best 'lower-cost' intake manifold?

[rrubel]

Ok. I've finally gotten it through my head that I won't be able to afford the Mini-ram and associated required parts for a good long time - so I'm looking for a viable alternative.

Any recommendations on lower-cost (ie, $400-$600 range) but still effective parts?

Thanks...
[RICHR]

<Moderator Jeff, I still plan on getting a chip from you... after the Christmas bills are gone...>

 

[vader86]

TPiS BigMouth, Accel SR base manifold.

tpis.com
lingenfelter.com

 

[scorp508]

Well... your stock runners/plenum are the biggest restriction. I would probably start by getting a larger set of runners and perhaps port your manifold yourself.

 

[cvette]

I agree with Scorp. You can get a noticable difference if you hog out the one you've got.

 

[tntcorvette]

There is a LT1 conversion kit available. It may be within your budget.

If not, then a large tube runner & large base combo is the way to go. Plus you want to top it off with a ported plenum & a 52mm throttle body. You can port your stock throttle body to 52mm if you have the tools/know how.

 

[rrubel]

Thanks. I recall seeing that LT1 kit; need to check my bookmarks.

Anyone have a good source of information on DIY porting/polishing?

Thanks again.
[RICHR]

 

[-=Jeff=-]

<Moderator Jeff, I still plan on getting a chip from you... after the Christmas bills are gone...>

No sweat whenever you are ready.. I will be here

 

[C44EVER]

"Speed cost money how fast do you want to go"

 

[rrubel]

Faster than I currently can, but not as fast as I REALLY want to... I have to balance luxuries with budget.
[RICHR]

 

[vettn94]

If you're going to get runners get the base too. The Edelbrock base is less expensive than the TPIS or Accel and is just as good.
Pretty sure the Edel. base is still in the $300 range.
For large tube runners get the Arizona Speed & Marine's. These are the same exact runners TPIS sells except again they are less expensive. I believe these are in the $375 range. Stay away from the Accel LTR's, they are cast. The ASM/TPIS are extruded and therefore flow better.
I used both parts on my 92 Camaro with a 52mm TB and ported& polished the plenum myself. It's a pretty easy job, all you need is a Dremel or a Die Grinder.
If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself I think TPIS or LPE sells them on an exhange basis for around $100.
There are places that will port your stock TB to 52mm for around $150.
You could do everything for around $850-$900.
This would be the best setup for a stock head/cam L98 IMO.
You really wouldn't need the miniram setup until you get to that point.
just my .02

 

[rrubel]

O-kay... Now I'm confused more. I had *thought* that the Mini-ram was a complete intake replacement, from plenum on down, including the throttle body. If you had one, then you wouldn't need large-tube runners or big-mouth plenum or anything of the like. Obviously I'm wrong, but from the pix I'll be darned if I can see how you'd attach anything else TO it.
[RICHR]

 

[vettn94]

I don't know how you got confused here but
you're correct, the miniram is a one-piece manifold like the LT1 intake. It does not come with a throttle body, you supply your own and you have to buy the fuel rail kit as well.
Like I said in order to make good use of that particular intake (I am referring to the MiniRam) you really need something better than your stock heads and cam.
So if you still have the stock heads and cam in your car stick with changing the base & runners, and porting the plenum.

 

[rrubel]

My confusion stemmed from the last line of your post - "You really wouldn't need the miniram setup until you get to that point. " It sounded like you were saying to do all the port/polish work and then add a mini-ram to complete it. Most likely, though, it'd be throw-away work.

Thanks for the link to Arizona Speed, btw. I checked out some of their offerings last night. Nice looking, at least from the pix, but MAN is that a slow website!
[RICHR]

 

[vettn94]

sorry for the confusion, what I meant by "at that point" was you wouldn't need the miniram until you were changing heads & cam.
My bad.
Arizona Speed & Marine does have some nice stuff, just don't order any custom chips from them. Long story short they aren't really custom I found out the hard way.