Which is easiest to install?...Looking at TPIS website and installation tips he has posted, it almost seems like you have to modify the Mini-Ram to get it operational on an L-98.

Anyone with experience who can give an opinion?

Thanks.

 

Mini-Ram is much easier to install. But I personally have no problems with the super ram. Its a better street car intake. I actually preffer it. Unless I have to change an injector or something. :D :D

 

There is no question that the Miniram is easier to install.

Now, which one performs better for your setup is debateable.

Vic

 

MR is easier to install, but i still like SR better

 

I have had both on the same motor. I like the Mini Ram better.

Don't get me wrong, the SR makes great torque. I just was very upset with the casting quality and grade of aluminum used. It was a huge pain in the **** to install too.

Nether intake is a direct bolt on. You will have to route/reroute hoses etc.... The main problem I had with the Mini Ram was the water outlet, but that is because it comes with a Y-body outlet and I have it in an F-body.

WIth the Super Ram, I had to modify my factory wiring harness to achieve a clean installation on my Z. I have to lengthen and shorten different connectors. Again, this is in an F-body.

I have heard so many people (who don't know what they are talking about) say the Mini Ram won't make any torque and will drive like crap. They couldn't be more wrong. My car still makes plenty of torque and a ton more HP than it did with the Super Ram. I have a custom programming also and it idles and runs perfect. It never surges or dies.

I would suggest the following cams with the intakes:
Super Ram - LPE 219/219
Mini Ram - ZZ409

When I first changed over from a SR, I left the LPE cam in it. It does not go well with the Mini Ram. When funds allowed, I swapped in a ZZ409 and my God, this thing is crazy now.

I wish I had current dyno numbers. I expect no less than 355 rwhp and 375 rwtq.

Dyno numbers in sig are with Super Ram and LPE 219/219 cam, 1.6 RR, ZZ4 block/crank/pistons, and G1 Trick Flow Twist Wedge heads.

 

Thanks, fellas.....Lee, do you remember me? I'm the guy you sent the bellows too....latest LPE catalog has a smooth silicone replacement for the bellows...he's proud of it, but it makes sense to me...I often wondered why with all the talk of porting and polishing, etc, no one had made a smooth flowing bellows....

On the intake question...seems like most folks agree mini-ram is the easiest to install...but pricing it, it goes way over the price of the Super Ram because (fromwhat I can see) you have to buy a fuel rail kit with it as well that they want $300 and some change for.....

 

Well the ribs are supposedly suppose to cut down on turbulence.

 

I don't know Scorp....wouldn't that bellows then be the only thing in intake flow that was not smooth....I'm not a physicist by any means, but I don't see how that wrinkled up piece of plastic could make air flow smoother....but, who knows?

 

There are two things on the intake that do this. The bellow, and the screens in the MAF. (Before I removed them ;))

 

The super ram is a major PITA to install but works really well on the street :yesnod:
The mini ram works just as well with a 6spd, and even better in the upper rpm range. Much easier to install :yesnod:
As far as price difference Accel has raised their price's on the super ram components :eek: the mini ram is probably the least expensive now.
If you go with the super ram , check out cruzinperformance.com they are the cheapest :cheers:

 

With the price of both now, it's cheaper to run a modified LT1 intake.

 

Holley is coming out with an interesting looking intake. It looks like a tunnel ram with a throttle body on the front, like for a tpi set up. It is marketed with the Holley commander 950 computer, but it should work with the gm computer. I am looking forward to more info on this system. Saw a small blurb and a pic in a recent Super Chevy or Chevy high performance magazine

 

Hwoods,
That almost sounds like the GM ram-jet intake manifold.Looks incredible.I wouldnt be suprised if the companies are copying off each others ideas and revising them to their specs.
:)

 

It is to my understanding that the bellows wrinks are for support. If you take those and suck a tone of air through it ,it will collapse (spelling?) My friends 92 LT did this. He took out some kind of part that goes in the middle of it, and it closed off under heavy throttle.

 

The one in the LPE catalog is described as silicone reinforced by some kind of wire, so I imagine that's to keepit from collapsing. It must be made of something special...they was $200 for it....

 

Ecklers also sells one. It's pretty cheap and and made out silicone/thread/wire? I tried one on my MiniRam to stop a blurble at idle that was caused by the turbulence created by the stock unit. It solved my problem, but later busted open at the seams being that it was glued together.

KM

 

I had both intakes on my 89 396. I absolutely hated my Miniram. I also have a six speed. Sure it doesn't breathe as good as a Miniram up top, but 95% of my driving is below 6000. My car makes 430 pounds of torque to the rear wheels with the Super ram vs 373 pounds of torque with the miniram. That extra torque blast or big "peak" is really fun. On the HP side, my motor does not make as much HP as it should even with the Super ram. Right now I make 334HP at a peak of 4600 RPM. I have talked to several people about this and personally I think I need more extensive porting of the runners and base intake plus further porting of my AFR 190 heads. I have been waiting for almost a year for Magnum TPI in GMHTP to get done with their 396 project. That motor is virtually identical to mine. The cam in that car is slighly larger than mine but everything else is the same. They are are shooting for 400 RWHP. Personally I think that car is having problems and that is why they have not released dyno numbers yet.

Jason