I've been using both for a long time on our EFI builds. The MiniRam will make more top-end horsepower but it does so at the expense of low and midrange torque. Now, this isn't all that bad a thing... If you've got a stroker with a ton of bottom end or a big inch small block the torque will still be there; but the MiniRam will kill some of it and that will help launch the car without spinning the tires quite as bad. The SuperRam on the other hand will make more low and midrange torque at the expense of topend hp due to it's increased runner length. The runners of the SuperRam is about 19" if I recall correctly while the MiniRam's is 3.5"... A stock SuperRam will flow about 240-260 cfm which will support about 520 naturally aspirated horsepower. It will run out of breath at about 5800 rpm (which is great for the street). A ported SuperRam assembly is good for 275-280 cfm which will support around 550 hp naturally aspirated. The ported one will run out of air at about 6200-6300 rpm. The MiniRam in contrast will bust 7k like it's not even there...My 396" will wind 7500 easily... The last stock MiniRam I flowed went to about 280 cfm which is on par with a single plane Edelbrock Victor manifold... My ported MiniRam flows a little over 300 cfm which closely matches my 315 cfm heads. Bottom line, for a 350-406 street motor in the sub-6k rpm range, go with the SuperRam. For a max effort high rpm small block, go with the MiniRam. Both manifolds have their advantages and disadvantages; you simply have to choose what YOU want out of your combination... We build these type motors from the top down; taking into consideration what the manifold's flow characteristics are and then matching the heads and camshaft to it.
-Jeb Burnett
PS- The SuperRam is a pain in the azz to install, though!!!!!!!!!!!! :boxing


[Modified by jburnett, 4:27 PM 4/10/2002]

 

Wrong!!!!

It has major distribution problems and that is before you get to the junk fuel rails.

Dont taket thsi the wrong way but unless you own one your expierence with this intake in real life is 0.

 

I thought that the Miniram II was supposed to take care of the distrobution problem?

 

I have to agree with Blown Vette on this one somewhat... There ARE some distribution problems associated with the MiniRam. Most of what we've found is reversion of the mixture back into the manifold. This usually occurs with camshafts with a lot of overlap and is due to the short runner length. We see some of the same on the SuperRams as well but it is MUCH less pronounced due to the longer 'tuned' runners. And I will also stand up with him in the poopie fuel rail category; they are without a doubt the most poorly engineered set of fuel rails I've seen!! In order to clear up some of the problems I've been having with mine (like the little pissant fuel crossover consistently leaking past the crappy o-ring seals at the rear); I'm going to mill the top front and rear of each rail flat and drill and tap them for AN fittings. Then I'm going to build a GOOD fuel crossover for both front and rear and plug the factory holes... That should solve some of the crappy fuel rail problems, but the reversion can only be addressed by camshaft choice!
-Jeb Burnett

 

I have owned four different MR's with four different combinations of camshafts, with two different generations of MR's, and have never experienced any problems with distribution. As a matter of fact, even hooked up a HUEGO $3000.00 plus A/F meter while driving the car under extreme conditions without noting any distrisbution anomaly. As for the fuel rail, easy fix.

 

Oh boy, this is getting good. Let's all put some gloves on and go a few rounds, hahahahah. You say potayto, I say potahto, let's call the whole thing off.

 

Please show me which page on the TPIS catalog is showing the miniram's power with ZZ-9 cam? I have the catatlog sitting in front of me and I don't see it anywhere. In addition, the ZZ-9 cam is not ZZ-9X.

The cam they recomemend customers use with the miniram is the ZZ-X cam. That is the cam they tried to talk me into buying when I ordered my miniram.

 

If you are going to be doing much work on your car, the miniram will save you tons of time when taking the manifold off. It's a simple one piece design. The SR is a lot like the TPI setup - a major PITA to get off sometimes.

The SR may be of better quality than the mini ram, but to each his own.

The mini-ram will make more power than a SR on a similar motor.

The SR will make more torque than a MR on a similar motor.

Now it's up to you to decide what you want to do with your car.

I.E A well setup MR will have close peak hp and torque numbers. Like 450 hp and 440 lb tq.

A SR setup wil generally have a higher tq figure than hp. Like 390 hp and 510 lb of tq.

Something along these lines.

Just my .02


[Modified by C4-Wolf, 2:01 PM 4/10/2002]

 

Well...If we're comparing apples to oranges here I'll give you my "other" opinion. Take a single plane carb manny and convert it to port fuel injection...It'll kick the hell out of both the SuperRam and the MiniRam and you don't have to be quite as picky with your cam choices like you do with them; you can basically throw together a carb type combination with the converted single plane and it works remarkably well... If I could figure out how to post pics I'd post some pics of my single plane EFI set-up (I'm a computer moron).
-Jeb Burnett

 

Another note that hasn't been mentioned, is that a MR/Lt1 intake really could use a set of 3.73+ gears (especially auto's) while a SR work just fine with 3.07's.

 

Look on tpis.com and their engine development page, there are 3 engine dyno results, and they wanted me to take the ZZ-9 for the goal i was working to get. And i'm well aware that the ZZ-9 and ZZ-9X arent the same thing.


[Modified by vader86, 5:00 PM 4/10/2002]

 

I'm afraid that it will go on longer than that.:D

 

Man, I am sorry i asked!!!!!

Throughout the debate, I learned a little more about both- but for me, I still dont know which way I should go. My car was running 14.5 when I bought it, and now with tuning and boltons runing 13.7. This is what I have, and these are my goals:

91 Coupe Auto with 3:07, custom chip, no cats, Walker Dynomax Turbos, K&N open lid,AFPR, March 3-pc underdrive pullies

Best ET- 13.7 on junk tires

Goals-

12.7 And use as my daily driver. I also dont want to take the engine out.

Thoughts- Cam, Headers, SR or MR?????

What would putting a LT4 Hotcam and Headers do for my ET
And then what would the SR or MR add to that?

Thanks guys!!!

I love this forum!!!

 

If your goal is to run 12.7, and drive it daily. consider this, send your factory intake along with a pair of Accel cast runners to extrude hone, find your self a cam like the ZZ9 and bolt some shorty headers (Hookers) and have fun. That combination will give lots of torque and be extremely drivable.

 

Extrude Hone? Who, what and where is this?

Also, do you think just those changes will make it down to 12.7? I thought the Hotcam was the way to go, now many say the ZZ9. More confusion???!!!!

 

hotcam isnt really intended for the L98

 

Go to http://www.extrudehone.com basically is a abrasive media that is pushed through the intake and the runners and takes material off while making a smooth surface, both the intake and the runners will be perfectly matched.
Cam selection has alot to do with your overall combination. you won't be reving this combo past 5800 rpm's so the LT4 hot cam would not be efficient.
Will you run 12.7 ? you should, I did this for a friend back in 91, on his 91 Z28 and with good tires he was in the mid to upper 12's. Your car should be speed density,all you'll need to do is raise the fuel pressure a couple of psi. and get some decent tires.

 

ZZ9 from TPIS is so expensive. They are overpriced. What other cam can I put in other than the TPIS ZZ9? Darn, I was hooked on the Hotcam and its great price!

 

I don't know what goal you are after but if you want to use the miniram with a ZZ-9 that is completely up to you. I personally think it is a waste of a good intake with such a small lift cam.


[Modified by zelement, 1:10 AM 4/11/2002]

 

There's a few cam's out there that will perform about the same as the ZZ9. Take a look at what Crane has to offer, I don't have their cam catalog handy, but I remember seeing a couple of grinds that would work. You want to stay in the 210/218 duration@.50 with lift in the 490/ 520 range. with about a 114 centerline.