Can the 350 ram jet manifold be used as a replacement for the TPI intake?
Also, anybody have any flow numbers on it?

 

I bet you could, but I also think it would cost a pretty penny!!

Try and call some place like Pace Performance or another big GMPP dealer. I can't remember the name of the place that sells the Vortec TPI intakes, try them also...

You might find an HSR is more cost effective...

 

actually the reason i was asking is because the bare manifold is about $400.

 

yea you can....


however it will take some work.... and you need a diff throttlebody and fuel rails... i donno about anything else..

 

If GM would make it cost effective it would be real nice for Vortec head owners, but it looks like by the time you get the manifold, fuel rails, and TB you're up near/over $1000. Please correct me if I'm mistaken. Might as well get the Miniram III if that's correct... What we need is a HSR pricerange intake for $500ish (including the fuel rail or using the stocker) that fits the Vortecs...

 

ahhh..... the ram jet is for vortec heads
it uses an LS1 tb, and im pretty sure you can rig up you old fuel rails to fit. other then that i dont see a problem, unless you didnt have vortec heads.

 

Yeah, I know it takes the LS1 TB and I bet you could get custom made fuel rails for less than $75...

I did not know that the bare Ram Jet was only $400...I figured GM would up its pricing to over $600...

I think it is worth looking into, and if it is cost effective, you would be unique. Very few people are running Ram Jets in 3rd Gens afterall...

 

does the ram jet have an EGR setup? if it did,that would be better than the stealth ram that doesnt have an EGR setup.

 

I've read a few post's about guy's drilling their own rails. Sounded easy to me. The regulator is the only sticking point. Since you have one already. I don't yet. I'm doing a retro fit to a 383 69 camaro that already has Vortec heads. Now I had myself convinced to buy new heads & a HSR. Then I read this.. Decisions decisions

Thanks for the info, I figure the RJ would be way too pricey and promptly forgot about it. Since it's for non emmission apps and is for Vortec heads which don't have EGR holes, don't think it's ported for EGR.

 

I don't have vortech heads (stock engine), but i was thinking that vortech heads + ram jet ~= $1000 - seems like a good deal to me.

about the fuel rails... what is different about them, and is there any way to modify the stock ones?

the throttle body, will it accept the 89 iroc TPS and IAC? if not will the LS1 TPS and IAC interface properly with the 165 or 730 ECM?

also the braket is on the right hand side, but that's no big deal.

of course all of this is pointless if the ram jet doesn't flow better than the TPI setup. if flow numbers are unavailable, does anybody have a torque/HP curve of the ram jet engine?

sorry about all the questions, and thanks for the replies.

 

The Ram Jet crate motor according to my old GMPP catalog shows a little tech about it...
HP 350@5200
TQ 400@3500
CR 9.4:1
Hyd. Roller Camshaft
Lift .431/.451
Duration @.050" 196/207*


Pretty mild as you can see. I would guess that since the cam and compression is mild, designed for 87 octane pump gas, then it, the Ram Jet, does indeed flow better than a stock TPI. Maybe with siamesed base and runners that would change things, but there would need to be flow bench testing to prove it. The Ram Jet crate motor does have Vortec heads so you can see what to expect from a similar build, or how much more you can get with more cam and compression. I would say that building 400 ponies with 420 lb. ft. of torque should not be very difficult...

BTW, this comes from a 2 year old catalog, I don't know if GMPP has changed any of this on the Ram Jet crate engine...

 

I know the ram jet uses the vette style lt1 regulator, if that's any help. Do a search under the username drain89, he posted a part number list for all the ram jet parts a couple years ago in a thread. A guy name formulajoe bought a zz430 and a ramjet system and was puttin it in his 89 formula with a t56 and was posting his progress but I don't think he ever finished it. He had some good info in his posts. the prices in the list will need to be updated, but you can score an ls1 throttle body and injectors cheap on ebay. That'll cut costs down. If you're crafty (or know someone who is) you could save costs by fabricating your own fuel rails and tie in a regulator. I was gonna go with the factory rails and use an aeromotive vette regulator.
I ended up buying a holley mpfi system, but I'd love to see some results of a tpi to ramjet swap.
Also.....the ram jet motor uses 1.6 roller rockers so that bumps the lift up some. Still lacking in the cam department though IMO.
In a 350, the gm 12370846 cam or in a 383 the 12370847 should really work well with that intake. Especially with 1.6's.
Food for thought anyways.........good luck! And updates please if you follow through with the whole ramjet deal.

 

part # 12489371......$456.43 includes intake only(does not include throttle body, or injection components)
part # 12498032......$1395.00 ram jet "vortec" fuel injection kit (less electronics)
includes: ignition coil
ignition wire assembly
intake manifold
distributor
knock sensor
throttle body
fuel rails
(8) injectors
map sensor
fuel pressure regulator

Just checked www.gmpartsdirect.com the kit is $1235