MiniRam vs SuperRam

[militant_x]

Ok guys, this one has been eating at me for some time now. For the most part i can get either setup (super ram upper/lower/runners or miniram + fuel rails) for almost exactly the same price. I dont know which one to get. I wanted a stealth ram but ive heard so many bad things about the custom plenums used to make them fit under the hood. I love low end torque, I dont like the stress you subject an engine to at high rpms. I love shifting through the gears rather quickly. What im saying is that id like someone if they can to champion the superram, because i think the miniram is a better option.

In consideration,

86 completetly stock z51 4+3, bought full length headers (yet to install). 3.07 rear end gears. This car will be daily driver so cruising speed efficency is a little bit of a concern but takes a back seat to performance. I plan on (In the very short term) building up a 383 or 406 engine so the intake chossen should work well with either engine.

Its just i hear the miniram is really sluggish like a single plain intake, and i would rarely be taking the engine into its powerband. My friend just installed his stealth ram in his 87 gta with a 327 engine. I used to take him by a car, now he is taking me by a car. Go figure.

thanks, goodnight!

-chris

 

[Moonunit 451]

Ok guys, I love low end torque, I dont like the stress you subject an engine to at high rpms. I love shifting through the gears rather quickly. What im saying is that id like someone if they can to champion the superram, because i think the miniram is a better option.

In consideration,

This car will be daily driver so cruising speed efficency is a little bit of a concern but takes a back seat to performance. I plan on (In the very short term) building up a 383 or 406 engine so the intake chossen should work well with either engine.

Its just i hear the miniram is really sluggish like a single plain intake, and i would rarely be taking the engine into its powerband. My friend just installed his stealth ram in his 87 gta with a 327 engine. I used to take him by a car, now he is taking me by a car. Go figure.

thanks, goodnight!

-chris

You have answered your own question. The SR with the LPE 74219 cam is a proven widely used setup for a torque monster. It'll be even sweeter after you stroke it. Given your own criteria I doubt there is anyone here that would argue the fact.

I'm assuming with a standard shift you already have the D44 rear end. If not, you will have to have it after you stroke. The D36 won't last long.

The only area of possible discussion that I can imagine here is the fact that you have a standard tranny. This setup is a gimme in the auto's, but there are many who go with the MR or LT-1 conversions and a ZZ9 or ZZ409 or similar cam and go for the higher R's with the standards

BTW given similar torqe, HP, and drivers the auto's rule the track
There will probably be a lotof folks that would say your rear gearing is not tall enough regardless of what yo do with the restto be really competitive. 3.54 to 4.11, but I think you'll be pleased with the 3.07's.

I gotta say here that I am pretty new to all this stuff but I have spent a LOT of time and $'s learning to get to this point over the last 8 mos or so. Let's see if I can get my but flamed here

 

[vader86]

This debate is endless.

The Superram makes good power to 6500rpm, which is the limit of what the bottom can handle safely. You wouldnt have to do anything but new heads, the 219 and the intake.

You go to MR, youll need more rear gear because youll have much less low-end power and youll have to buy the best ignition products because it makes power well past the HEI's limit. Youll still need new heads. Then youll have to build in a rev-limiter to keep from blowing the bottom, because the L98 computer has the cutoff set to 10,000 rpms or so.

You have the D44 with the manual tranny, so the carrier wont need changing, only the ring & pinion.

 

[militant_x]

I understand what you guys are saying about having a standard and not an automatic. The gears in the automatic are pretty far apart, so with each shift the engines speed drops back down to a low number. With a standard the gears are closer and the engine speed doesnt drop as much as. So it makes sense that with a standard trans you would want an engine that makes its power in the high end since that is where it will be most of the time. However, the 6500 or 5800 of the superram seems high enough for me.


thanks,

-chris

 

[8388]

If 5800 rpms is your goal, go with the super ram or even better, go with some large diameter runners and have them siamesed.

 

[LD85]

I have the Miniram, and will end up changing rear gears to boost the low end a fuzz, but,,, based on what you stated above, you should buy the Superram.

If you dont like high RPM, get a Super ram,
If you do want a lot of low end torque get a Super ram
If you want to keep cold start (if you have it) get a Super ram
If you are not buying forged internals get a Super ram.
If oyu want to shift by 5300-5500 RPM get the Super ram
If you have a low tolerance for stress, learn to drink beer cause it will take you a few trys to assemble the Super ram, according to many

If you want to shift @ 5800-7000 RPM get a Miniram
If you want major mid and upper range, get the Miniram
If you want extreme simplicity of assembly get the Miniram
If Dyno numbers means more to you than 1/4 mile times get the Miniram

Each unit has its pro's and con's but tuning can be an issue for either unit, although the Super ram should be easier to tune as long as you can eliminate vacuum leaks.

 

[rrubel]

One additional thing to keep in mind - 86 was the last year for flat tappet cams. The recommended cam for the SuperRam is a roller cam; not sure about the Mini-ram, but I'd imagine it is as well given the rev range it lives at. To get the most out of either intake, therefore, you need to change cams and use a retrofit roller lifter kit. The lifters and cam button kit will run you about $450-$500... one more expense to factor in.

I'm doing a SuperRam upgrade right now on my 86; haven't yet gotten to putting the SR itself on so I can't comment on its ease of installation (or lack thereof). However, some people on other forums have taken to drilling/tapping the plenum from the INSIDE in order to make attaching the runners easier.

[RICHR]

 

[Moonunit 451]

One additional thing to keep in mind - 86 was the last year for flat tappet cams. The recommended cam for the SuperRam is a roller cam; not sure about the Mini-ram, but I'd imagine it is as well given the rev range it lives at. To get the most out of either intake, therefore, you need to change cams and use a retrofit roller lifter kit. The lifters and cam button kit will run you about $450-$500... one more expense to factor in. [RICHR]

Excellent point and the primary reasons my 86 block is on the floor in my garage. You can buy an 87 up roller block for less than the kit

 

[WhalePirot]

The SR on my 406 pulls nicely to cutoff at 6300. It is such a PITA, with bumping the wiper motor, too, that the next time it comes off/apart, it's going bye bye, no matter what! At least a tube of RTV black sealed the thing.

 

[militant_x]

thanks, ordered a super ram today.

-chris

 

[Moonunit 451]

thanks, ordered a super ram today.

-chris

Did you get one of those that I posted for ya from ebay? The last one the guy closed the auction early. That was a very nice setup :cool

 

[Edmond]

I'm doing a SuperRam upgrade right now on my 86; haven't yet gotten to putting the SR itself on so I can't comment on its ease of installation (or lack thereof). However, some people on other forums have taken to drilling/tapping the plenum from the INSIDE in order to make attaching the runners easier.

[RICHR]

Rich,

Please let us know how the intallation is after you get the SR on. I'm thinking about getting some kind of setup this fall or next winter and would like to know my options.

 

[rrubel]

Oh, believe me, there will be a reasonably detailed report on the SR install... I keep either finding other things that have to be done or that I cause to need to be done (go ahead... ask me about Haynes and the one-piece oil pan gasket!) so it may be a while until it IS done, but you all will definitely hear about it (and see it - I'm taking pix as I go along).
[RICHR]

 

[Moonunit 451]

What size injectors do you plan to use Rich?

 

[rrubel]

Right now, I'm using the stock ones, cleaned and matched. I'm told they should be good for between 375 and 400 HP and still be within operating tolerance, which is where I plan to be. Later, I'll probably just go to 28 lb or something similar - nothing overkill.
[RICHR]

 

[Edmond]

Rich,

Any estimates on how much HP that you're going to get? What about torque? I'm more of a torque fanatic than anything else since all my driving is local street driving.

 

[rrubel]

Lingenfelter estimated, with headers but with smaller heads, that I'd have between 400 and 420 hp, probably similar torque. Where in the rev range, though, I'm not sure... and the heads I'm using are a wildcard. I too am a torque fan - one of the primary reasons I went with the SuperRam. Its longer runners give more low-end torque than the MR or the LT1 intake.
[RICHR]

 

[bossvette]

another route some of you guys might want to try is modifying SLP runners (or simular) to raise the torque peak. My modified TPI pulls strong to 5500, of course I have a good set of heads and a Isky Hyd Roller to go with it.

when I get some extra cash I will be going to a stealth ram but it may be a while as I will need a new hood, fuel rails dist etc
Craig sr