kopbet89c4

Ok, I've finally settled on a MiniRam and a matched ZZ9 cam. I don't have the patience to deal with the SuperRam's vacuum problems. Not to mention the PITA of removing it and reinstalling it back in the car just to find my vacuum leak. Its already been sold already in CF, locally. Anyways...

There are some people that say that you'll lose 70 or more ft-lbs of torque if you're putting the MiniRam in stock L98. They'd say the gain in hp on top would me minimal, like 20 hp on the upper. Not that I'm gonna put the MiniRam in with my stock cam, but don't the stock LT1 heads flow EXACTLY the same as the 113/ZZ4 aluminum heads? Isn't the L98 cam 99.99% identical to the LT1 cam, in terms of lift, duration, and LSA? Isn't the LT1 intake modeled after the MiniRam with the same flow #, or vise versa? Then where the hell did the extra 50 hp come from?

Yes, of course I'm gonna match my setup with the TPIS ZZ9 cam but wouldn't you consider the fact that even the stock L98 with an LT1 intake would have the same characteristics as an LT1 itself with similar power #s, just minus the Opti-Spark distributer and reverse flow cooling?

Alvin

It will do OK on torque even with a stock cam. Anyone whose ever dynoed a bunch of LT1's know that they have probally the broadest torque bands out there.. So they don't make an excessive amount of torque at the bottom. Contrary to belief.. its power that gets you down the track in a hurry.. not torque.

bogus

Torque gets you going, power keeps you going.

jeffyc

torque is what you feel (sotp) and power is how long the engine can keep that pull

kopbet89c4

I'm gonna guess my L98 is FINALLY gonna breathe better, especially past the 5000 rpm barrier. I'm expecting the ZZ9 cam to get me another 30-40 hp on top of that. I might even wanna take the mufflers off just to hear the hotrod-like idle. In a 3.08 geared 3800 lb 3rd gen F-Body on a good day, with a good launch, TPIS claims this combo would be good for mid 12s @ 110 mph. I'd like to verify this claim...

Hopefully, I'm not gonna be having anymore vacuum leaks anytime soon after this piece of art is on.

cv67

Put the miniram and the cam in, you have a converter, right?

kopbet89c4

Heck yeah! Its finally a matched setup eh???

vette40509

I have the miniram on a stock L98 with 52 mm throttle body and a complete TPIS header/exhaust system. Couln't be happier after 180,000 miles. Just finally pulling the engine out after all these years due to blown head gasket. Shooting for 480 hp 480 tq 383 for the next one!

kopbet89c4

Were you using the ZZ9 cam? What numbers were you putting down on your stock block L98 with this whole setup? How were street manners?

vette40509

Factory stock cam and all I can say is it felt real good. No track time.

sami85L98

whatever u do but dont loose torque, torque is the king.

bill mcdonald

from my exp with the super ram and the zz9 cam, you might want to do the exhaust next if you have not done so. it was a huge improvment on my car.

And as stated, a converter is going to be key with the mini ram. most guys with sticks up the gearing some to get it into the power band faster. LPE's book states it might be best to have a super ram on an auto car since it has a broader torque curve.

let us know how it does.

kopbet89c4

Oh, exhaust is DONE, trust me. I have on super quiet mufflers, but when I'm hearing that racy idle from the ZZ9 cam, I'll be very compelled to remove them and weld on the straights back. Cops here don't seem to pull over domestic V8s, unless you're driving recklessly. They'd surely pull over a fart canister equipped 4 banger before anything! Crotch rockets next!

Aggravated4life

The LT1's intake was the biggest reason they seen a 50 HP gain over the L98...Dave Emanuals book on small block chevys has a description about it.With a short runnered intake,They lowered the sharp peak torque but raised the 'sides' across the powerband and the result is 50 more HP over an L98 set up,with not too much torque loss,maybe 20 lbs or so.

So its a great torque engine band over time/rpm,not just sotp off the line to a lower rpm wall.Will the MR give ya that or more?I think it might...but let us know how it all comes together.The idea is the same,short runner for a flatter torque band and higher peak HP.If it runs right,then youre gonna have a great motor.Hope you dont get the troubles some other people have had with them,which I believe,was mainly tuning it.

rodj

"Isn't the L98 cam 99.99% identical to the LT1 cam"

FYI , the L98 cam is pretty whimpy.
The LT1 cam has approx .045 more lift ,in keeping with the better
breathing of the intake

kopbet89c4

Stock 88-89 L98 cam:
207/213
.415/.430
117 deg LSA

Stock 96 LT1 cam:
205/207
.447/.459
117 deg LSA

The lift on the LT1 is about .030" more on each side. The duration on the L98 is 2 degrees higher on the intake, and 6 degrees more on the exhaust. Both cams were ground on a 117 degree LSA. Stock, unported LT1 aluminum heads flow very similar numbers compared to the crate ZZ4/113 casting heads on 89-91 L98 Vettes. I'm talking about a + or - 2 CFM difference.

Not that this is gonna matter to me at all, but there is just a hair difference in lift comparing both stock cam. I'm gonna use a ZZ9 cam on my setup anyways so this minuscule difference in these stock cam sizes is irrelevant. Time for the L98 to finally BREATHE!!!

Nathan Plemons

I have heard from a guy who usually knew what he was talking about, that a Mini Ram will actually give up about 20 HP to an LT1 intake on an otherwise equal setup.

We were discussing the LT1 intake conversion and I made the comment that the Mini Ram would be easier. I believe he said that even though they look quite similar from the top, the Mini Ram actually has a relatively small plenum and longer runners compared to the LT1 intake. This results in it still not being able to flow quite the same volume of air in the upper RPM range that the LT1 intake does.

I have never seen this proven, so take it with a grain of salt.

aboatguy

If you're talking about the LT1 vs L98 its not 20lbft its only 10 or so but the curve is much wider on the LT1.
So the tractor motor still gets spanked.
Mike

-=Jeff=-

You might want some ported heads with that combo.. it will help..

I have:
350CI short block
ZZ9
1.6 intake/ 1,5 exhaust roller rockers
CNC L98 Stage 3 heads (~10.5:1 Compression)
Miniram
52mm tb
Hooker headers, true dual 3" exhasut
Roughly 340RWHP, don't have a torque # though (ignition module and Dyno would not play nice)

I run 111-112mph in the 1/4 (4.10 and a 6spd)

This car is VERY Streetable

http://jeff.vettextc.net/exhaust/exhaust.wmv

Gold1986Vette420

My old combo I had in the car for 6 years was.

A freshened 350 stock cubes.
10:1 pistons
Trickflow twisted wedge heads
TPIS miniram II
TPIS ZZ9 cam
1.5 Roller rockers
TPIS headers
random tech cat , flowmaster mufflers
2500 stall 11" lockup converter
shift kit
3.73 rear dana 36

Highlights:
200+ passes on the track
500+ partial (8th mile) type passes on the street
not a day went by that the motor didn't hit 6500+ rpm

Best et 12.363 @ 112.04 with a 1.806 60'
best 8th mile: 7.95 @ 90.42

only change I would have done would have been to get a 3500 stall lockup 10" converter.
there was a noticible delay in the power coming on with the 2500 converter. IT PULLED massively from 3500-6800 rpm.