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This is a thread that I'm hoping will grow for people with each engine to get the best they can without replacing it. I think it would be nice for new forumers to know what they could do to make their engine perform where it naturally lacks as opposed to the other..
The L98 needs the TPI replaced, and headers added. Then you'll get both. :) The L98's TPI intake was designed for a 305ci engine. :( The long runners that it has give it the torque.
Thanks Scorp.. So there's one answer. To get high end torque in an L98, you need to replace the TPI replaced and add headers.
Now. What do you replace the TPI with? Is there a particular TPI setup designed for a 350ci engine?
Now don't laugh too hard. What are runners? hehe. Okay there. I laughed FOR you. Is that part of the TPI? hah...
Anyways. I'd like answers for the LT1 as well. What would give it more torque down low. This thread will hopefully be good for either an L98 owner or an LT1 owner to read if they're new and don't have this kind of knowledge on hand...
well LT1 has enough torque down low, you just need to get to it. Add a high stall torque converter and 3.73 gears, and youll see.
Runners are the tubes going from the plenum to the intake manifold, they are very long, too long for high end hp, the engine cant get the air it needs fast enough. Also, porting these runners and the plenum would give you much more hp. There is no GM intake designed for the 350 like the LT1's. Maybe try a Superram or miniram depending on what you want to do with the car.
Now. What do you replace the TPI with? Is there a particular TPI setup designed for a 350ci engine?
The two "main" replacement units for the L98 TPI are made by Lingenfelter and TPiS. Lingenfelter designed an intake called the "SuperRam" and TPiS designed an intake called the "MiniRam".
The SuperRam is generally accepted as the "low-highmid" power maker. It makes extreme amounts of torque, and also allows for higher HP levels all the way from idle to about 5500 RPM. The Miniram is generally accepted as the "midhigh-high" power maker. It makes slightly more torque, but much more HP all the way up to something nutty like 7000 RPM. It depends on what you want to build. If you want to rev the **** out of the engine, go with the MiniRam. I am installing a SuperRam setup on my car amongst other things.
Now don't laugh too hard. What are runners? hehe. Okay there. I laughed FOR you. Is that part of the TPI? hah...
The long tubes coming off the side of the plenum are the runners. :)
well LT1 has enough torque down low, you just need to get to it. Add a high stall torque converter and 3.73 gears, and youll see.
That sounds like an oxymoron. "Has enough torque down low, you just need to get to it." Both gears and a torque convertor bring you up higher in the RPM range.
For the L98, to me, it seems like the Miniram would be the way to go - because you'd want to add more power to the upper band. But, is it worth it to rev the engine that high for the power? If you can get more power down low, that might be safer for the engine in the long run.
Hmmm!!
Thanks for these replies.. Now if someone could just go into HOW you'd get the torque out of an LT1 down low... :p:
Of course, more thoughts and opinions are certainly welcome. Nothing better for advertiser pockets than a nice long thread with millions of pageviews. :)
To use the miniram properly,they recommend a 2800 stall speed torque converter in the automatic transmissions and 3.73 rear gears.
That will help spin the engine faster into its powerband so it doesnt feel torqueless down low.
Believe it or not, a LT1 has lots of torque,just doesnt feel as torquey as an strong running L98.My friends LT1 Camaro,automatic and 3.42 rear gears can smoke the hides off the tires on take off and press me back in the seat harder then my L98 could when it was bone stock.
It only takes a blink of an eye to start WOT to midrange so the power will come in fast.
I think the LT1's that dont feel as torquey are the ones that have highway gears such as 2.59 or 2.73's.
I saw Mr Mojo launch his car at the track at the cruise in and I thought he was about to do a small wheelie.If thats not torque,that HP sure looks good then!!
:)
For the L98, to me, it seems like the Miniram would be the way to go - because you'd want to add more power to the upper band. But, is it worth it to rev the engine that high for the power? If you can get more power down low, that might be safer for the engine in the long run.
I would only recommend the mini ram on an L98 if your torque extends from 5400 and 6500 to 7000 rpm. That is the only part of the rpm range that the mini ram exceeds the capability of the superram. The superram is a much better intake for power below 5700.
Ahhhh,..... the million dollar question.
I didn't find to many alternatives for the TPI when I was looking for something better. My guess is that the Lingenfelter SR was a happy medium but $$$$$$!
well the miniram has some drivibility issues with some people. It usually doesnt like to be driven around town. The super is better for a daily driver IMHO.
Get a 6 speed. Then you don't go down low. The LT-1 has a longer range of good torque than the L98. If you put a stick in each the L98 is toast. In a battle of autos, the L98 has a chance because it starts with the torque low. I'll still easily take a stock L98 with either trans with the LT-1 stick. Gears and a torque converter will get you to the torque band on the LT-1 really fast and then it will pull. This is the cure for the LT-1 auto. I'm going with a 4.09 rear in mine soon.