Pulled the SuperRam yesterday. Still have the base on for now. I have a 350 w/LT4 Hotcam, hooker headers, .....
AFR 195 Comp Port heads are in the very near future, and I am open to a camswap then also.
Which Intake should I replace the SR with? Car is an auto and gears are 3.54, TB is 52mm.

Thanks,
Doug

 

Why pull the Superram?

I think Accel makes a high flow plenum if You are looking for a TPI style manifold

 

yeah why did u pull it?

 

I'm the one that actually BUILDS the single planes and I would encourage you to stick with the SuperRam...For drivability and stock cubes/milder cams it's damn near impossible to beat.
-Jeb

 

If you want to return to TPI install a set of AS&M LT runners and port the plenum to match. A 52mm TB wouldn't hurt either.

 

The MR/LT1 style will suit the cam and heads better, but I see no reason to spend the money if you already have an SR.

 

I pulled the intake because I wanted to clean up the valve covers (previous owner painted them and the paint is flaking off in chunks) and paint them to match my new body color. I had to pull the whole intake to get the passenger side valve cover off. How in the heck am I supposed to make the rocker adjustments when I put the new heads on? I definitely dont want to pull, adjust, reinstall over and over. I hate the fact that I have to pull the whole doggone intake just to get a valve cover off (1.6 Roller Rockers don't help much either!). If I am missing something here, or if there is a bit of tweaking/grinding I can do to the AC bracket and valve cover (I already notched the drivers side when I installed the superram) to make the superram work I am all ears. I have notched all of the screws and all of the other install tips. I am looking for something easier to deal with, and exploring options. Figured I would get the best and most knowledgable advice here! My Superram plenum and runners have been ported and siamesed to shorten the runner length about another 1-1.5". My "stock" TPI plenum has also been ported and siamesed. I like the performance of the superram, just not the hassle, especially since I am going to be swapping the heads in the very near future.



Thanks,
Doug

 

Well if you wanna do a swap I have a converted LT1 intake sittin in the garage, or a set of TPIS big tube runners. Take your pick.

 

Doug, try removing the 4 10mm bolts (they face the tire) that hold the compressor to the bracket. Should be able to pull it back far enough to remove the cover. I didn't get so lucky. Mines is stripped

 

The mini ram is a matched to your cam/head package and if you are looking for an easy instalation it is a 20 min. job on a bad day 8 bolts and a cloud of dust. With that said the SR will make better lowend TQ and for the street it is probably the best intake for your car.

 

I already have a 52mm TB, sorry I didn't mention that originally, will put it in the first post.

 

If you have the '90 or later (assuming by your name) engine, be careful if you go for the mini ram second hand. There is 2 kinds of mini-rams available, MRI and MRII. When I bid on mine on e-bay I had called TPiS and the technician told me there were 100% interchangable . The MRI is a PAIN IN THE @$$ to install on a MAP L98. The distributor is too big, theres not enough vacuum ports, you need to engineer the fuel rails, and grab a few beers. They're identifiable by the runners. The MRII runners are not connected together. If you get a MRI let me know, I'll help 'ya in the conversion . If you've got a SR though keep it unless you wanna spend the cashola, but I love my MR.

 

The LT1 conversion worked great for me, and it pickup 5 mph in the 1/4, so that's about 50 more hp that the intake allowed me to make.(the engine had the power but the tune port would not rev over 4600) With 2.59 gears
Randy

 

Thanks Jeb, I appreciate the honest advice!
I guess I will put the TPI runners and plenum on until I get the new heads all dialed in and then drop the SR plenum and runners back on. I was just peeved that I had to pull the whole daggone thing to get a valve cover off! Gonna see if I can figure out a better way.

Thanks Everybody for saving me from myself!!!!



Doug

 

No problem man... My wife's car still runs a SR and there's no doubt I could've easily installed one of my single planes; but it wouldn't be the best intake for her combination (a 383 with ported 113's and a custom Crane cam similar to TPIS's ZZ9).

Now, to your connundrum of not being able to remove the valve covers with the SR.... Easy fix, man... Assuming you're still using the magnesium stock covers you simply remove just a little of the covers' rails where the runners are. Almost everyone that uses an SR has to do this in order to remove the valve covers without pulling the SR runners off too...
-Jeb

 

I had to notch the cover on teh driver side when I installed the thing, but for the life of me I can't figure out how I got the passenger side on without doing the same thing..... I remember the drivers side wouldn't fit without notching, but the passenger side slid right in. Guess I will notch the drivers side before I paint them.
Hey Jeb, while I have your ear, should I upgrade my cam when I drop the new heads on top? Any sugestions?

Thanks,
Doug

 

I have the miniram III (not II but III) but voted for SR. For an auto it just makes more since (hp).

I would definitely port the base as that is limiting flow and hp potential. Secondly port match your runners to plenum for more flow#.

 

I would definitely swap the cam at the same time... I have a camshaft that I've used since about '96 that I designed for use with this type combination... It works nicely on mild strokers too... I actually took the rough specs of a TPIS ZZ9 grind and modified with with quicker ramps and a little more duration; this cam will make 400-425 CHP on a stock cube, stock compression L98 with ported heads, a SuperRam setup, and good headers/exhaust. The specs are: 214/228 @ .050" on a 112 lsa with .528"/.560" lift with 1.6 rockers. Nice cam!!!!
-Jeb

 

I'd buy that cam, but how is drivability and how much more additional tuning? I hear more duration/overlap means more unfriendly as a daily driver, because of the lack of vacuum. So far, I've got my SRI, 24# Bosch's, and a custom chip from Alvin @ PCMforLess, but I have a feeling I'm still on my stock cam and stock 1.5 rocker arm ratio.