Since I never drove my Corvette without its modifacation ( x Ram, c5 pump ) I really cant compare it with what it must of been like before (A stock crossfire). Just wondering if it was worth the expense and hassels and if it really gives a extra 50 HP as advertized? Anyone have the same set up?

 

I'm sure it has to help. I'm on the other side, never having experienced an X-Ram. There is just something very wrong about a manifold that directs the A/F mixture from one side of the engine, to the center of the engine, down the plenum, and then back out, 180°, to the outside of the engine, again. It is hard for me to imagine that manifold is better than my home ported stock casting. What else do you have in your engine and what does it run in the 1/4 mile?

RACE ON!!!

 

It also has a Camaro ecm( no sure why or what year) 85 fuel pump, ALL pollution items removed, a gutted cat,and flowmasters with y pipe.MSD distrubutor and wires and a shift kit.The car runs fast but I dont have anything to compare it to except my sons 85 305 4bbl Z28 5 speed which the vet will totally distroy with out liftting a finger. But the car idles crazy sometimes and runs real rich and gives the check engine light frequently.Im planning to buy a scanner in the future so I can see whats going on.

 

Forget the scanner. Buy a paper clip and a FSM. Then, once you have it running right, take it to the drag strip and get some performance numbers. It is hard for us to judge "if it was worth the expense and hassels" if we don't know what you got, from the "expense and hassels".

RACE ON!!!

 

I'm with CFI. There's something fundamentally wrong with a "manifold" that bends and creases the air/fuel mixture like an origami paper bird.
I use a modded Xfire manifold and if you have visited www.crossfire.webhop.net, I think you'll find information suggesting there isn't much difference in flow between the two. 50hp?? I really doubt it.

 

IT's anyone's guess Borat!

 

The evidence suggests the X-ram is quite effective on highly modded cars, and that it also increases peak horsepower on otherwise stock cars. The X-ram on a stock car will kill low end and mid range accelleration though-supporting only the high. It's essentially a weiand single plan intake modified to accept the crossfire set-up, which though primitive by todays standards was and is very effective. A ported stock intake on an otherwise stock crossfire generally gains across the board. 1.6-1 rockers are also very effective in increasing all areas of a crossfire engines performance envelope. Put the two together and it's a great combo.I won't say ditch the x-ram, just do some homework. These are great cars and some guys have seen 12's, quite a few in the 13's. Good luck!

 

The X-ram is beneficial, but to really get much out of it you need mods to the engine. A stock bottom end can still be used effectively, but you may want to seriously consider a new cam to really open up the horsepower. Find a cam with a good bit of duration, but with 114 LSA, and you can still get away with the stock ECM. Check out the crossfire forum for more info.

http://crossfire.homeip.net

 

IMO, a cam without swapping out the heads is a waste of money. Not sure if I would agree that any cam works well without tuning. I'd stick with the 1.6 rockers if you keep the heads.

 

I have a XRam on my 383 and it does work - with my stock motor that is another story. And yes there is something fundamentally wrong about all the twists and turns the fuel charge takes. I would venture to say my motor just might perform better if it had a TPI type setup but I dont have one.

If you visit the Crossfire forum you will find lots of data. Here is a real world example - My original motor stock with 1.6 rockers, ported crossfire manifold and ADS chip my best was a 14.6 @ 96 mph. With the XRam and everyting else the same my best was 14.8 @ 98 mph. This suggests the XRam hurt the low end but helped the mid to top end. All in all is it worth it on a stock motor? Imho nope. Will you pick up 50hp? Doubtful....

There are also issues with the XRam in cold weather climates during the winter months because the top plate needs to heat soak so the fuel charge will not fall out of suspension.

If I knew back then what I know now I would build a motor to match a heavily ported Crossfire manifold. Don't get me wrong I am happy with the results of my 383 - high 12s low 13s in the 1/4. It has been a lot of work - the bulk of the work is in the tune. A 350/355 with a ported manifold, 2 inch TBs, matched cam, 170-180cc intake runner on the heads and headers would have been easier and less time consuming. The target chp would be 300 give or take.

Sorry about the long post but I thought it would be worth it. Live and learn I suppose.

 

with Dom.

 

Dom is right. Don't change the cam unless you do the heads as well. (My project this winter on mine. Got everything sitting here waiting!!)

I use the X-ram and like it, I won't say its the best thing for you, but for me it was. I'm very happy with my low and mid range and sotp feel. But I also have a few other minor mods as well. 1:6 RR's are a great investment. I do have a dyno in my corvette pics link with the X-ram and all my other mods minus the pulley's. Keep in mind when looking I was running rich that day and if I could have leaned it out at that time should have gotten a little bit more out of it.

One thing you may want to take into consideration though is how far are you going to mod your engine down the road? They do work well on the 383... so I've read.