Comp Cam + Mini Ram, Worth it?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 117
Likes: 23
Comp Cam + Mini Ram, Worth it?
Hey everyone,
I've been debating on tackling a new project this winter. I have a 1987 Corvette with a stock motor. I've seen people who have cam swapped without taking the engine out which is one of the main reasons I want to do this since I don't have a garage. My question is, would upgrading the cam and adding a miniram be worth the labor, $$$$, and HP/TQ gains? What can I expect in power gains? I've seen people say to just build a 383 at that point but again, I don't have the resources to pull the engine.
Here's the set up I'm thinking:
I've been debating on tackling a new project this winter. I have a 1987 Corvette with a stock motor. I've seen people who have cam swapped without taking the engine out which is one of the main reasons I want to do this since I don't have a garage. My question is, would upgrading the cam and adding a miniram be worth the labor, $$$$, and HP/TQ gains? What can I expect in power gains? I've seen people say to just build a 383 at that point but again, I don't have the resources to pull the engine.
Here's the set up I'm thinking:
- TPIS miniram
- Comp Cam - 08-501-8
- and of course better springs and rockers
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,145
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
It would be fine as a driver upgrade, you will need to budget a custom chip.
You would really need some head porting to get the most out of it. The '128s are ok but don't flow as well as the '113s.
Headers should be in the plan.
You would really need some head porting to get the most out of it. The '128s are ok but don't flow as well as the '113s.
Headers should be in the plan.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 441
From: Albuquerque NM
What is your budget?
Car is stock right now?
Smog requirements on car?
Current gears and transmission?
Best bang for the buck and labor is going to be long tube headers and a free flowing dual exhaust.
After that I would consider an all in one combination, Miniram, heads, and a cam, plus a tune.
Miles on motor? The AFR Enforcer 195 heads could be a solid budget option with a Miniram on a 350, and an appropriate cam for those heads.
Factor in your tune... you either need to be able to swap chips and have someone burn chips, or go to an EBL or go to an aftermarket ECU.
Car is stock right now?
Smog requirements on car?
Current gears and transmission?
Best bang for the buck and labor is going to be long tube headers and a free flowing dual exhaust.
After that I would consider an all in one combination, Miniram, heads, and a cam, plus a tune.
Miles on motor? The AFR Enforcer 195 heads could be a solid budget option with a Miniram on a 350, and an appropriate cam for those heads.
Factor in your tune... you either need to be able to swap chips and have someone burn chips, or go to an EBL or go to an aftermarket ECU.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 117
Likes: 23
if you couldn't already tell, i'm new to modding engines. been watching people do it for years but never actually got my hands dirty
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 117
Likes: 23
What is your budget?
Car is stock right now?
Smog requirements on car?
Current gears and transmission?
Best bang for the buck and labor is going to be long tube headers and a free flowing dual exhaust.
After that I would consider an all in one combination, Miniram, heads, and a cam, plus a tune.
Miles on motor? The AFR Enforcer 195 heads could be a solid budget option with a Miniram on a 350, and an appropriate cam for those heads.
Factor in your tune... you either need to be able to swap chips and have someone burn chips, or go to an EBL or go to an aftermarket ECU.
Car is stock right now?
Smog requirements on car?
Current gears and transmission?
Best bang for the buck and labor is going to be long tube headers and a free flowing dual exhaust.
After that I would consider an all in one combination, Miniram, heads, and a cam, plus a tune.
Miles on motor? The AFR Enforcer 195 heads could be a solid budget option with a Miniram on a 350, and an appropriate cam for those heads.
Factor in your tune... you either need to be able to swap chips and have someone burn chips, or go to an EBL or go to an aftermarket ECU.
Could you send a link for the headers you are currently running? Do they include the bungs for AIR or did you delete that?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 441
From: Albuquerque NM
Total budget is $1500?
Stock automatic or manual transmission?
Being allowed to delete the smog stuff helps simplify and cheapen the exhaust upgrade.
I have put Hedman Elite 68448 headers on 3 different C4 Corvettes. They are not smog compliant. Using them means deleting the smog and EGR stuff. There are reasons not to do that, but I have done so on all my C4s.
They are basically the lowest tier long tube header i would recommend for a C4 Corvette, and are the cheapest at $700 for the pair or so.
With a $1500 budget, assuming you have a stock 1987 exhaust, system, I would put all that money into a set of long tube headers, and a dual exhaust system. That will eat up most of the change.
Cam and intake can come later. If you have $250-$450 left over after doing the exhaust you could throw on some 1.6 ratio full roller rockers to net some more lift, duration, and free up some horsepower.
I have a thread called something like "1989 full exhaust upgrade headers 68448" that has lots of pics and explains a lot.
Stock automatic or manual transmission?
Being allowed to delete the smog stuff helps simplify and cheapen the exhaust upgrade.
I have put Hedman Elite 68448 headers on 3 different C4 Corvettes. They are not smog compliant. Using them means deleting the smog and EGR stuff. There are reasons not to do that, but I have done so on all my C4s.
They are basically the lowest tier long tube header i would recommend for a C4 Corvette, and are the cheapest at $700 for the pair or so.
With a $1500 budget, assuming you have a stock 1987 exhaust, system, I would put all that money into a set of long tube headers, and a dual exhaust system. That will eat up most of the change.
Cam and intake can come later. If you have $250-$450 left over after doing the exhaust you could throw on some 1.6 ratio full roller rockers to net some more lift, duration, and free up some horsepower.
I have a thread called something like "1989 full exhaust upgrade headers 68448" that has lots of pics and explains a lot.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 120
Likes: 35
From: Texas
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,145
Likes: 1,730
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Budget is probably $1500, engine and trans (55K miles) are stock and I've also been thinking about registering as an antique to not worry about smog anymore.
Could you send a link for the headers you are currently running? Do they include the bungs for AIR or did you delete that?
Could you send a link for the headers you are currently running? Do they include the bungs for AIR or did you delete that?
I have TPiS headers without AIR inlets and the EGR is plugged. You must retain the stock O2 sensor bung in the drivers side. I no longer have any cats.