View Full Version : 8-71 or Ram Jet


jeffhansen@charter.net
Apr 22nd, 07, 12:01 PM
I am completing my 69 camaro and wanted to requet you opinion on the engine induction. The car has 20 x 16 Boyds in back with the huge MT radials, matching Boyd 18's on front. Wicked paint and a very nice interior with a high end roll cage that fits perfect. It will have a big block in it and cannot decide between the chrome 8-71 blower with carbs and BDS scoop, or a factory Ram Jet system. The car has chome tubular a arms and painted chassis and 9" housing. I have a 2" and 4" hood. Appreciate your suggestion.

camcojb
Apr 22nd, 07, 12:10 PM
the 8-71 won't fit under either hood, so for stealth the RamJet gets the nod. Plus visibility is limited with the 8-71, so for a pro tour car it really doesn't fit the theme.

However it's your car and the blower definitely stands out, plus the obvious power difference. The engine build will be completely different for the two, so hopefully your engine is not built yet. If it is give the specs.

Jody

V-12-Camaro
Apr 22nd, 07, 01:21 PM
Pro-touring?????
More like ultra pro-street. That's a good thing though. It seems like pro-street has gone into submission again, in favor of pro-touring. Not that that's a bad thing either (soon I'll have one of each).
I have a stock-bodied 1966 Biscayne. I didn't hack anything on the entire build, but it took everything I had to drill a few holes in the trunk pan to run the fuel lines. Like the old saying, it truely can be put back to stock. That will never happen.
It has the usual stuff for a pro-streeter. Weld wheels, nice paint and a nice drive train package. I can honestly say that what sets the car off is the 671 sticking out of the hood, well, if it had a hood (I wasn't about to chop it up). It's the classic example of the engine making the car what it is. It wouldn't make for a good drag car, that's not its intentions. I built it as a cruiser (stock block 406, stock rods/crank, good parts/good machine work) and it does that really well. It's honestly my first project. I did all the wrenching, welding, and fabricating. It's far from perfect and still needs completing (I'm concentrating on my Camaro project now). It runs and drives like it is, so that's kind of how I left it. Many years ago I converted it to DFI and couldn't resist the look of a bug catcher.
http://themagicm.homelinux.org/phpgallery/picture.php?/1292/category/38

So for my advice and to carry your car's theme onto the engine? I'd go w/the blower. If it's attention that you want, it'll surely get it. There's nothing else like it. Keeping everything under the hood just wouldn't be the same.

PROZ11
Apr 23rd, 07, 07:39 AM
Hey Jeff,
I 'm a blower guy all the way. Although, I do agree with camcojb that an 871 doesn't reall "fit" the Pro-Touring theme. Maybe an under hood set up, like a Procharger might be a better choice.

Now, I'm not telling you not to do the 871. I've had big "huffers" sticking out of the hood of my last to cars. Although, the were both Pro Street cars, like my Camaro. Which is in the final stages of the build.

Nothing gets the attention and crowd draw of a blown Big Block. Not bad for gobs of power either. I say, if you do go for the blower, you won't ever regret it.

If you want a visual of the blown big block look on a first generation Camaro here's a shot of my car:
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/434/p4140017wg6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/1202/n1ib2.png (http://imageshack.us)

softail02
Apr 23rd, 07, 08:07 AM
chrome 8-71 blower with carbs and BDS scoop, or a factory Ram Jet system.

Polished... you do not want a chrome blower

PROZ11
Apr 23rd, 07, 08:55 AM
Oh yea, I was gonna make that same point as softail02. You want a polished blower, not a chromed one.

BelAirBob
Apr 25th, 07, 06:22 PM
I say polished, blown and slammed....

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/61.jpg

jeffhansen@charter.net
Apr 25th, 07, 08:56 PM
Thank you for the suggestions to all. Bob, is the blower on your car seems to stick out just right, any spacer or intercooler? How do you post a picture on here, I have a 6 second pro mod 69, and I wanted to post pictures of the car I need to decide on the blower or ram jet. The 20" Boyds make the thing look very modern. Thank you

BelAirBob
Apr 26th, 07, 03:40 AM
No intercooler, but it was a 14:71 blower, not the smaller 8:71. Intercooler raises an 8:71 about 3 inches,so roughly the height of a 14:71.

Rich-Allen
Apr 26th, 07, 03:19 PM
Bob, That's one Sick car !! :beers:

BelAirBob
Apr 26th, 07, 05:07 PM
Yeah... :) It even had AC, power windows,tilt,digital dash and LED turn signals built into the grille. I miss it, but what could you do with 900 HP on pump gas anyway? :p

jeffhansen@charter.net
Apr 27th, 07, 07:59 AM
Sounds like it was a driver, how did you address the heat and what fan set up did you have?

BelAirBob
Apr 27th, 07, 08:17 AM
Heat was never an issue. It was a 540 BB. On a blown engine, you need to keep the timing and boost right. Mine never needed more than 6 psi to make serious torque and HP.This was driven 1:1. The bigger the engine, the faster you need to spin the blower. Timing was 36 degrees total. (Blowers like more timing). Radiator was a custom built aluminum unit by C&R racing. I also built some side baffles in order to direct more air through the radiator. Fan was a large single puller config,which ran at 2700 RPMs. I also used "water wetter" in the water as a precaution. The car never ran over 210 at any time,averaging about 180 degrees in the summer. I had concerns over heat as well,but was pleasantly surprised by the results.

PROZ11
Apr 27th, 07, 08:27 AM
Hey BelAirBob,
Forget about how cool it ran. How cool did it sound with that exhaust? Must have been pretty crazy. My blown BB (tiny compaired to yours, only 427cuin) is loud with a full exhaust. That had to sound awesome! Any video of that car? Any more pictures? That thing is over the top.

Mark
PROZ11

PS: I also run mine at 36 degrees total timing on my 671. But mine is over driven 12%.

BelAirBob
Apr 27th, 07, 10:05 AM
LOL... Yep LOUD is an understatement. With those short pipes which had baffles in them (basically open exhaust), it would rattle China cabinets for two blocks! Here are some more pics...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/50.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/4.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/undercarriage.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/69RSZHood.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/69rearoutside.jpghttp://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/belairbobs/69outside.jpg

PROZ11
Apr 27th, 07, 10:45 AM
Awesome car Bob. Makes mine look down right tame. It must have been a blast to drive. Had to hurt to sell it.