Just wondering if anyone knows just how much torque is lost in the low end when going from a stock TPI to a TPIS Miniram. I know the miniram lets you rev higher, but can a stock L98 handle the higher revs or will something break? If you can't tell, I'm thinking of getting a Miniram or a Super Ram. I just don't want to lose the fun off the line feel of the TPI if I go with the miniram. Any help would be appreciated.

 

I have a mini. With a good chip tune I do not think you will notice the torque loss. Mine will cook the tires all the way through first gear. (automatic) It pulls good to 6000 rpm. Thats not high enough to hurt a L98 smallblock. I did have to get a better alternator though. How high it revs will depend on the cam and heads selected. I have a basic ZZ4 with 180 heads and the small Miniram. I think it is a well matched setup that works together for a daily driver. Not an all out perfomance package but I drive it 1000 miles per month.

 

before i did the mini-ram i was pullin a 1.9 60ft. with the miniram, headers back exhaust, and 3:54's i pulled a 1.83 60ft. on the same plain old bridgestones. You wont notice a difference if your only driving 1000 miles a month. If your not satisfied with the low end torque then bump up the torque converter to a 2000 stall and you will probably smile ear to ear.

 

Well that's good to know. I have the 6 speed if that makes any difference.

 

if you have a six speed then you should have no complaints. DO IT!!

 

The manufacturer of the Mini Ram publishes this information:

TPI Mini Ram
RPM TQ HP TQ HP
2000 316.6 120.6 304.6 116.0
2250 321.1 137.6 308.0 132.0
2500 326.6 155.5 314.7 149.8
2750 346.2 181.3 324.0 169.7
3000 351.0 200.5 331.6 189.4
3250 349.2 216.1 339.5 210.0
3500 339.8 226.4 344.6 229.6
3750 325.8 232.6 341.3 243.7
4000 313.1 238.5 340.3 259.4
4250 299.4 242.3 339.6 274.8
4500 281.6 241.3 336.5 288.3
4750 256.0 231.5 331.8 300.2
5000 233.4 222.2 318.8 305.5
5250 216.2 216.1 311.7 311.5

With the 6 speed and proper gearing you should really enjoy the Mini Ram...

 

Assuming the MR gives you more RPM, you could always change the rear gears to fix any low-end deficiencies.

 

In my opinion, if you have a C4 that is a true street car, meaning with a hydraulic cam, 3000 rpm or less torque converter and a 350 or 383.... the Superram will provide your C4 with the best acceleration. I actually thought this was fairly common knowledge from years past, but maybe not anymore.

Point is, valve float on conventional 23 degree motors typically starts occuring north of 6000 rpm with a hydrallic cam, as most run here.... thus it is logical to chose a efi intake that specializes in giving you the best average torque curve under 6000 rpm.... which I believe the Superram does.

My favorite reference is forum member Ralph's old set-up, in which he used his 80,000 mile stock 350 shortblock. slid a LPE 219 cam in, slapped on AFR 190 cylinder heads and a Superram with a mild 2800 rpm torque converter & 3.45 gears. This resulted in a best of 11.6 @ 117 mph and he ran consistent high 11's for many years in this set-up without a single engine problem. This was a very docile to drive on the street set-up that anybody could drive including the wife, and yet provided him consistent enough 11 second et slips for him to win 1 or 2 Championships in the very competitive East Coast Corvette Challenge series.

Ralph's set-up was a simple set-up that anybody on this forum can build quite easily.... no secrets, just a nice, simple and tame set-up.

I think my point is, if you can find a 350 stock short block C4 that accelerates harder than the above set-up with a docile hydraulic cam such as the 219, 2800 rpm or less converter and an intake different than the Superram then buy it, but if not, I recommend you try to find a Superram.... you can have the same acceleration as Ralph did.

But, maybe things have changed around here these days and somebody has found a harder accelerating true street combination than Ralphs with a different intake... I dunno.

good luck with your decision.

Beach Bum

 

A stock L98 cant handle rpms over 5500 very well, the springs will eventually break under that much stress. I would recommend upgrading heads or at least installing tougher springs.

 

Give Vic'89 a phone call. He would be an excellent source for you. He has been there. I would do the miniram if you were doing the cam, and some better heads then the 113's. IMO, With just an intake swap the miniram might run a little fat especially without a gear.

 

How do you know it cannot handle over 5500 rpm's very well?

 

Beach Bum, that sounds like a very affordable and realistic build. Thanks for the information.

88BlkZ- If I remember right, (and I might not) I thought Vic'89 had the AS&M runners with a accel intake. Did he go with a mini ram at some point?


So basically, if I want to build a 383 with new heads, cam etc. I should go with a miniram but if I want to improve performance with my motor, go with a Super ram?

It is interesting to see that with the miniram, I could easily hit 300hp and 344' lbs tq with just an intake swap. That is if those numbers are from a stock setup.

 

Beach Bum knows his stuff. I know the SuperRam has a good rep. On a 383 I dont think there will be much difference in performance between it and a Mini. Specially with a good chip tune. I will tell you why I went Miniram. Last summer I started to remove my ASM runners/big base from the car. after 1/2 hour of trying to carefully remove stuff without scratching up the valve covers or injuring the FI wire harness or denting the ASM tubes, I remembered what a hassel it was to install and do it neat. I went in the house and found that TPIS had a new Mini on ebay. It is on my car now. Install is so fast and easy its unbelievable. Wish I had done it years ago. Also, the car is .28 seconds quicker in the 1/4.

 

I dont know why anyone would want to take the stock cam over 5500, its a puny cam and doesnt really make any power up that high.

 

All the info you need:

http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/al...t-efi-intakes/

-- Joe

 

I've been hoping someone would chime in and tell of their great success but it doesn't look like it. That is surely impressive numbers for bolt ons. I guess the cam is not really a bolt on is it? Did he ever dyno the car? I'd be interested to see what the actual numbers from that engine are. Does he still have that car, is he still around here?

 

'89 between you me, Corvette Don, and Italian33 we can do a cam swap in your car if you're feelin' the itch for more power. You don't have to pull the block to put in a new cam but you should probably consider new heads.

 

I really have been thinking this might be the way to go. If I can have low 12's high 11's by bolt on's, why would one not!? I'll be watching for a 219 Lingenfelter cam, SR intake and some heads. It'll give me some time to save up for these while I watch. Thanks for the offer to help. I'll be sure to let you know. BTW, you miss a great lunch today!

 

A set of the 180cc afr eliminators would be a good match if you are staying with a 350'sih build. I dont know about high 11's, but a solid 12 car foresure.

 

Yeah, unfortunately I've gotta make every dollar I can this month. Back to the soup kitchen for me at the end of it. I've been looking at the AFR eliminator heads, they seem to be the best you can get out of the box. There's other good ones but that seems to be the way to go. Have you had a chance to meet Jim over at SW yet? He comes to a lot of our get togethers.