Manifold ???s, Redundant but HELP!!!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 48
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From: Cartersville, GA, USA
Manifold ???s, Redundant but HELP!!!
ok, Ive scoured these boards for about 20 hours now....My friend and I are building just a mild engine for his daily driver. 88 firebird. We are throwing a 355 (350 bored .030 over) in it with (as of now) a 214/220 @.050 cam and vortec heads with a spring upgrade. He wants 400 hp but will settle for 350. We don't want to spend lots of money either....something about cake and eat it too? lol. Anyway, Heres what Ive come up with about the intakes.
Siamesed base and ported/siamesed LTR, ported plenum and 52mm throttle body is an option but some guys have luck with it and it blows some engines up..!!! Its definately cheaper, we can keep the EGR, and it'd be fun to do. BUT, is it ideal for that setup? Is it safe?
LT1 intake, looks NICE, CHEAP, only thing is I'll have to mod a LT4 so it will match the vortec heads, and we will have to setup a remote mounted EGR...also thats alot of air for a vortec 350 isnt it?
Holley Stealth Ram...cheap, still remote EGR, hood clearance isnt an issue (ram air hood) but it flows alot too correct?
Which is the best way to go...we dont want a ground pounder, just something to make the local mustangs swallow harder.
If we can save enough money on the manifold, we might step it up to the TFS G2 heads i think? aluminum 50 state legal....anyone know how much better they are than vortec?
Maybe a siamesed/ported TPI setup with that little cam and the TFS heads? 400 hp? any torque? We like the low end oomph...but we could stand to lose a little....
Throw out some ideas if you want....were going to dabble in DIY Proms too ......
3.42:1 gears, 700r4 w/ shift kit, and 2400 rpm B&M torque converter.
Sorry this is such a common topic but no one ever seems to compare all the options at the same time...only 2
Siamesed base and ported/siamesed LTR, ported plenum and 52mm throttle body is an option but some guys have luck with it and it blows some engines up..!!! Its definately cheaper, we can keep the EGR, and it'd be fun to do. BUT, is it ideal for that setup? Is it safe?
LT1 intake, looks NICE, CHEAP, only thing is I'll have to mod a LT4 so it will match the vortec heads, and we will have to setup a remote mounted EGR...also thats alot of air for a vortec 350 isnt it?
Holley Stealth Ram...cheap, still remote EGR, hood clearance isnt an issue (ram air hood) but it flows alot too correct?
Which is the best way to go...we dont want a ground pounder, just something to make the local mustangs swallow harder.
If we can save enough money on the manifold, we might step it up to the TFS G2 heads i think? aluminum 50 state legal....anyone know how much better they are than vortec?
Maybe a siamesed/ported TPI setup with that little cam and the TFS heads? 400 hp? any torque? We like the low end oomph...but we could stand to lose a little....
Throw out some ideas if you want....were going to dabble in DIY Proms too ......
3.42:1 gears, 700r4 w/ shift kit, and 2400 rpm B&M torque converter.
Sorry this is such a common topic but no one ever seems to compare all the options at the same time...only 2
Supreme Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 81
From: USA
I'm not a fan of the siamesed base. A ported SDPC Vortec base and a hogged out set of SLP runners - divider removed for a semi-siamesed effect would be pretty good bang for the buck and should get you over the 350 mark (maybe 300 rearwheel?) That could probably get him solidly in the 12's with the right stall converter and suspension work.
If you're not too kean on porting the SLP's and have a few extra bucks,,, you should get similar performance from a set of Semi-Siamesed AS&M runners. A slightly better yet even more expensive alternative would be the SuperRam runners and plenum.
There is not a lot of material around the StealthRam's ports. It's basically not enough for anything larger than a 1205 Fel-pro opening. I'm not sure,, but believe the StealthRam would have sealing issues with the Vortec heads - as in the intake might not cover the top of the ports. It's NOT "too much" air, nor would be the LT1 / LT4 intake - there is the EGR issue (as you stated) with all these intakes though. However,, if you can get one of these to fit / work for you,,, I'd definetely go with them. I recently swapped over to the StealthRam and it is AWESOME!!!!!! The car is much more balanced and takes flight at any rpm you hit the throttle!!!!
I've got G1 heads and love them for what I'm using them for,, but they and the G2s can be a pain to set up and you're limited in cam size and / or piston selection. I'd say if you want to step up from the Vortecs - go 195 Canfields for bang for the buck. Don't know if the LT1 / LT4 would work,, but the StealthRam and Canfields would be a killer top side.
If you're not too kean on porting the SLP's and have a few extra bucks,,, you should get similar performance from a set of Semi-Siamesed AS&M runners. A slightly better yet even more expensive alternative would be the SuperRam runners and plenum.
There is not a lot of material around the StealthRam's ports. It's basically not enough for anything larger than a 1205 Fel-pro opening. I'm not sure,, but believe the StealthRam would have sealing issues with the Vortec heads - as in the intake might not cover the top of the ports. It's NOT "too much" air, nor would be the LT1 / LT4 intake - there is the EGR issue (as you stated) with all these intakes though. However,, if you can get one of these to fit / work for you,,, I'd definetely go with them. I recently swapped over to the StealthRam and it is AWESOME!!!!!! The car is much more balanced and takes flight at any rpm you hit the throttle!!!!
I've got G1 heads and love them for what I'm using them for,, but they and the G2s can be a pain to set up and you're limited in cam size and / or piston selection. I'd say if you want to step up from the Vortecs - go 195 Canfields for bang for the buck. Don't know if the LT1 / LT4 would work,, but the StealthRam and Canfields would be a killer top side.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 48
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From: Cartersville, GA, USA
Weve decided not to go with the stealth ram since it wont clear the strut tower brace.
The LT1 is looking like the best intake to us...do you have to use a LT1 throttle body with that?
I havent checked out the canfields but I will now. I keep hearing good things about the TFS G2 heads though. Im trying to talk him into some 180cc AFRs. But I dont think he wants to spend 500 MORE dollars on heads.
All we will have to compare it to is my LB9 I have in my t/a. I know you sacrifice low end torque with the LT1 intake but, with a cam/head upgrade, and since its a 355, it will still make more torque than the stock LB9 is all the way up the band right?
If so we will use the LT1 setup but the heads are still a toss up....
Vortec with spring upgrade,
TFS G2
or Canfields (after I check them out)
Anyone know any others, prefer under 1000 bucks
The LT1 is looking like the best intake to us...do you have to use a LT1 throttle body with that?
I havent checked out the canfields but I will now. I keep hearing good things about the TFS G2 heads though. Im trying to talk him into some 180cc AFRs. But I dont think he wants to spend 500 MORE dollars on heads.
All we will have to compare it to is my LB9 I have in my t/a. I know you sacrifice low end torque with the LT1 intake but, with a cam/head upgrade, and since its a 355, it will still make more torque than the stock LB9 is all the way up the band right?
If so we will use the LT1 setup but the heads are still a toss up....
Vortec with spring upgrade,
TFS G2
or Canfields (after I check them out)
Anyone know any others, prefer under 1000 bucks
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