With all the intrest here maybe they could offer us a little more info on this intake. Then if we like it how about a group purchase?

 

Let me know what you want to know and if I can't answer it, I'll see if I can get Ken from FIRST Injections to drop in. I researched these intakes heavily back in the late 80s and early 90s when they were originaly built and sold by Air Sensor Research, then as the Electromotive IRS (minus the front "f" and ending "t" - sold as "individual runner system). Both systems were only sold with their prorietary fueling and in the case of Electromotive ignition system. Both were way out of my price range back then topping well over $3000. Not until Ken at FIRST started offering the intake by themselves was I able to afford one.

Even if Ken won't do a group buy, this intake flows better than an extrude honed edelbrock intake (which the intake is $385 and the hone is over $400), the runners can swallow the AS&M $395 runners, and the mono throttle body is comparable to a $320 52mm TPI t/b. Add all that up and you're at $1500,, assuming you can port your own plenum,, the FIRST is $500 less,, for a lot more intake,,, with HUGE potential that you're not going to be able to reach with a stock based TPI.

 

What made you go this route instead of a stealth ram, mini-ram, or super-ram?

 

Does anyone know if the Mono Throttle Body is compatable with our L-98 computor, or how it can be modified to work...

 

I've run the StealthRam and FIRST on the same "420 horse" (based on short runner horsepower) 355 engine in my old IROC and I prefer the throttle response and being able to run the same ETs shifting at 5800/5600 compared to 6400/6200. Plus,,, the torque boost on the 355 running mid-12's felt similar (while driving normally around town) to the last carbed 406 I had that ran 11.30's. I guess it boiled down to the fun factor to me on that particular combination. It was a little harder to hook than the StealthRam,,, but it's not like the StealthRam was a dog. In fact if I raced the car more than I drove the car, I'd probably stayed with the StealthRam. It was near impossible to screw a launch up at the track as long as there was enough heat in the tires.

I'm going with the FIRST on the new 406 because the heads flow 325cfm at cam lift and a hogged out FIRST is the only long tube runner system available that will support that kind of flow. Also, I like the way it looks and plan on actually popping the hood on the car this time out (something that I have NEVER done with the Monte). I'm expecting a little shock value associated in seeing a "TPI" with air-conditioning under the stock hood.

In fear of starting a flame war, I've never even considered running a MiniRam. The runners are just too short for anything that I've ever built or would build. I'd go with a converted Brodix singleplane if the FIRST or StealthRam wouldn't work. Now,,, that's not saying that there are not applications where the MiniRam would be the perfect intake system, just not for anything I'd build.

 

No modifications needed for the throttle body except taking the buldge off the top to clear the hood. All the sensor will work with the FIRST. You do have to grind a little on the bottom of the large HEI dizzy. However,,, there is no provision on the plenum for the air inlet temp sensor,,, I just relocated it to the air box on the IROC. There's a bracket for the TPS and the Idle Air Control valve screws into the FIRST's T/B. So, you're good to go with the stock computer system.

 

I think I want one. I like the idea of not having to wind the engine up as much as a Miniram, and it does look cool.

Let us know about the group purchase (maybe after Xmas?)


BTW, the pictures are amazing. This is the way the TPI should have looked to begin with.

 

Just in from Ken @ First, and it's a good one!

We are sure that you guys would be happy with the performance of the first intake, if you give it a try. We are always willing to work out deals with groups and clubs. As long as you get together at least 3 we can get you a discount of at least 15% off of the intakes to start if not more depending on the amount ordered. Let us know if you have any other questions.

Thanks ken


So, who's in? I make one. If we get five or so I will try for another five percent off. ROLE CALL!!!

 

What sort of gains are expected over the stock TPI? Is the first intake power curve more like a Superram? I am very interested in this intake but I just feel like I don't know what to expect with it still? My car is an 85 auto with a ported plenum right know. Along with a few other minor mods.

 

This is from a May 1989 Car Craft article:
Stock Corvette L98 with Camaro manifolds and dual cat exhaust system.

Stock TPI
TPiS - Bigmouth and Semi-siamesed LTR
FIRST Injections

Stock TPI------ TPiS ---- FIRST
2000 - 112 ---- 114 ----- 114
2500 - 149 ---- 144 ----- 149
3000 - 187 ---- 178 ----- 194
3500 - 218 ---- 216 ----- 235
4000 - 240 ---- 239 ----- 258
4500 - 253 ---- 262 ----- 274
5000 - 236 ---- 252 ----- 262

The FIRST had a pretty good showing on the stock engine, but where it shines is on modified engines. Here's some numbers from a May 1991 Popular Hot Rodding article.

9:1 355 AFR heads hydraulic cam
RPM - FIRST - MiniRam - AZ Speed & Marine
2500 - 175 ---- 175 ----- 180
3000 - 237 ---- 222 ----- 238
3500 - 295 ---- 263 ----- 295
4000 - 350 ---- 300 ----- 325
4500 - 377 ---- 350 ----- 352
5000 - 388 ---- 375 ----- 350
5500 - 366 ---- 398 ----- 330

The FIRST made 443 TQ vs the Miniram's 395 TQ at 3500 rpm (+48)
The FIRST made 460 TQ vs the Miniram's 394 TQ at 4000 rpm (+66)

That's some serious seat of the pants midrange rush.

 

PM sent

 

group buy? i'm in. Deffinitly sounds like a BSP worthy mod...

 

Damn nice #s for a TPI setup. Looks like the way to go for a LTR setup.

 

I'll jave to research more on these intakes. I really like the midrange over the Miniram. And if it is on a stock 88, I'm sure the old Vette will have more *** hauling potential...

 

 

That Popular Hot Rodding article is from '91? How old is this thing? I thought it was a fairly new offering. And what's with the tps mounting. It almost looks like an afterthought.
Scott

 

Kinda what I was thinking as well.

 

It was originally designed back in the late 80s by Air Sensor Research. It was designed to operate strictly off their proprietary MAF sensor that was reported to react so quickly to changes that a throttle position sensor was not needed. When Electromotive bought them out in the early 90s, they added the provision for a TPS bracket. Both Air Sensor Research and Electromotive were extremely proud of them with pricing well over $3000 with fueling and in Electromotive's case an ignition system. Neither would sell just the intake, I know,,, I tried to buy one back then. Needless to say,,, not a lot were sold as "replacement" intakes due to that and not many were sold as stand-alone systems due in part to the pricing and Electromotive's non-existent advertising. Even though they did find their way onto the more exotic high-dollar big-cube builds back then and Summit used to offer a complete TPI engine using the intake.

So,,, while FIRST Injections is a relatively new company and it's a new thing to be able to buy just the intake by itself and use your existing electronics (with the help of a bracket added to secure your TPS), the intake is not what you would call new. However, that doesn't change the facts it is a well-made modern-era designed intake that out of the box flows better than an extrude honed Edelbrock base (301cfm vs 275cfm). If you bought the Edelbrock base new and sent it to extrude hone,,, or if you bought the Edelbrock base and AS&M runners,, both options would flow less and would cost almost as much as the complete FIRST system (base, runners, plenum, fuel rails, and throttle body) at this group purchase price. Considering the steal of a deal and how large the FIRST can be ported for current or future high-end heads, I’d think it would be an easy decision for those that don’t have to have a CARB exemption number (although at one time I think Ken was looking into getting one).

 

i would love to own this intake over my stealth ram just cuz i think it looks cooler and gives just as good performance on smaller inch motors as the stealth ram.

It would make as much hp as a stealth ram, but also abit more torque so you'll run some good ET's thru the first 1/8 mile while your ripping thru the midrange of your gears. probly 60 foot better too. BUT then again my stealth ram combo 60 footed better than my stock TPI and TPI had more torque but fell off too quick after 3500rpms so it didnt keep the launch going.

Too bad i couldnt justify the 1000 bucks vs the 500 for the stealth ram. I sold my TPI and some other parts for 150 bucks or so, so the stealth ram just seemed like the best bang for the buck on my camaro.

 

So what is the TB on this thing though. I know the IAC screws right in and there is an adaptor for the TPS, but is it a Ford or is it an LS1 style one? I mean, what if we want to go up to a 90mm, what do we buy?