Hi all, I am going to be getting a new 383 pretty soon that should be around 450-500hp. I currently have a completely stock 89 iroc with an L98. I have seen lots of debates on this board recently about the super ram and mini ram and am considering the super ram because i dont really go to the track very much and the the miniram would never pass a california smog check. But I was wondering how the super ram is compared to a good set of aftermarket components. I originally planned on getting a tpis big mouth manifold, as&m runners, a bigger throttlebody, and porting the heck out of the stock plenum. Im a little worried about the installation of the super ram after all of what I have heard lately, what is so hard about installing it? Sorry this is so long but this is turning out to be a very difficult decision, I could also just swap the miniram back to stock every smog check too i suppose. What would you guys recommend? Thanks for any suggestions or info.
Mike

 

Hi, in my opinion, go with the superram. It will probably produce almost the exact hp as the miniram, but you won't lose nearly as much torque. The problem, to the best of my knowledge that everyone is talking about is installing the actual short runner tubes. Since they are under the plenum box, screwing the up is difficult, and sometimes you might drop them. It seems the best solution is to simply put a straight notch across the end of the bolt so you can use a screwdrive from the top and in essence pull it up, while holding it with your finger to get it started then you can go ahead with the bolt from the bottom. This really isn't too much of an inconvience unless you take the darn off a lot. Not to mention the superram is cheaper. I would also go with accel base manifold too. If you wanted you could easily port it a touch just to smooth out the airflow. The TPIS seems like a good unit, but I personally feel that they are both overpriced and overpraised. We all know that Lingenfelter makes some of if not the best small block engine configurations, and he designed the superram. I would go with the choice one of the best engine builders around has chosed time and time again. The problem with using the stock plenum, is the long runner setup. If you port the hell out of it and use a bigger base, it will improve considerably, however, it will still be limited in terms of rev range capability. The stock unit stock, starts to really give up around 4500. With porting and polishing you might be able to get another 500-750 out of it. Both of the other units should really be good for at least 6000 maybe even 6500. While this might not seem like a huge concern using your stock cam, eventually you will probably want to put a bigger one in, and then you will have the ability to use it for all it's worth. Sorry I made this so long, but I do feel that this is one of the critical pieces in putting together these motors that people make decisions about too quickly. Good luck, and have fun.

 

Why not go to the Weiand intake, lignfelter elbow setup???

Costs a lot less than either the miniram or superram.

I have mine right now (going to be put on next weekend), I am just waiting on the custom chip....

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Sportsman II 72 CC heads, Pete Jackson gear drive, Performance Resources chip, Edelbrock 1 5/8" headers and Edelbrock cat back exhaust, hi-flow cats, Trans-go stage 3 shift kit, Vigilante 9.5" 2800 stall convertor, SLP cold air induction, SLP roller camshaft, 24lb ADS injectors, AFPR, 3.45 rear end gears, and other goodies...


raven

 

I use a completly ported out plenum (for siamese slp runners that have been joined like twins) to a stock base siamesed (like madmax did) to about 2 1/2" from the fuel injectors with a zz4 and 1.6rr and shift at 6100rpm.


My car runs quickest there so the it'll go up there, but is it making power speech won't work.



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'88 Camaro RS 2.8L
'88 Formula 350 (Too many mods to list...)

 

there is an article about siameseing the intake base on this site it sounds illogical but possibly might work it looks like a tpi but pulls like a miniram.

 

That siamesing the intake base thing sounds pretty neat. Does anyone have the link to the info on that?
Also, how would you get that done? Machine shop? I have never done any kind of work like that myself.
Thanks

 

click here for intake info