I have a 383(385 technically) with the specs below. It's a 1990 M6 car with a 3.31 gear. I've about run out of patience constantly trying to get the TPI stuff sealed right, coupled with the fact i have to take it apart just to get a valve cover off. Then there's the fact it's about dead at 5000 no matter what. I'd really like to replace it and it seems to come down to the FIRST or Miniram. I didn't consider the Superram because it's been out of production so long and good examples are hard to find and expensive, plus it retains the complex setup with many spots for possible vacuum leaks. I would like input from people who have run a miniram on a milder setup like mine and their experiences. Just for some background, the cam and heads were originally going on a 350 but after the motor was torn down my mechanic found the crank end play was way out of spec so i decided to just replace the shortblock with a 383. The cam would not have been my first choice for a 383 but i was short of funds and used what i had chosen for the 350. It's a 1990 block 4-bolt main, Scat nodular crank, Scat 4340 forged I-beam rods and Keith Black Hyper pistons. Thanks in advance for any input.

9.75:1 CR (8.25 DCR)
AFR 180 Eliminator heads
Lunati voodoo cam 211\219 .508\.515
Scorpion 1.5 RR
Current Accel base\AS&M runners\ported plenum

 

Any car would benefit from a switch to MR. Your car is perfect candidate IMO. stroker will retain torque and mini will give you the top end you seek.

One piece intake makes it worth it. Put a HSR on my car. After putting a StupidRam on and off a few times I was in love before I even drove it

 

I ran a mini ram on a 350.. ZZ9 and CNC L98 heads. Car ran great IMHO

 

Is the XT a better fit ?

 

No idea, I don't have one nor do I know that much about them besides it's another option for SBC guys who wanna ditch their TPI. Doesn't seem like there are very many reviews on CF for it

 

I think a cheaper intake with nearly same results as a MR is a converted LT1 intake. It takes an accurate machining operation to drill the distributor hole though. I would look on The Third Gen Org (TGO) forum as someone there had a stock of them but I don't have his contact info. Not saying there's anything wrong with the MR just an LT1 conversion is like have the price.

To bad Edelbrock stop selling their TPI base (3680). The runner diameter was only 0.050" smaller than the FIRST TPI intake. I picked up a pair of the Edelbrock runners but may have to wait a decade for the matching base.

Another option but not cheap is a EFI single plane (FAST has one ready) and use a Nitrous Outlet carbureted intake elbow from the throttle body to SP intake: http://www.nitrousoutlet.com/perform...ake-elbow.html

Good luck and let us know what you use.

 

Ought to run strong 180 is a good size for most street sbc...mini will work just fine on the street, wont choke at 5k, a good head will carry the power further with the same cam than it would with a lesser head

 

When I was a 383, I ran for years with a SuperRam. That thing was sweet. They occasionally pop up on ebay. If you can get a hold of one, you'll have stump pulling torque and mine pulled to 6200. My setup ran low 11's at the strip.

 

I ran the SR for many years, with great success. I welcomed the MRII, as it reduced the bottom-end TQ. Both were great intakes for a TPI replacement.


I only left the MRII as I had distribution issues as I kept adding HP. AS TPIS states, their MRII was never designed for power above 550HP.


Both the SR and the MRII are great intakes to make good power. :-)

 

The real question is what are you running now? Lol

 

Don't misunderstand my comments, the MRII is an excellent intake. Before I was done with it, the MRII had been cut apart several times, welded on many times and spent countless hours on the flow bench. The MRII was just never designed for the power levels that I was running.


I run a converted single plane along with an intake elbow with MB. There are old posts under the user name "AFS_Racing" that detail all of the work that went into that intake. It takes a really good intake to feed a large cube, SR with an F1R.


The MRII is a really good intake!

 

Thanks for all the input. I am definitely leaning toward the miniram. I did a brief look on Ebay for a superram but they want 1200-1300 for those things anymore and you never know what condition it's really in. Plus i really want to avoid the PIA installs and multiple possible vacuum leaks. I'm thinking about changing the rear gears out to 3.73's and throwing 1.6 RR's on the intake side of the cam for more lift and maybe an added degree or two of duration. The standard springs on the AFR heads are supposed to be good to .600 lift but the cam has pretty fast ramps, do you think those springs will be good with the lift bumped up to .540?

 

You will be very pleased with the miniram! I have ran this intake for years and it performs great across the RPM range. You don't need to rev it too the moon like some of our torque monster friends like to claim here that have never owned the intake. You a perfect set up for it.

 

If the springs on your AFR heads are quality springs designed for 0.600" lift, they will do just fine at 0.540" lift. If it were mine, I would put the 1.6 full roller rockers on both intake and exhaust.


As for your comments on chasing vacuum leaks with the SR, I never had any of those issues. Mine performed without issue.


I think most of the claims on all of the difficulties are more exaggerated than reality.

 

never ran the SR but comments from those who have indicate it's a great performer as well ....383 ran it here for years and I don't think he had many issues with it...I think he was very happy with it too.
Both are probably great options!

 

cardo0 davidfrederick in the parts section occasionally has converted LT1 intakes they are real reasonable, most appear to be done for under $500 hard to go wrong.

 

..... The Mini Ram has a thermostat housing ... with the LT1 conversions , you have to plumb your own water lines back to the radiator ... this will add cost and complexity to the installation .....

 

Have been running the base MRII on a 350 ZZ4 shortblock/Fully ported 113 heads with larger valves/ZZ-409 cam/24lb Ford SVO injectors @ 50psi/etc for 10+ years now and after tuning, it works very well and will totally eliminate the low 5K rpm wall you now have. Get the biggest gasket size that will fit your heads but mine with the smaller 1204 size work great with the heads that are using 1205 gasket. Mine is a 89 - 6 spd - Z51 - 3.33 rear. I assume a sightly larger throttle body and headers Plus I would put on 1.6 ration roller rockers if the springs will handle them.