yea, it is the neck they sent. I will need to email the pics to you since I am internet and computer stupid.
#143
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
http://m.summitracing.com/parts/sum-371110-cl
It looks similiar to this one. The top of mine is flatter though.
It looks similiar to this one. The top of mine is flatter though.
#144
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
https://www.tpis.com/parts/view/33
Here is a pic from the tpis site. Mine looks exactly like the one in the pic. I will get a shot showing the clearance. It is close but should fit.
Here is a pic from the tpis site. Mine looks exactly like the one in the pic. I will get a shot showing the clearance. It is close but should fit.
#145
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
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Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Got the plate and bracket on today. Had to mod the plate and tap the tb bolt holes. Cruise control doesn't want to hook up so I got play with it. Going to work on a template for my switch plate. I want to keep the cig lighter to charge my phone. I will take some pics tomorrow, might have to email them to someone for posting.
#147
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Car: 88 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.73
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Obeymybird, I had to redrill the throttle cable bracket holes to account for the tb moving forward. I moved it forward 1/2" since the plate was that thick. I couldn't adjust the tv cable properly and the tb blades wouldn't open all the way. Moving the bracket forward resolved all those issues.
#148
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Car: 1984 Trans Am WS6
Engine: Minirammed 385, 396 RWHP
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Moser 12-bolt
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Another thumbs-up for the TPIS Miniram -
Though I think it's time for me to do some house cleaning under the hood and re-route some of those lines.
What I like the most about this system is that it starts instantly, and rarely ever gives me problems. I've gotten babied by this thing over the last ten years. It never overheats, never stalls. I haven't had it to a track since 2009 though... Life, kids, job, career, yada yada. Now the tires are seven years old and still have way too much tread on them.
Its a Minirammed 385 stroker, AFR195 heads, Comp cams custom XE-roller retrofit cam, 230/236 112LSA, built around 2000. Last dyno put it in at 396 RWHP and it turned a low 12/114 MPH quarter mile on street tires. No word on what the nitrous would do as I've never used it due to lack of time, or race tires.
Though I think it's time for me to do some house cleaning under the hood and re-route some of those lines.
What I like the most about this system is that it starts instantly, and rarely ever gives me problems. I've gotten babied by this thing over the last ten years. It never overheats, never stalls. I haven't had it to a track since 2009 though... Life, kids, job, career, yada yada. Now the tires are seven years old and still have way too much tread on them.
Its a Minirammed 385 stroker, AFR195 heads, Comp cams custom XE-roller retrofit cam, 230/236 112LSA, built around 2000. Last dyno put it in at 396 RWHP and it turned a low 12/114 MPH quarter mile on street tires. No word on what the nitrous would do as I've never used it due to lack of time, or race tires.
#149
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Car: 1990 G92 IROC Z Miniram
Engine: 388cu 6.4 Liters
Transmission: G-Force T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 Gears
Re: TPiS MiniRam Owners, experiences wanted.
Another thumbs-up for the TPIS Miniram -
Though I think it's time for me to do some house cleaning under the hood and re-route some of those lines.
What I like the most about this system is that it starts instantly, and rarely ever gives me problems. I've gotten babied by this thing over the last ten years. It never overheats, never stalls. I haven't had it to a track since 2009 though... Life, kids, job, career, yada yada. Now the tires are seven years old and still have way too much tread on them.
Its a Minirammed 385 stroker, AFR195 heads, Comp cams custom XE-roller retrofit cam, 230/236 112LSA, built around 2000. Last dyno put it in at 396 RWHP and it turned a low 12/114 MPH quarter mile on street tires. No word on what the nitrous would do as I've never used it due to lack of time, or race tires.
Though I think it's time for me to do some house cleaning under the hood and re-route some of those lines.
What I like the most about this system is that it starts instantly, and rarely ever gives me problems. I've gotten babied by this thing over the last ten years. It never overheats, never stalls. I haven't had it to a track since 2009 though... Life, kids, job, career, yada yada. Now the tires are seven years old and still have way too much tread on them.
Its a Minirammed 385 stroker, AFR195 heads, Comp cams custom XE-roller retrofit cam, 230/236 112LSA, built around 2000. Last dyno put it in at 396 RWHP and it turned a low 12/114 MPH quarter mile on street tires. No word on what the nitrous would do as I've never used it due to lack of time, or race tires.