Thread: tunnel ram question
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12-18-2006 07:36 AM #1
tunnel ram question
hey guys i am currently building a pickup and am going to put a sbc 283 in it. i am not really knowledgable about tunnel rams but my dad has a tunnel ram with 2 4brl holley 600cfm carbs(i think...i'll have to look to make sure)on it. could i put this set up on the 283 and have it run ok or would it be way too much for it? i know how to make linkage on the carbs where it will only use the 1st carb til you lay into it and it will start using the 2nd one. also would make my gas mileage super horrible? i'm not goin to be racing or anything but just like the look...and i have one in hand. thanks for any info.
thanks,
Jeremy
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12-18-2006 09:23 AM #2
With a small motor, a fairly heavy vehicle and street gears, a tunnel ram is a nightmare to tune. Low end torque goes away, and the power band is 3500 RPM to 7500 or so. Also, you probably have three times the carburation that a street 283 can take. I know people who have done it "for the look," and never got it to run right. This is especially true on an otherwise unmodified engine. If you don't have the cam, compression and gears to run the RPMs necessary to get into the power band, that setup will give you worse performance and worse mileage than a nice single 4-bbl.
On the other side of the coin, I see tunnel rams everywhere I go. If you're open to experimenting, and you have one in hand, go for it. Just be prepared for a LOT of issues and less than optimal performance.
Just a few thoughts from the been there/done that crowd.Last edited by Henry Rifle; 12-18-2006 at 09:26 AM.
Jack
Gone to Texas
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12-18-2006 10:03 AM #3
thanks
thanks for your advice...what about one of those adapters that you put on a dual quad tunnel rams so you can use a single 4 barrel carb? if i did go with that tunnel ram what size carb would be best for that setup?
thanks,
jeremy
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12-18-2006 10:52 AM #4
there is no true way to give a carb size recomendation without having the cam specs and compression ratio and also, if running a manual or automatic, the torque converter specs, with rear end gear ratio. you will have to build that 283 pretty stout to get a 2x4 bbl set up to run without a lot of tuning issues, but it can and has been done by alot of people. so dont rule it out if that is what you want. pictured is a basic holley carb size chart, i personally think this chart is a little undersized, but it is always better in being low than high in carb selection.Last edited by mooneye777; 12-18-2006 at 11:01 AM.
Live everyday like it were your last, someday it will be.
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12-18-2006 10:32 PM #5
thanks
thanks for your input guys. still up for some helpful comments to help me make my decision. i have a mild cam for it...not sure what the number is off the top of my head though. i'm not planning on driving it all the time when i get it done...mainly because of gas prices to income ratio lol...tryin to make it through college and support my hobbie at the same time so probably just a weekend cruizer so i guess it is mainly for the look...tunnel rams look so sweet!
thanks,
jeremy
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12-19-2006 07:33 AM #6
Originally Posted by jeremy_e87
Lynn
'32 3W
There's no 12 step program for stupid!
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12-19-2006 07:39 AM #7
Save the tunnel ram for a light car with a high winding engine some day. As others have said, they can be made to run but even if you do get the tune correct on the carb or carbs the manifold itself only lends itself to high rpm operation. Preferably with a 4 speed and tall gears so you can keep it in that 4,000 to 8,500 rpm range.....Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
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