tunnel ram
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
Back in the early 80's I had a Wieand tunnel ram with 2-450's and a GM off road mechanical cam in a '70 LT-1 with 4.56 gears. It didn't start making any power til about 3500-4000 rpm, but once it hit the power band you had better been holding on. It was still pulling at 7800 rpm. It ran 112 mph in the quarter on junk bias ply street tires.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
This kind of question is usually a waste of time because the person asking doesn't ever buy the (Tunnel Ram) or what ever else they dreamed up.
It is also hard to gauge a persons mechanical skills and the amount of disposible money over the faceless internet.
tunnel rams are not for the clueless unless they have a personnal mechanic.
If you do some reseach and tell me some specifics about the motor, which thumper cam, which tunnel ram I might to be able to give some advice because I have owned, driven, and worked on them
It is also hard to gauge a persons mechanical skills and the amount of disposible money over the faceless internet.
tunnel rams are not for the clueless unless they have a personnal mechanic.
If you do some reseach and tell me some specifics about the motor, which thumper cam, which tunnel ram I might to be able to give some advice because I have owned, driven, and worked on them
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 576
Likes: 3
A couple of years ago they did a write up in HotRod magazine about 4 or 5 tunnelram setups for the SBC. Some of them were very streetable, mind you not cheap.
Some made less power then a properly setup single 4 barrel setup. So mainly show no go
Some made less power then a properly setup single 4 barrel setup. So mainly show no go
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Years ago, after thinking it thru I sold the only tunnel ram I ever owned (BB TR2X) at a Super Chevy swap meet before ever installing it. Didn't want an engine good for only one thing on a street machine.
Today, IMCO off-the-shelf tunnel rams make little sense. If building a dedicated drag car, have a proper sheetmetal intake built specifically for the engine in question. The people that do that for a living will know far more about designing them that you'll learn on the interweb.
Today, IMCO off-the-shelf tunnel rams make little sense. If building a dedicated drag car, have a proper sheetmetal intake built specifically for the engine in question. The people that do that for a living will know far more about designing them that you'll learn on the interweb.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: Olive Branch MS
I have a Weiand tunnel ram with 2 holley 450's and linkage for sale. the choke plates have been milled already. The tunnel ram was polished at one time, but could use some Mother's polish again. This was on my small block last year and ran in the 9's at the track and driven home. I've ran these on everything from 350's to my current 434. I've just upgraded to the Victor Ram now and don't need this one anymore. PM me if interested. $300 plus shipping.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 911
Likes: 8
355ci with AFR 195's, weiand tunnel ram with 450's (kit from summit), 3:55 gears and a 5spd. After some simple tuning, (and a little more to go), the setup runs great...no hesitation, no fouling plugs, idles fine, awesome response. When cruising, seems to be about the same gas mileage as my 750 - maybe since both setups used a total of two 50cc accel pumps. Only reason to be affraid of a tunnel ram is the hole in the hood 
Tunnel rams only for drag racing? Nope..... See videos, one at idle, and one running down the road....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtjtwdY6vU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viYh-fqwya8
Tunnel rams only for drag racing? Nope..... See videos, one at idle, and one running down the road....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtjtwdY6vU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viYh-fqwya8
Last edited by FastEddy; Sep 25, 2011 at 12:54 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
Tunnel ram and a single 4 will get pretty good economy on the freeway also. Plus they are easy to tune.
Had one on a 56 Chevy and loved it.
They do have a power band that you can feel.
327, 4 speed and 4.56's in 1972.
Had one on a 56 Chevy and loved it.
They do have a power band that you can feel.
327, 4 speed and 4.56's in 1972.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,018
Likes: 2,262
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
They can work great on the street if you get the rigth one and do some tuning. Usually a LOT of timing helps response.
I'd use bigger carbs than either of those though even on a 383. At least some 600's...but I'd also use something besides a hyd cam too and use a little RPM.
JIM
I'd use bigger carbs than either of those though even on a 383. At least some 600's...but I'd also use something besides a hyd cam too and use a little RPM.
JIM
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,018
Likes: 2,262
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
It's funny on the Thumpr cams. Probably not the best marketing message for true hot rod folks...but when you look at what they actually are..there are some applications where they can work very well. I see folks spec out a custom cam...you can see the trend is often just like a Thumpr....but they would never admit it.
Thumpr's are generally relatively aggressive intake lobes with a much larger/softer exhaust lobe (N20 cam or one that you want a lot o RPM out of?)...but then they put it on a real tight LSA and create a lot of overlap. That creates the nasty idle sound...and manners....but that's pretty much what folks have done with a lot of big cams anyway.
Tight LSA's can do neat stuff in the right place....they've been doing it that way for years and years...just someone came up with a marketing name for it.
JIM
Thumpr's are generally relatively aggressive intake lobes with a much larger/softer exhaust lobe (N20 cam or one that you want a lot o RPM out of?)...but then they put it on a real tight LSA and create a lot of overlap. That creates the nasty idle sound...and manners....but that's pretty much what folks have done with a lot of big cams anyway.
Tight LSA's can do neat stuff in the right place....they've been doing it that way for years and years...just someone came up with a marketing name for it.
JIM
