I want one! Mini ram air intake to buy or not to buy?

[vetteoz]

There are better cams for the TPI than the ZZ4,

It was sitting on the shelf doing nothing and surprisingly it worked well
13.0X all day ; PB 12.98 ( A4 3.07 )
As a note;
it is the cam that GM specs with the ZZ4 engine using basically same 113 heads which is why I decided to use it

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Just looked back a few years

Our cam of choice was the LPE211

It comes on stronger at low RPMs. The ZZ4 needs to rev a bit more.

Both are worlds better than stock.

My concern is, if I get it, I feel that no air is making its way into the throttle body,

Not a worry but a supercharger would end that discussion forever!

Think I'll change my handle to, "if it ain't blowing it ain't going"

 

[boomdriver]

I don't understand any of these complaints, concerns or what-ifs...

My L98 generates plenty of HP, tree climbing torque that ranges from 3000 on up, and we do not concern ourselves with LT cars...

The REALLY BIG question on this subject always comes to this:

do you want to go really fast in a car that you bought that someone else built,

OR

Do you want to go really fast in an car that YOU built that someone else wants to buy?

 

[nelson84]

..Nelson, is that you ?




:L:L:L->otflotflotflotflotflotflotflotfl

No, I am right here. Wow that guy is out of control even for me.otflotfl

J/K

 

[Black Bart]

Our cam of choice was the LPE211

It comes on stronger at low RPMs. The ZZ4 needs to rev a bit more.

Both are worlds better than stock.



Not a worry but a supercharger would end that discussion forever!

Think I'll change my handle to, "if it ain't blowing it ain't going"

"if it ain't blowing it ain't going"

Your saying is similar to mine

I have a forced Induction engine and occasionally I take it to a car show but when I do I get tired of explaining a 1000 times what I did to the engine so I made a poster to put on my windshield.

At the very bottom I put my slogan that is similar to yours.
Here is the poster that I put on my car look at the bottom.


89Black coupe 6spd FX-3 \ Chrome GS Wheels 315\35\17 G-ForceKD's \ SB-406cid\ Procharger D1-R \ 8 Rib pulleys\ Custom built Spearco intercooler \ Spal Fans \ NOS wet nitrous system controlled by jacobs mastermind controller \ Spearco water/alcohol injection system \ TPIS Mini Ram II \ 58mmTB \ AFR heads \ AFR rev kit \ Manley4340 push rods \
Comp cams custom grind roller \ Comp cam lifters \ Comp cams roller rockers 1.6 ratio \ Ross custom pistons 4340 pins \Speed pro rings \ 6 inch eagle 4340 3d rods \ eagle 4340 crank \ fluid balancer \ Cloyes true roller timing chain \ Melling high output oil pump \ 10 qt. multi trap door pan \ large oil cooler \ MSD-Digital-7 ignition\With MSD pro-power coil \ MSD boost retard \ Msd super conductor wires \ Accel DFI Gen.7 W/wide band \ 83lbs injectors \ Centerforce clutch & flywheel \ TPIS jet hot coated headers
\ 3” dual exhaust with electric cut outs \ 13 inch rotors \C5 calipers w hawk pads \ Air dam with air ducts to brakes \ Triple pillar pod with Autometer gauges \ Air-Fuel \Boost \Fuel Pressure \ lowering kit \Escort radar detector \RM radar jammer.
The difference between men and boy’s is the speed of their toy’s.
IF IT’S NOT BLOWN THEN IT SUCKS

After reading this thread I think it is like many on the internet you have people posting who have NO first hand experience they are just repeating what they have read somewhere.

Any intake would be better than the TPI and the L98 should have never been put in a Corvette, it was nearly as big a mistake as GM making a diesel out of the 350.

While you can not compare my engine to a L98 I have Mini-Ram-ll and my car has 315 G-Force KD's on it and a stock L98 would not be able to break them louse, they really hook hard.

I can put my manual 6 speed in 1st and take my foot off the clutch and let the engine idle.

It will idle at 900 rpm and if I stab the throttle at idle it will break the tires louse and spin.

Now keep in mind this is with a Mini-Ram Intake.

For a short time I ran a TPI on my 406 with the blower but it was like trying to run the 100 yard dash while breathing through a straw.

Not only does the Mini-Ram make waaaaaaaaaayyyyy more power but it makes much more low end torque also.

I have a dyno chart that I can post if anyone is interested but my engine will make 980lbs of torque at 5500 rpm and 1038hp at the rear wheels at 6500

 

[Z51Racer]

Miniram

"if it ain't blowing it ain't going"

Your saying is similar to mine

I have a forced Induction engine and occasionally I take it to a car show but when I do I get tired of explaining a 1000 times what I did to the engine so I made a poster to put on my windshield.

At the very bottom I put my slogan that is similar to yours.
Here is the poster that I put on my car look at the bottom.


89Black coupe 6spd FX-3 \ Chrome GS Wheels 315\35\17 G-ForceKD's \ SB-406cid\ Procharger D1-R \ 8 Rib pulleys\ Custom built Spearco intercooler \ Spal Fans \ NOS wet nitrous system controlled by jacobs mastermind controller \ Spearco water/alcohol injection system \ TPIS Mini Ram II \ 58mmTB \ AFR heads \ AFR rev kit \ Manley4340 push rods \
Comp cams custom grind roller \ Comp cam lifters \ Comp cams roller rockers 1.6 ratio \ Ross custom pistons 4340 pins \Speed pro rings \ 6 inch eagle 4340 3d rods \ eagle 4340 crank \ fluid balancer \ Cloyes true roller timing chain \ Melling high output oil pump \ 10 qt. multi trap door pan \ large oil cooler \ MSD-Digital-7 ignition\With MSD pro-power coil \ MSD boost retard \ Msd super conductor wires \ Accel DFI Gen.7 W/wide band \ 83lbs injectors \ Centerforce clutch & flywheel \ TPIS jet hot coated headers
\ 3” dual exhaust with electric cut outs \ 13 inch rotors \C5 calipers w hawk pads \ Air dam with air ducts to brakes \ Triple pillar pod with Autometer gauges \ Air-Fuel \Boost \Fuel Pressure \ lowering kit \Escort radar detector \RM radar jammer.
The difference between men and boy’s is the speed of their toy’s.
IF IT’S NOT BLOWN THEN IT SUCKS

After reading this thread I think it is like many on the internet you have people posting who have NO first hand experience they are just repeating what they have read somewhere.

Any intake would be better than the TPI and the L98 should have never been put in a Corvette, it was nearly as big a mistake as GM making a diesel out of the 350.

While you can not compare my engine to a L98 I have Mini-Ram-ll and my car has 315 G-Force KD's on it and a stock L98 would not be able to break them louse, they really hook hard.

I can put my manual 6 speed in 1st and take my foot off the clutch and let the engine idle.

It will idle at 900 rpm and if I stab the throttle at idle it will break the tires louse and spin.

Now keep in mind this is with a Mini-Ram Intake.

For a short time I ran a TPI on my 406 with the blower but it was like trying to run the 100 yard dash while breathing through a straw.

Not only does the Mini-Ram make waaaaaaaaaayyyyy more power but it makes much more low end torque also.

I have a dyno chart that I can post if anyone is interested but my engine will make 980lbs of torque at 5500 rpm and 1038hp at the rear wheels at 6500

I'd love to see your dyno sheet. At some point I'm going to be building a bigger engine and would love to know what to expect from it. Do you also have a dyno sheet without the blower? If so, I'd love to see that also. Thanks!

 

[500hp406]

I first put my MR on my l-98 with edelbrock heads and a zz9 cam from tpis. I must say I never had a drop in torque in fact I had an increase. The edelbrock heads were no big deal flowed 224, and the zz9 cam not a bid deal either. I have often wished I would have installed the MR then dynoed it.

I am now running the MR on a 406 with AFR 195 heads, and have way, way, too much torque. I am running a 245/245 cam 600 lift 110 LSA and I have plenty of air through the MR to feed it. If I had it all to do over again I would buy a MR. My very good friend has a SR he has cut down to fit his hood, and I must say that is a great intake, might be slightly better than a stock MR, but I didn't want to buy the intake, then have to pay to have it cut down.
Answer is, I would buy another MR in a New York second!!

 

[Z51Racer]

Miniram

I first put my MR on my l-98 with edelbrock heads and a zz9 cam from tpis. I must say I never had a drop in torque in fact I had an increase. The edelbrock heads were no big deal flowed 224, and the zz9 cam not a bid deal either. I have often wished I would have installed the MR then dynoed it.

I am now running the MR on a 406 with AFR 195 heads, and have way, way, too much torque. I am running a 245/245 cam 600 lift 110 LSA and I have plenty of air through the MR to feed it. If I had it all to do over again I would buy a MR. My very good friend has a SR he has cut down to fit his hood, and I must say that is a great intake, might be slightly better than a stock MR, but I didn't want to buy the intake, then have to pay to have it cut down.
Answer is, I would buy another MR in a New York second!!

I have an '89Z51 and am running a miniram, stock heads and cam, breathless intake, LPEheaders, Random Cat,Borla Exhaust, ADS street chip and the car runs real strong. I love the miniram and don't notice any loss of torque.

 

[Nick90vetteguy]

What are you trying to say? Both intakes get more than enough air flow. That is not even an issue. The difference is mainly runner length.

What I'm trying to say is that I feel the stock (Plastic Black Long Tube runner) is a better part due to it "reaches" to the bumper, oppose to the Mini Ram that only get what? 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake(because it only reaches so far) and continually cycle, Example.. Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--> Down the manifold---> ETC. Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block (to me) seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.


follow me?

 

[Z51Racer]

What I'm trying to say is that I feel the stock (Plastic Black Long Tube runner) is a better part due to it "reaches" to the bumper, oppose to the Mini Ram that only get what? 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake(because it only reaches so far) and continually cycle, Example.. Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--> Down the manifold---> ETC. Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block (to me) seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.


follow me?

It seems to me that you may be confused. That "long black thing" is the air intake bridge and is used with the miniram intake manifold if you choose to. I use a BP cold air intake with my TPIS miniram intake manifold.

 

[vetteboy86]

So your saying that your concern is that with the miniram the car will be breathing hot air, due to heat inside the engine compartment, vs a stock setup that gathers incoming cooler fresh air from in front of the car?

 

[BADDUCK]

What I'm trying to say is that I feel the stock (Plastic Black Long Tube runner) is a better part due to it "reaches" to the bumper, oppose to the Mini Ram that only get what? 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake(because it only reaches so far) and continually cycle, Example.. Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--> Down the manifold---> ETC. Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block (to me) seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.


follow me?

Yes, now it is clear what you mean, but your assumption is wrong. The Mini ram would be connected to your stock air box or some other kind of intake/filter. No one I know would try to run a Mini ram or any intake without a intake filter system.

 

[500hp406]

What I'm trying to say is that I feel the stock (Plastic Black Long Tube runner) is a better part due to it "reaches" to the bumper, oppose to the Mini Ram that only get what? 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake(because it only reaches so far) and continually cycle, Example.. Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--> Down the manifold---> ETC. Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block (to me) seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.


follow me?

Please take a good look at my avatar. You see the intake pipe going to exactly the same air filter as the TPI. I am sorry buddy but where did you come up with that idea, you are soooooo wrong, In that case you would have the same problem with the stealth and every other intake. Now take another look at the motor in the avatar..

 

[boomdriver]

Ive seen a MR with a K&N clamped on the TB and called good. It worked, but it was not as effective as it could have been. Knowing that the air duct plays a part in the air-speed as it enters the plenum, you want to keep that duct that causes the air to accellerate as it enters.

The 2 MR pic in this thread show 2 filter arrangements...500hp has his with the flat/oval/OEM duct from TB to air box, while the original MR seller has a smooth bore power cone on his TB that connects the air filter box. Both systems take fresh air from the nose of the car.

whatever you use, do it right, because the air-duct IS a part of the intake.

 

[vetteoz]

you want to keep that duct that causes the air to accellerate as it enters..

I'll call BS on that
I would like to see your physics on that theory
Only difference is intake ducting gets cooler outside air in vs sucking in hot under hood air with a K&N style filter

 

[Black Bart]

The Mini-Ram is what is called a AIR GAP manifold the plenum sits up off of the engine.
Since it has short runners the air has less time to pick up heat so the opposite is true.
Their would be less heat going into the engine NOT MORE.

 

[vetteoz]

Their would be less heat going into the engine NOT MORE.

I am not talking about intake induced heat ( heat soak ); I am talking about the temperature of the air ENTERING the TB.
Air from the engine bay would obviously be hotter than air from outside using ducting

 

[500hp406]

To Black Bart and Vetteoz, you are both correct, what I am trying to figure out is what Nick90vetteguy is saying cause I cannot figure it out. He needs to understand what is really happening not that LalaLand stuff he is talking about below....:confused

"Originally Posted by Nick90vetteguy
What I'm trying to say is that I feel the stock (Plastic Black Long Tube runner) is a better part due to it "reaches" to the bumper, oppose to the Mini Ram that only get what? 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake(because it only reaches so far) and continually cycle, Example.. Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--> Down the manifold---> ETC. Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block (to me) seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.


follow me?

 

[vetteoz]

what I am trying to figure out is what Nick90vetteguy is saying cause I cannot figure it out.

"Originally Posted by Nick90vetteguy
the Mini Ram that only ... 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake
Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--... Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.
............................................................................................................................................
The way I read it he is saying exactly what I said above
EXCEPT
He "thinks " the Miniram is a K&N style filter fitted directly on the TB

 

[500hp406]

"Originally Posted by Nick90vetteguy
the Mini Ram that only ... 5inches from the throttle body? I was just saying, if the mini ram is on the throttle body everything surrounding it is going to be hot, manifold, pullies, etc. So if the mini ram is on, I feel that the hot air that the engine accumulates will just give off, go directly into the Mini Ram intake
Air that the engine gets from the intake goes in the Throttle Body--... Now that same air that is under hood gets hot, due to friction and the motor itself gets hot, VERY HOT that air repeatedly goes into the mini ram intake. Basically that hot air that comes off the block seems like its going into the mini ram because the mini ram is so short that the only air its getting is the heat from the block.
............................................................................................................................................
The way I read it he is saying exactly what I said above
EXCEPT
He "thinks " the Miniram is a K&N style filter fitted directly on the TB

OMG your right, he does think that the MR is a K&N style filter. Damn expensive air filter system ($1,200).

Dear Nick90vetteguy, please go to tpis.com to learn that the Mini Ram is really a very nice, but a little pricey intake system, somewhat like the LT intakes. Again, look at my avatar, this time behind the intake tube. That's a Mini Ram. We all learn something new everyday.