LT1 intake on a L98 Engine

[69MyWay]

This conversion has been around for a while now. However, I have yet to run across an article that really put it to the test.

The Sept. issue of Popular Hot Rodding has a 1988 Camaro that gets the conversion. What is interesting, is this very same Camaro had a Accell Super Ram on top of a bored and stroked 350 with a hefty cam, head work, and only 9.3:1 compression.

They had spent countless hours on the dyno with the Super Ram and had maxed out the performance of the car.

They then dynoed the Super Ram, and ran the 1/4 mile. Then they ripped it off the engine.

They took a stock LT1 intake, and did the mod to the rear to accept a small bodied distributor (as used on the late 3rd gen F body), and drilled and tapped the rear ports for water jackets. They ran those water jackets into a universal radiator thermostat free standing housing. That then plumbed right into the radiator.

They made a minor trim to a accessory bracket to clear the throttle body.

They buttoned it back up, and hit the dyno.

Peak HP climbed between 500 and 1,000 RPM higher than the Super Ram, and made just a tad more. Peak torque dropped, but stayed constant LONGER over a more broad band. They felt if they had more dyno time, they could have done much better, but were limited.

In the 1/4 mile, they were mear 1/10's of a second different in the 1/4. The Super Ram had a faster 60 foot, and 1/8th, but the LT1 intake caught up, and was making more time at the end of the track.

All and all, his conversion was around $300---for the cost of the manifold, gaskets, waterneck bypass, and misc parts.

Had they compared it to a L98 manifold...it would have been a slaughter.

So...I have to look the article back up and get you guys the links to the Fbody based sites that go into more detail on the conversion.

 

[Ken]

So...I have to look the article back up and get you guys the links to the Fbody based sites that go into more detail on the conversion.

 

[bossvette]

I wonder how it would compare to a Holley Stealth Ram ? I saw that Summit has the Holley manifold for $299 in their latest catalog.

 

[81LT4]

69, You know www.tpis.com has a mini ram II that would work
for the l98 motors, or any tpi motor. $800 for the intake, $300
for the rails. If money is not an issue, they claim it is better than
a stock LT1 intake, and on my stock tpi motor 240HP, they claim
it will produce 60 or more hp. the October issue of vette mag,
is showing a 1962 vette (nice) with this set up.

 

[81LT4]

I wonder how it would compare to a Holley Stealth Ram ? I saw that Summit has the Holley manifold for $299 in their latest catalog.

BOSS, you would have to shave the top of the intake to
work on a C3. Might be a performance difference there.

 

[Ken]

GrumpyVette is a big fan of the Stealth Ram. He provided some links here: custom stealth ram plenum that FITS C-4 VETTES.

_ken

 

[bossvette]

BOSS, you would have to shave the top of the intake to

there is always an L-88 hood if clearence is a problem, good excuse for it too:L and the power to back it up

 

[81LT4]

there is always an L-88 hood if clearence is a problem, good excuse for it too:L and the power to back it up

CAN I GET A HELL YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[69MyWay]

The link is

www.lt1intake.com

I am now on the fence.

I know how great the miniram is because I had one on my 90 Vette. WOW...what an awesome improvement.

I talked to Paul..aka Grumpy on Monday about the Stealth Ram. I just have not figured out where to squeeze the $750 from to mail him a check.

I am considering throwing the stock intake back on so that I can get it running and moving. The problem is the prior owner welded the runners up and tried to port them into seimese (sp?).

I think #7 has a leak, and that is why it fried the piston and valves.

Oh well.....

 

[bossvette]

Chris
I have two almost complete TPI units that I am going to part out some day runners are early (maf) style. Make me an offer if interested.
Craig sr

 

[69MyWay]

Chris
I have two almost complete TPI units that I am going to part out some day runners are early (maf) style. Make me an offer if interested.
Craig sr

Craig,

I have a spare L98 with ONE good runner. That leaves me needing only the driver side runner that has the 9th injector hole at the lower base area.

What is one runner worth???? I have no idea?

 

[bossvette]

Good old E-bay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2431933853&category=33553

 

[69MyWay]

Craig,

Thanks for hooking me up!!!!!!!!


I slapped it together with the hogged out runners because I am a very impatient individual. I heard it run a bit last night!!!!!!!!

Finally!!!!!!!!!!


I can pop those right back off and slap the correct ones on I am getting from you.


Thanks again!

 

[bossvette]

Chris
you should get them this week. I think I saw your engine specs in another post, should be a torque monster. As you are well aware torque is what we feel in the seat of our pants on a street machine. The 383 is an engine that Chevy should have offered a long time ago.
Craig Sr.

 

[69MyWay]

Chris
you should get them this week. I think I saw your engine specs in another post, should be a torque monster. As you are well aware torque is what we feel in the seat of our pants on a street machine. The 383 is an engine that Chevy should have offered a long time ago.
Craig Sr.

Craig, back in the day when I owned this car, it had smaller heads, and a smaller cam with the stock intake. This car would rip your ears off 0-60. In fact I had a trailer hitch on the car back then and towed my boats with it. One night I raced a slightly modified 350 TPI camaro while I was hauling my 18' Cobia. The guy in the camaro did not even know I was hauling the boat until it passed him as well!

It was one for the memory book!

However, when I went to the 1/4 mile, the car would die after the 1/8. No room to breath.

 

[rrubel]

ROTFL! I'm picturing the look on the guy's face as the boat passes him. Kinda like the new Dodge Hemi-based pickup ad, but with better product...
[RICHR]

 

[bossvette]

The 383 I have in my Vette was origionally built in 1989 for a 52 Ford F-1 Street rod with a 3''chop 2' channel with all GM drive train. when our kids were younger we bought a pop-up camper and my wife's car would not tow it so I put a hitch on the F-1. We were going camping one time and some young kid was making noises next to me with some kind of ricer(they all look the same to me) so I nailed it and ran it up to about 80 and left him in the dust. My wife wasn't too pleased. The embarrassing thing about the Yellow truck was trying to back the camper into the camping spot with the little slit of a rear window :duh so I put a hitch on the front and that made it easy.

 

[captbane]

getting rid of the stock l-98 manifold

you guys have lost me, can ya send me some info on replaceing my 1989 intake with something better? thanks, doug castner,aka,captbane@yahoo.com

 

[Moonunit 451]

you guys have lost me, can ya send me some info on replaceing my 1989 intake with something better? thanks, doug castner,aka,captbane@yahoo.com

Doug, read and follow the links provided. Lt1.com is the best and cheapest source for an upgrade for a stock motor I believe. You can also occasionaly find them already built. I sold one to Mad-Mic a while back.


CHRIS I haven't been around much lately, bad schedule change How's the book selling?

I gotta tell ya, if you're going with the stock intake on a 383 --- I'm dumbfounded I can only guess it's temporary for the purposes of immediate gratification, hope you can get it fixed soon :cool

 

[Mad-Mic]

Doug, read and follow the links provided. Lt1.com is the best and cheapest source for an upgrade for a stock motor I believe. You can also occasionaly find them already built. I sold one to Mad-Mic a while back.


CHRIS I haven't been around much lately, bad schedule change How's the book selling?

I gotta tell ya, if you're going with the stock intake on a 383 --- I'm dumbfounded I can only guess it's temporary for the purposes of immediate gratification, hope you can get it fixed soon

heya Colin,

howzitbe? good i hope! going to do the swap very soon LT1 intake/ZZ409 cam/ported and punched D113's for now with a little shot to help out the low end :L

i know a guy with a 406 in an 86 with just big mouth base, LTR's siamesed, ported plenum running 11.9's @ 118 mph

http://www.corvettekillstories.com/photogallery/albums/Mad-Mic/Racing/Johns%20406%20TPI%20L98%20A4%20Vette.wmv

BTW don't pay attention to the truck that breaks the driveshaft at the end......lol :L thats what all that clanken is...lol