Tunnel ram on 410 SB chrysler

[Wheels392]

Hi from Australia!
I have a question!
I am considering running a wieand tunnel ram on top of my newly built 410 SB Chrysler, here are some specs
Car: 69 dodge dart
Stroke: 4"
Bore: 4.040"
Heads: un-ported Edelbrock performer RPM (170cc runners)
Cam: hydraulic flat tappet comp cam 253@50 and .525 lift (I THINK!)
roller rockers
3800 stall convertor
3.23 rear gears
I would like to hear your thoughts on running a tunnel ram with this setup, the car is not going to be run on the street BUT I am not interested at this point to change heads, cam, convertor, diff gears etc.
Car is intended as a budget fun 1/4 mile car, my alternative is a mopar m1 intake with an 850dp Holley... Will I go slower with the tunnel ram? Will I go faster? Will twin 465 vac. Sec holleys be enough on the tunnel ram or would you guys reccomend a different size Carburettor. I have a real desire to use a tunnel ram but want to know what it will be like before I get rid of the m1 single plane manifold and 850dp.
Thanks for taking the time.
AB

[mag2555]

Those brand tunnel rams have nice long runners and even though your unported heads do not need that level of air flow the smallish carbs should keep your throttle responce at least as good if not somewhat better than the M1, just get the gearing
into the 4.10 range for eitheir manifold.
I think the set up will make better average torque numbers than the M1 and that should make for better 60 ft times.
Just remember you are having to feed two carbs fuel now , so one Holley blue type regulator will not cut it as they can hardly feed a single 850 carb at high demand levels!

[bigjoe1]

The last post is WRONG== Two carbs are NOT harder to feed with fuel, because they have twice as many needle and seats== ONe pump for two carbs can keep up MUCH eaiser than with one big carb

JOE SHERMAN RACING ENGINES

[PackardV8]

3.23 rear gears - the car is not going to be run on the street BUT I am not interested at this point to change heads, cam, convertor, diff gears etc

.X2 on the gears. You are wasting much money and effort in that strip-only engine build if you keep the 3.23 street gearing.

I have a real desire to use a tunnel ram but want to know what it will be like

Again, if it is a strip car, definitely go with the tunnel ram. It should do everything better than the single carb. You get the bling, the performance and no real downside.

jack vines

[Wheels392]

Thanks for the replies.
I am aware 3.23 gears are far from ideal, they will be changed out sometime in the future, just not right away. Just wanted to be sure that I was not going backwards and going to e/t slower running the tunnel ram with twin 465s instead of the 850dp/M1 setup taking into account the rest of my current setup.
Thanks.
AB

[F-BIRD'88]

If you want to make real power with your tunnel ram do not use small cfm carbs.
Find some 650-750cfm carbs. ( Edelbrock, holley, carter ) 4.56:1 gears would be sweet.

[Wheels392]

Thanks, that would be ideal, though at this point in time I have access to twin 465s and weiand tunnel ram, and my budget deos not allow me to make other changes at present, I know that ideally the tunnel ram would work nicer with more gear, convertor, cam, intake runner etc. But would like some more views on running the tunnel rum with my setup listed in my first post, as opposed the running the M1/850dp setup.
JOE SHERMAN- you wrote about the first reply regarding fuel supply, deeming that statement incorrect. could you verify that the rest of the information in the post sounds accurate.
Much appreciated.
AB

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

If you want to make real power with your tunnel ram do not use small cfm carbs.
Find some 650-750cfm carbs. ( Edelbrock, holley, carter ) 4.56:1 gears would be sweet.

I'm pretty sure two 750s and 3.23 gears will be a dog at 60 foot. At minimum, 3.90 gears.

[Wheels392]

As stated will only be running 465s at this point ad that Is what I have access to.

[levisnteeshirt]

i believe 2 465 vs carbs would do way better than a 850 dp on such a mild combo ,, get 2 spring kits to tailor how the 465's come in , u might be surprised how well they do

[bigjoe1]

I do know for a fact that one Holley blue pump can supply an 815 HP BB Chevy with a two carb tunnel ram because I ran one many years ago with out any problems at all== The more needle and seats there are, the less trouble there is with fuel delievey


JOE SHERMAN RACING

[Wheels392]

Thanks guys, based on your feedback I will be giving the tunnel ram a try, JOE, do you have and thoughts on the tunnel ram and 465 sutep itself?

[F-BIRD'88]

If you want to make real power with your tunnel ram do not use small cfm carbs.
Find some 650-750cfm carbs. ( Edelbrock, holley, carter ) 4.56:1 gears would be sweet.

I'm pretty sure two 750s and 3.23 gears will be a dog at 60 foot. At minimum, 3.90 gears.

This not necessarily true, but if it is , change the gears. This car will be about as much fun to race (using 3.23`s and tiny carbs on the t-Ram), as watching paint dry.

I vote a big yes to the tunnel ram and a big no to the carb choice. Find different carbs and get some gears.

[Wheels392]

UPDATE:
I have gone ahead and purchased the weiand tunnel ram and 465s, based on the majority of replies and a bit of my own common sense, I am certainly no expert, hence why I asked the question on here, but f-bird88, even if I went with more gear, would twin 750s really be usable on the rest of my mild 410 Combo? Not that I plan on trying this, but that seems like alot of cfm for a relatively mild setup, which will be lucky to see 6500rpm with that cam, or does that all change when running a tunnel ram? as for watching the paint dry, I have no big expectations, I would just like it to run in the 12s... Thanks everyone for the advice so far... A great forum.

[F-BIRD'88]

I cannot see it not running 12's but when you're ready to go faster and want the tunnel ram to do what it does best you will want to give it all the carb it really wants. Yes 650's 750's are not too big.
Do not think in terms of CFM. A tunnel ram wants to breathe deep. Small carbs will limit it to close to the same performance as a single plane manifold/single carb. Larger carbs allow the T ram to do its stuff (make more horsepower)

The 465's will get you out there and running but instead of dumping money into tuning them
watch for some 650-750 DP'ers or 750 edelbrocks. and trade up. For every guy that needs some 750's there are two guys that think ( or were told) theirs are too big...so...something will come along.

Getting the car to launch is a matter of tuning and there are a few things that you will probabily have to attend to even to get the small carbs responsive. These carbs are more for the T-bucket set. The t ram will never perform to its potential with these carbs.

Find some stiff gears, reguardless.