350 Ram Jet---
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
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From: FL
350 Ram Jet---
On our 81, we want to get some more power from it without doing any major fabrication. Upgrading the techonology making it a little more streetable.
We're taking it in for paint ina few weeks so we figured if we're gonna do anything to this motor, now would be the time to do it.
We heard about sdparts.com from powerblock TV on spike.
From there we called to get some ideas etc from thier staff that seemed pretty helpful.
We wanted to go with a Fuel Injected motor, didn't want to mess with a carb, this car will be pretty much daily driven.
They suggested a 350 RAM JET ($5000) and a 700R4 Transmission ($1900) with Torque Convertor.
We're pretty much learning here as we go. Any suggestions for our criteria and whether or not this is a good way to go?
ANY INPUT would be greatly appreciated.
We're taking it in for paint ina few weeks so we figured if we're gonna do anything to this motor, now would be the time to do it.
We heard about sdparts.com from powerblock TV on spike.
From there we called to get some ideas etc from thier staff that seemed pretty helpful.
We wanted to go with a Fuel Injected motor, didn't want to mess with a carb, this car will be pretty much daily driven.
They suggested a 350 RAM JET ($5000) and a 700R4 Transmission ($1900) with Torque Convertor.
We're pretty much learning here as we go. Any suggestions for our criteria and whether or not this is a good way to go?
ANY INPUT would be greatly appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
The 350 Ram Jet is certainly a nice engine for the street. Two things to consider -
1) you will need to supply high pressure fuel (approx 45 to 60 psi) and a suitable return line. You can address this by using an in-tank assembly from an 82 and upgrading to an 80's or early 90's TPI pump from a corvette or canaro.
2) you need to check your hood clearance. I believe that the ramjet doghouse is rather tall and will not fit under your stock hood.
TRANSMISSIONS - Please see bowtieoverdrives.com for info. You may want to consider a 200R4, which is shorter tham the 700R4 and will fit in place of your turbp 350 without crossmember or driveshaft modification. Also, I am not sure that the stock RamJet ecm will control loclup on either of these transmissions.
Another reference that can help you is Street & Performance (www.hotrodlane.cc). These folks have LOTS of fuel injection experience.
1) you will need to supply high pressure fuel (approx 45 to 60 psi) and a suitable return line. You can address this by using an in-tank assembly from an 82 and upgrading to an 80's or early 90's TPI pump from a corvette or canaro.
2) you need to check your hood clearance. I believe that the ramjet doghouse is rather tall and will not fit under your stock hood.
TRANSMISSIONS - Please see bowtieoverdrives.com for info. You may want to consider a 200R4, which is shorter tham the 700R4 and will fit in place of your turbp 350 without crossmember or driveshaft modification. Also, I am not sure that the stock RamJet ecm will control loclup on either of these transmissions.
Another reference that can help you is Street & Performance (www.hotrodlane.cc). These folks have LOTS of fuel injection experience.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: FL
can anyone else talk about the clearance other the hood?
That is what i'm more concerned about than anything else. What other fuel injected motors are availiable that would fit with minimal modifications?
OR
Can anyone point me in the direction of hoods that I can look at that WOULD clear the motor?
Pics would be great--- costs for replacment hoods greater ;-)
THANKS
That is what i'm more concerned about than anything else. What other fuel injected motors are availiable that would fit with minimal modifications?
OR
Can anyone point me in the direction of hoods that I can look at that WOULD clear the motor?
Pics would be great--- costs for replacment hoods greater ;-)
THANKS
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
About two years ago I was checking out crate engines and EFI for a car I own. I asked a speed shop owner I trust and he said that GM had been having some problems with the RamJet EFI. For all I know whatever problems may be worked out but I ended up with a GMPP 350HO/330hp crate engine topped with Edelbrock Pro-Flo RPM EFI, and backed by a 700R4. The combination has proved excellent...turns the tires blue easily in the first three out of four gears and cruises great.
This wasn't installed in a Vette so I can't give any advice about hood clearance but the Edelbrock setup does look lower profile than the RamJet. Since the throttle body looks like a carburetor, you have many choices in air filter configurations.
The downside is the Edelbrock doesn't have the "wow" factor the RamJet does...but it is a screamer performance wise.
This wasn't installed in a Vette so I can't give any advice about hood clearance but the Edelbrock setup does look lower profile than the RamJet. Since the throttle body looks like a carburetor, you have many choices in air filter configurations.
The downside is the Edelbrock doesn't have the "wow" factor the RamJet does...but it is a screamer performance wise.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
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From: FL
I personally wnana keep the carb setup, and get some more power down to the wheels, a larger motor even, but my father is really bent on going to fuel injection since its going to be a daily driven car.
I know little to nothing when it comes to the difference. So can anyone point me to some good online references to the differences/positives and negatives to the two systems?
He was used to playing wih carbuerated motors in the 80's and hates the idea of sticking with it if he's going to be buying a new motor for this car. Has technology increased in any way where the differences between fuel injected and not is minimal?
Remember here, the key to this is more power, fuel injected (I guess), with minimal to not much actual fabrication on the vehicle itself.
I know little to nothing when it comes to the difference. So can anyone point me to some good online references to the differences/positives and negatives to the two systems?
He was used to playing wih carbuerated motors in the 80's and hates the idea of sticking with it if he's going to be buying a new motor for this car. Has technology increased in any way where the differences between fuel injected and not is minimal?
Remember here, the key to this is more power, fuel injected (I guess), with minimal to not much actual fabrication on the vehicle itself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
A carbureted engine can certainly make as much or more than an injected engine. So much depends on how the engine is set up and optimized.
The big difference with EFI is driveability, ease of starting, emissions, a better power curve, etc. The difference may not be much or it can be a lot...hard to say. There's no question a carbureted induction system is far simpler to install and costs less, but EFI, once it's dialed in runs better for far longer. There is the issue of all the peripheral parts that have to be installed in a car that was never designed for them, but it is doable.
In my car I had the Edelbrock EFI installed, the difference is dramatic, but that includes an entirely new engine in place of a tired engine. I'm sure the difference if I went with a carburetor would have been similar. I wanted EFI. It sounds like your Dad won't be happy unless the car gets EFI, so unless Poppa is happy, ain't nobody else gonna be happy.
The big difference with EFI is driveability, ease of starting, emissions, a better power curve, etc. The difference may not be much or it can be a lot...hard to say. There's no question a carbureted induction system is far simpler to install and costs less, but EFI, once it's dialed in runs better for far longer. There is the issue of all the peripheral parts that have to be installed in a car that was never designed for them, but it is doable.
In my car I had the Edelbrock EFI installed, the difference is dramatic, but that includes an entirely new engine in place of a tired engine. I'm sure the difference if I went with a carburetor would have been similar. I wanted EFI. It sounds like your Dad won't be happy unless the car gets EFI, so unless Poppa is happy, ain't nobody else gonna be happy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 119
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
While I agree that it is possible that a carburetor can make equal power at a given point of operation (i.e. throttle position, load, rpm) it is next to impossible to dial it in across the full operating range, like you can with Fuel Injection. It is a myth that a carb will make more power than FI. unless of course the FI calibration is off. It is much easier to calibrate FI than a carb any day. IMHO
I know a guy here in town who has installed the RamJet 350 in his 78 pace car. It fits under that hood.
Bullshark
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
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From: FL
While I agree that it is possible that a carburetor can make equal power at a given point of operation (i.e. throttle position, load, rpm) it is next to impossible to dial it in across the full operating range, like you can with Fuel Injection. It is a myth that a carb will make more power than FI. unless of course the FI calibration is off. It is much easier to calibrate FI than a carb any day. IMHO
I know a guy here in town who has installed the RamJet 350 in his 78 pace car. It fits under that hood.
Bullshark
I know a guy here in town who has installed the RamJet 350 in his 78 pace car. It fits under that hood.
Bullshark
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
A well set up carb will generate as much horsepower as an efi on the same engine. But it probably won't be as efficient (lower mpg). That being said, a few hundred dollars of gas each year is a lot less expensive {and less problematic} than converting to efi. My recommendation is to educate ol' Dad on the reliability and ease of running with a properly rebuilt and set up carb so you don't have to go the efi route. [just my 2 cents]
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 306
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From: New Hampshire
I agree that fuel injection is more efficient as for as gas mileage,cold starting, ect but I think a carb will outpower a FI and there is the factor ot the sound of the secondaries opening. No FI has the same sound!..Just my opinion.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 4
From: Formerly from the Great White North but now residing in the Desert Southwest NM (The Land of Dis-Enchantment?)
I've installed both a L-98 with Tuned Port Injection and a Mini Ram (looks like a LT-1) from TPIS out of Minneapolis. Both use a GM ECM. I have a L-88 hood so clearance wasn't an issue. The L-98 was real simple and made a nice driver. The Mini-ram from TPIS sits very low and there definitely wouldn't be a clearance issue. It's set up to get everything out of my 383 and it works very well. Jim and Chris up at TPIS have been a great help and a wealth of knowledge. If you want more info I can probably download some photos.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: FL
I've installed both a L-98 with Tuned Port Injection and a Mini Ram (looks like a LT-1) from TPIS out of Minneapolis. Both use a GM ECM. I have a L-88 hood so clearance wasn't an issue. The L-98 was real simple and made a nice driver. The Mini-ram from TPIS sits very low and there definitely wouldn't be a clearance issue. It's set up to get everything out of my 383 and it works very well. Jim and Chris up at TPIS have been a great help and a wealth of knowledge. If you want more info I can probably download some photos.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
I have the 350's big brother 
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...11803851&hl=en
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...33028510&hl=en
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...11803851&hl=en
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...33028510&hl=en
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: FL
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: FL
actually i just did a search for some L-88's and i dont like it... too big... I dont like how it screws with the lines of the car personally.
are there any other options for hoods out there? ones that are more subtle?
how much clearance will I really need?
Thanks.
are there any other options for hoods out there? ones that are more subtle?
how much clearance will I really need?
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 244
From: Morgan City Louisiana
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 244
From: Morgan City Louisiana
