I just put the MiniRam II on and it seems only slightly faster than the stock TPI. I'm pretty disapointed actually. Where is my weak link at? I've got Edelbrock Performer heads, comp cam roller 210/220 @.05 .48/.48 lift and 112 seperation angle. It's a 383. It's got Hooker Shortie comp headers, no cat and the stock 3" exhaust past that point. 700 R4 with 2500 stall and the stock 9 bolt with 3.27 gears. The car drives on the street awesome but just doesn't seem to pull past 3000 rpms very well. I can't figure it out.

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'89 Formula 383 TPI

 

somethings wrong if it doesnt pull past 3k.. i mean, if power like drops off or something, but if it simply doesnt pull like you expected, then.. maby its just not going to pull. email guido, he has a miniram and a good write up on it on his web page, im sure he could point you in the right direction( he's a moderator on the power adder board or one of those)

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• 83 Z28--ttops, 200k miles--very ragged out. sold, thank goodness
• 74 Z28--slightly modded 383, TH400 tranny, not too quick but fun to drive

 

is the chip still stock? fuel system still stock? sounds like your just running lean. run it if you can with a scanner on it and watch the O2 readings.

 

It has 27# injectors and a Fastchip custom chip. I'm wondering if I should put some 1.6 or 1.65 ratio roller rockers on to increase the lift of the cam. It has 1.5 roller rockers now. I'm also wondering about the exhaust...should I get a cat-back?

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'89 Formula 383 TPI

 

It sounds like there is something wrong somewhere to me. First you should check the fuel pressure, or get yourself and adjustable unit. Set it around 50psi, as per getting a cat back, that is a must. If you have a stock muffler on that car your are robbing yourself of a lot of breathing and it will mostly be felt in the higher rpms. Another thing, what is "not fast enough" for you. The 1.6 arms would help a little, but 1.5 should handle the job well not give up at 3000. What size throttle body do you have? Your setup should use at least a 52 maybe a 58. What compression are you running, if it's low your not going to get the power you want. I would take the suggestiong above and get your hand on a scanner and check the air fuel ratio. Another good place to check is your timing. Don't run too high, it might help the low, but hurt the high. 8 degrees is more than enough. Hope this helps. This assumes there is nothing physically wrong. One thing I can think of that would cause this problem is the valve springs. You should have replaced them with larger springs when you built up the motor but it is possible that they are shot or can't handle the load and are just floating at the higher rpm. Good luck.

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87 GTA 350 L98
K&N filters, beefed up TH-700r4, Accel Manifold, Ported Plenum and Runners, Fuel Press. Regulator 49.5psi, air foil, modified MAF, SLP cold air box, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/160 thermostat, MSD 6AL and Blaster 3, B&M shift kit & megashifter, Moser Ford 9in Rear with Richmond 3.50 and locker, Edlebrock TES headers and Cat Back,Hotchkis setup in rear, Poly suspension and Koni in the front, relocated MAT, bypassed IAC, 300 lbs lighter

Fastest ET's
Stock-0-60 6.8, 1/4 15.0 @ 94
Best-0-60 4.7, 1/4 12.8 @ 112
Norm-0-60 5.2, 1/4 13.2 @ 108

 

It has a 58mm throttle body, the valve springs came with the cylinder head and should be good for up to .550 lift. The compression ratio is a little high at 10.7:1, so I can't run a lot of timing. I've got the fuel pressure set at 47 right now. It seems to run best at 47 than 50.

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'89 Formula 383 TPI

 

Greg,

You just answered your own question:

That motor should be baselined at 12* BTDC with no vacuum advance. Mechanical should give a total of an additional 25* for a total of 37* advance.

All in by 3,200 RPM.

Try a tank of racing gas to prevent detonation, run the 37* tune, and get back to us.

A buddy of mine ran 7 tenths faster IN THE EIGTH MILE after he let me do his timing at the track. Man, this is a full second in the 1/4 mile.

Really, try it. Good luck.


BOR

 

Or you can sell the 383 and get a bone stock 305 TPI spend $1500 on a good rebuild and buy an ATI Procharger.

just my 0.02...

 

hell just put the procharger on the 383!!

 

What kind of ignition are you using!?? Personally with that setup I would get an MSD distributor, a blaster II coil, and an MSD 6-AL box and put a 7,000 RPM pill in it and go!

 

I've got the MSD blaster coil and accell wires, cap and rotor. I don't think an ignition system is the key here though. Maybe the fact that i don't have much timing cause of the compression ratio. Would more lift make a big difference with the MiniRam? I could put some 1.6's on it and that would bump me to 5.12 or I could do 1.65's and I could get .528, or should I get the cat-back?

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'89 Formula 383 TPI