Super ram / Mini Ram Educate me
While there are people who idolize and long to buy into the Corvette dream, there are also people who appreciate a custom ride even more. I think this is a big reason C4 members knock the C5 and find ways to make their C4 personal. That includes motor work.

But, I understand what you're saying.... its a matter of taste for everybody.

Towards the bottom of page 2 of this link:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...results-2.html
From Todd's Quoted thread and post : 85 Corvette - original 350 shortblock with 80+k miles, Superram, LPE 219 cam (219/219 - .560/560 with 1.6rr), AFR 190 street cylinder heads, 700R4, Pro-torque 2800 rpm converter, 3.45 gears, borla's, ram-air box, 52 mm TB. drag radial, somewhere around 3200-3300 lb raceweight.
Result: 1.60 60 ft - 11.62 @ 117 mph.
Why is this set-up my favorite ? Its not the fastest by any stretch..... but yet, it ran easy 11's with a mild converter and gearing. This set-up would have been just as happy with 3.07 gears vs the 3.45's he was running. Anybody can do it, runs great on the street or strip..... very mild and works great with the stock shortblock, never see's north of 6000 rpm and doesn't have too. And based upon his success over the years bracket racing, its consistent too. He didn't have any reliability issues at all with it either, hence the nickname Ole Betsy for the motor. If you wanted more performance, loosen up that converter and I think he would have ran low 11's in good air, albeit at a compromise with driveability. He now runs a 10 second 406..... but there was nothing wrong with his old motor, he was just looking for more power.
Because of that above, for most people here who want a very street friendly, gas friendly set-up that your wife could drive...... but you don't have the budget for a stroker motor...... work towards the above. I think the combination will work well everytime.....
Thanks Todd, i feel totally touched.
I'm running the SR/219/AFR195 Combo with 3200 vig converter
1.6 Rockers,no cats , drag radials,underdrive pulleys,longtubes
and now going to 3.45 gears. i still have to test it on the track
with all the new upgrades,seems like the best proven combo
for a street/track car !
Result: 1.60 60 ft - 11.62 @ 117 mph.
Why is this set-up my favorite ? Its not the fastest by any stretch..... but yet, it ran easy 11's with a mild converter and gearing. This set-up would have been just as happy with 3.07 gears vs the 3.45's he was running. Anybody can do it, runs great on the street or strip..... very mild and works great with the stock shortblock, never see's north of 6000 rpm and doesn't have too. And based upon his success over the years bracket racing, its consistent too. He didn't have any reliability issues at all with it either, hence the nickname Ole Betsy for the motor. If you wanted more performance, loosen up that converter and I think he would have ran low 11's in good air, albeit at a compromise with driveability. He now runs a 10 second 406..... but there was nothing wrong with his old motor, he was just looking for more power.
Because of that above, for most people here who want a very street friendly, gas friendly set-up that your wife could drive...... but you don't have the budget for a stroker motor...... work towards the above. I think the combination will work well everytime.....
Thanks Todd, i feel totally touched.
I'm running the SR/219/AFR195 Combo with 3200 vig converter
1.6 Rockers,no cats , drag radials,underdrive pulleys,longtubes
and now going to 3.45 gears. i still have to test it on the track
with all the new upgrades,seems like the best proven combo
for a street/track car !


But, as a note, Ralph's old set-up is one of my favorites....stock 350 bottom-end, Superram - 219- AFR 190 street port heads - 2800 rpm - 3.45 gears equaled easy 11 second et's, 25+ mpg, affordable, yet docile enough to let the wife drive it. I don't know for sure, but would guess he got an easy 500 passes in that motor.... probably more. Don't think it broke once, hence why he called it Ole Betsy.
Wheelsup snuck into the 10's with that motor, albeit, he had whittled his weight down to a little under 3000 lbs and run something along the lines of a 4400 rpm converter. Still... very impressive in my opinion.
I have noticed that the Miniram likes extra converter and really takes off.... which might be the reason why I'm running a loose converter with my 436
This is my buddies new car that had the 305.
GT/FA Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver WA, '96 Camaro 10.189 350 cid full weight car. stock tpi yadah yadah.. Its all about money and how fast can you afford to go.
This is my buddies new car that had the 305.
GT/FA Tommy Gaynor, Vancouver WA, '96 Camaro 10.189 350 cid full weight car. stock tpi yadah yadah.. Its all about money and how fast can you afford to go.
Pure race cars... the have some rules they follow, then they stretch them and pull them in every other gap they can find. I have heard about the cams they run... .typically they are lift limited by class rules, but then they have lobes with such aggressive ramps that they fly the lifter off the lobe, hence artificial lift. I don't think duration is limited, hence no telling what they are.
I'd like to do one someday.....
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
TPI, FIRST, SuperRam, HSR, XT, MR, Single Plane have all been done. Nothing wrong with that either though. I would recommend a SuperRam just for the RPM range for most. It is peaky, but peaky feels fun too. Flattening out the torque curve isn't always as fun for stoplight-stoplight stuff.
You should do what you want to do and enjoy it. Somebody can always rain on your parade but with a little know-how and good luck you can freshen up a used stroker for ~1.2k (short block, though if you're lucky...) and be fine at 400hp and <6.5k RPM for many years. If you know a guy with a machine shop they almost always have one laying around that needs a polish and new bearings from a customer who thought they could run without oil...
If I could snaga C5/C6 for $8k done, than sure I'd jump on it. But I'm not rich, and I'm in a "rich mans hobby" so I make up for money in blood sweat and tears. Personally, I am sick of the anti-C4 crap. "Just buy a C5/C6" got old months ago.
"My 1985 corvette makes over 800 hp at the wheels and 1200lb feet of torque! Also It runs 6.5 sec in a 1/4 mile!"
now you are asking your self , "but shamdave how did you accomplish such a miracle in just a few weeks?"
Well Its a true story I made up. Man, I just saved a ton of money
"My 1985 corvette makes over 800 hp at the wheels and 1200lb feet of torque! Also It runs 6.5 sec in a 1/4 mile!"
now you are asking your self , "but shamdave how did you accomplish such a miracle in just a few weeks?"
Well Its a true story I made up. Man, I just saved a ton of money


















Nah... she's more upset that I can't seem to focus on one hobby at a time.


