well, since someone ran off with my lower tpi intake, i need a new intake.
i was just wondering, what the best bang for the buck would be.
lt1 intake? but i hear it won't pass emissions due to missing egr
tpis mini-ram? $$$
i hear alot of a stealth ram, but i don't want to use an aftermarket hood..
i do plan to do some serious 1/4 in the future, but i don't want to lose too much low end torque of the tpi
well...hell...what ever gets me faster can't be all that bad!

all suggestions info welcome.

 

If you have to have an EGR, forget the Stealth Ram or the Mini Ram neither of which have it. The Accel base is the way to go.

 

super ram is your best bet for this case.

 

As long as you have to buy a base anyway....

I think you should get some vortec heads and the matching TPI manifold. You'll probably spend the same on vortec heads and lower intake as you could on one of those other intakes but you'll get performance heads at the same time and get a real increse in performance. There is a guy on here running 13.5 with vortec heads and intake on a 305.

Hodge

 

Ok, let's break it down...

LT1, miniram, Stealth ram. None of these have EGR. All of them have nominal gains alone, but substantial gains when matched with the right cam and/or heads. They really open up your top end, and the cost on the bottom end is NOT an issue You lose some bottom end, but there's still more bottom end power then you can use, so it isn't an issue. Of these three, miniram is expensive, stealth ram and LT1 are very close in cost, and very cost effective. Stealth ram has clearance issues, especially on Firebirds, requiring aftermarket hoods.

Superram. This is a fairly expensive option, but good if you really want as much low end torque as you can get. Not sure if the Superram retains EGR or not. Has better top end then stock TPI, and I believe even siamesed aftermarket TPI setups. Cam and heads are still recommended with this setup too.

Aftermarkte TPI (base and runners) If you go this route, go Vortec. The Vortec base is the same dimensions as the Edelbrock stock upgrade. In other words, it's opened up more then the stock base. It's a cost effective option when paired with the vortec heads. Throw in a $175 LT4 cam and aftermarket runners (Summit has a great sale on SLP runners right now) and you have good low end, still have the top end weakness of TPI (just not as prominent), and you retain EGR as well as the stock appearance.

In the end, the answer depends on what you're looking for.

Top end power, go LT1, Stealth Ram, miniram (in that order of preference). But plan on at least a new cam to really see the potential of these intakes, and new heads to reach their full potential.

No compromise low end torque, Superram.

Budget low end torque, vortec heads and intake manifold.

 

I've had the Super Ram & it has good low end & better mid range & higher top end than TPI, overall it's a good compromise. The SR with the Accel base retains full EGR function, thats one reason why it's so expensive. The Vortec head combo is good if you don't want to go any farther with the engine, since you are limited to about .480 lift with those heads.