Alright I have almost sold the TA and I am looking as we speak at several thirdgn camaro's and formula's. I am wanting to do the LT1 intake swap from TPI but I am also wanting to purchase a 400 shortblock and add my choice or heads is there a certain head I would have to purchase to fit the 400 and LT1 intake? Also is the LT1 gonna be able to breath enough for the 400 to make around 500 550 HParound 6200 6400 RPM? I know the TPI will choke it to death but I am not sure about the LT1 capablities.

 

good question, i may be thinkin of doin the same kinda setup, anyone have any insight?

 

If Lt1's can make 400-500-600 rwhp Im sure it will handle your setup My freind chris werner "gm hitech writer" has a miniram on his setup and runs low 11's on the motor and deep tens on the spray. MY other friend puts down 608 rwhp in his LT1 car.. Just port match it to th heads..

Drew

 

You can use a regular chevy head and you will not have to get a special head for it to work. The LT1 will easily support a 400ci small block making 500+ HP. There are many big cube small blocks using the LT1 intake that make well over 500HP.

 

Here you go, replace the miniram with lt1(very similar) and the heads with afr 190, and will you could have a similar engine.

406 Cubic Inches: L98 motor

Grimes 406, from Hi-Tech Performance December 1995

400 block, four bolt .030 over

Lunati forged 4340 steel crank 3.75"

Lunati Pro Mod 6" steel rods

Wiseco reverse-dome forged pistons

Chevrolet stage 6 heads, ported by Champion Racing, 62cc chambers, 10:1 comp, 2.02/1.60"

TPIS Miniram intake, 58mm throttle body

Lunati custom hydraulic roller cam, 232/232 @ .050, lift unknown, lobe sep unknown

RPM TQ HP
3600 452 310
3800 463 335
4000 469 357
4200 487 389
4400 496 416
4600 499 437
4800 503 460
5000 508 483
5200 499 494
5400 496 510
5600 489 521
5700 484 525
5800 471 520
5900 457 514

As you can see from the numbers above, the motor is not a torque monster. The combination of the large displacement, large heads, roller cam, and the intake system make good torque in a small block package. Using the Miniram instead of a SuperRam increases top end HP at the expense of torque lower down in the RPMs. Still, this motor is very strong, producing over 500 lbs of torque.


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I agree with the above post. The LT-1 is VERY similar to the Miniram. Slightly smaller passages, but that can be opened up if you're going really wild.

On a Minirammed 400 using a set of off-the-shelf TFS heads and a near-stock cam we got a LEGIT 400+ HP at the flywheel AS INSTALLED IN THE CAR with exhaust and everything. It would have gone through the roof making HP with a performance-oriented cam that would let it breathe up top.

BTW- the Miniram (and LT-1) isn't lacking in torque as you might be led to beleive. With the wimpy cam we laid down 485 ft-lbs TO THE REAR WHEELS at only 2700 RPMs (it's torque peak). No doubt a lumpy cam would soften it up quite a bit down low but don't think it just falls off a cliff below 4000. Not the case.

If the modified LT-1 intake had been available and all sorted out 18 months ago we would have used it. The Miniram is a nice intake but the cost (with fuel rails and all the not-so-optional options) is nuts.