Just came up from the garage and to say the Superram is a PITA is an understatement. Got the complete Superram on and realize that I did not lay the TV cable in there. That sucks. Lets put on the valvecovers. I CANT!! I have the tall centerbolt finned aluminum ones to clear my 7/8''studs and full Summit 1.6 RR. I even tried grinding the valvecover lip to get it on, but NO WAY.

So now I have to take off the D@#$ plenum again for the TV cable and figure out what am I going to do with the valvecovers.

FYI it has AFR heads, SUPERRAM(if it is ever done) and tall centerbolt valvecovers with 7/8'' studs. HOW CAN I GET THESE VALVE COVERS TO FIT AND WHAT VALVE COVERS ARE YOU SUPERRAM GUYS RUNNING?? PICS WOULD BE GREAT.

Sorry don't mean to yell. Very frustrated.

Thanks

Chris

 

I understand your frustration. The SR is a PITA. The only people who don't think that it is a PITA are those that have installed and removed it a few times (almost like it is some weird rite of passage or something). Those who don't think it is a PITA have most likely studded the runners to make the plenum easy to install. However, having to remove a valve cover to get the runners on/off is rediculous.

I have no constructive comments for you. The SuperRam is truly a PITA. If you decide to keep it then you will eventually be spreading the rumor that it is NOT a PITA. But, please remember what you are going through now. It is a PITA ... especially when instakes like the MiniRam (only 12 bolts) or the StealthRam (12 + 4) are installed much much more easily. I can literally drop my MiniRam on and tighten the 12 intake bolts and it's done.

... you do mean 7/16" studs right? Specifically WHICH valve covers are you running?

Tim

 

I do not know the brand name, but they are tall thick aluminum with ball milled lines in the top. Yes I do mean 7/16. It was getting late last night. It is so retarted to have to downgrade my valvetrain to a 3/8'' studs and rockers to get smaller/thinner valvecovers on thing. Anyone have a miniram I will work out a trade on a NEW installed, but never run Superram


Somebody has to be running big studs/rockerarms and a superram.


The reason I may down grade because the tight clearances between the rockers and valvecovers do not allow the covers to go on at a certain angle. When you swivrl them down they hit the *** forsaken Superram runners.


Thanks for the reply anyway. I appreciate it. Oh yea, I have to take the plenum off to put my TV cable in ...2 hours.
after I finish butchering my wiperhousing.


Chris

 

If you stud the runners then you can just drop the plenum down on top and tighten it with some nuts ... just make sure to use some nyloc nuts because you don't want to lose one down into a runner.

Tim

 

I haven't installed my SR yet, and at the rate I'm going I may not ever.... Anyway, I was wondering if it would be possible to clearance the runner tubes on the sides where the valve cover interferes. Maybe a little grinding there would give you enough clearance, but I am just guessing here. I will be faced with the same problem as I too have 7/16" studs and roller rockers, so I'm interested in what you finally do to make it work. You may have read other posts where I suggested tapping the four inner holes in the runners and drilling out the originally tapped inner holes in the plenum. I plan to use a button head screw in these holes to minimize turbulence and loctite to hold them in. I believe this will help in that regard, but I did notice when I mocked up the SR a while back that it would be very close getting the valve covers on. Good luck and keep us posted on what you finally do to make it work.

 

Yea. I did that to 2 of the inner most bolts, but got to the rest OK. OK is about 10 minutes a piece at 16 bolts. you do the math.

Someone has to have done something with this. I have removed one side of the rocker arms completely and the valvecovers fit fine. It is just the angle that valve covers have to go on with the large rockers that make it hit the Runners. I may try to sand the runners next. Just what I want to do with a BRAND NEW SUPERRAM.

Thanks, any other suggestions?


Chris

 

IMHO - it sounds like you just need to find a set of valve covers that will fit. Plenty of SR guys are running aftermarket valve covers. If I were you I would first just try the stock valve covers with all the inards trimmed out. I know of plenty of guys running stock valve covers with 7/16" studs and roller rockers after they trimmed the insides out.

Tim

 

Thanks. I will try that also, but it just does not seem that it is the height. My valvecovers are just wide(too wide to clear the runners)Also what kind of valve covers can I run with the summit 1.6 full rollers with 7/16'' studs.

Chris

 

I run after market covers with no problems on fit. THey needed to be ground in the webs, but that is a one time deal.

The SR, while not being perfect, there are many tricks that make it much easier to install. Once you get the hang of it, its not bad. I know TRAX

Anyways, I would NOT suggest you stud the runners. For the obvious reason, not your setting yourself up for a bolt to come loose in the plenum and into your engine. You know Murphy's law.

if you do go that route do not leave out the wiring of the bolts together. Also you will find that the bolts next to the plenum wall do NOT offer enough room for the bolts heads, so those have to come up through the bottom.

Take your time and take frequent breaks to keep from getting frustrated. While its not the easiest to put on. Remember, worth while is easy.

Read up on the tricks, like slotting the underside bolts.

Look at my webiste I think I have the part number for all the parts I bought listed. If not Summit has the covers shown there.

Good luck!

 

Ski...How did they go past the runners on the SR? Ok? My covers hit the runners pretty bad. From the pics it looks like you are still running the stock Corvette covers? Do you have 7/16'' studs and full rollers??


Thanks

Chris

 

I am running the stock centerbolt valve covers over 7/16" studs and Crane Gold 1.6RRs along with a SuperRam. I did have to trim the supports inside to help clear the rockers and I too have to put them on at an angle to get past the runners. The driver's side is actually very easy but the passenger side is a royal PITA

 

These are the covers....They are aftermarket. 7/16 ARP studs and comp 1.6 RRs.





As you can see they clear fine, in fact I have the entire harness for the wiring running down in there also. That fits pretty tight, but it fits.

 

I know you know

... fact of the matter is that it's all relative. When comparing the SuperRam to either the MiniRam or the StealthRam it's night and day for the install. Night and Day. I know I am absolutely sure that once you get the hang of it that it's not a big deal anymore. Heck - that's what TPI is all about. I could rip that thing off and slap it on really quick. First time I did it I was like - WOW - this is rediculous. But, you get use to it. You figure out all the right tools, all the right extensions, etc. You've completed that 'rite of passage' and now you're proud that you are so proficient at doing it. All of a sudden it's not so bad anymore. In fact - it's easy ... .. . at least that is what you tell yourself and everyone else. But - it's just not true in comparison to other intakes out there. When I got my MiniRam I was blown away by how easy it was to install/remove. 12 bolts. Without a doubt - the SuperRam is the most difficult TPI intake to install. Can I do it? Of course I can Is it difficult - absolutely not - but absolutely YES in comparison to other intakes that are available. I hope I am making sense. FWIW - I have nothing against the SuperRam except for how they configured it for installation from LPE and it's LPE price. It's a good intake. However, the StealthRam has it beat everywhere.

Tim

 

Trax,

Its sorta like a women giving birth.....they would kill you if you brought up having another during the ordeal. But within a few months they would be game all over again. Its human nature.

You say the Holley stealth ram is the cake and eat it too intake. I would love to believe that, however I have not see any great evidence that it infact is.

Beachbum from the vette forum has a test setup and tried to do it on this VERY well running 383/219/AFR/SR => HSR intake, however it did not seal up to his heads for whatever reason and he got coolant in the bottom end. Fortunately, nothing was damaged, but he sent the intake back to the guy that was allowing him to do the test.

I have access to several of them, if I say the word. I would have definately tested it out by now, if I would have known the single plane intake was going to be delayed so long. Anyways, maybe next spring I will put on my car to see what happens. Most likely the single plane is going to be without a doubt the best intake. It has EVERYTHING in its favor. But as I always say. The proof is in the pudding. So I don't want to be one of the ones to make claims without backup data, so we will wait to see the numbers as it unfolds.

 

Hey ski,

Hopefully soon I'll have some dyno tests to show you of a HSR vs. Single Plane on a AFR/hotcam/355. The HSR just gives loads more torque while not sacrificing much on the topend (> 6000rpms). HOWEVER, this is apples to oranges due to your 406. Your air demands are greater. But, who knows. In any case the HSR should destroy the SR on the topend due to runner length. The runners on the HSR are much shorter than the SR. Of course - your SR runners are seriously ported so you would have to have a HSR with the same amount/style of porting.

Tim

 

Where did you locate a single plane. Is it EFI?

I have seen many claims of short runner making good torque, but few with actual results backing up the claims.

I look forward to the tests.

I should have my EFI equipped single plane VERY soon if all goes well.

Talk to you later.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone. Got it finished last night at about 3:30AM


Ski, Where di you get those valvecovers? I want some!!Mine are a lot closer and had to be clearanced along with the runners to fit down in there. Squeezing the wires in between . Yeah right.

Thanks again

Chris

 

WWW.summitracing.com

Check then out they are not much ~150 beans

 

I've got some el cheapo chrome "Heartbeat of America" tall valve covers.
They're ugly. I know.
The only problems I had with my SR install was wiring - I had to squeeze the injectors between the runners and the valve covers.

The SR DOES get easier to install and remove after you've done it several times.
I did mine 3 times one day!
I installed it and realized that I had a gasket get doubled over that needed to be fixed.
I got as far as having the plenum back on before I fat fingered a torx bit and dropped it down a runner into, thru the intake and into the head.
Tore the intake off, pulled out the torx bit and then re-installed the SR.
That was a BUSY day that involved many smoke breaks and a lot of cursing.

Stoopid SuperRam.

 

and don't forget that you have to take the rubber gommets out of the wiper motor that holds it to the cowl and push the motor against the cowl and remount it with the gommets on the three bolts and put them into the cowl to mount the wiper motor(88-92 camaro and firebird) to give the upper plenum the room it needs to bolt up and then you don't have to modify the wiper motor housing at all(still a tight fit though)