Tunnel Ram 440

[moparspares]

What are my options. As far as I can see from research it is either Weiand or Indy and I do not like indy due to cost unless I can get used. I will be using Trick flow 270 (Max Wedge Ports). Can I take the Weiand out to max wedge size or do they become pretty thin. I have also heard there was 2 different part numbers for Weiand with one having more meat around the ports.

Any light you can shed on this would be helpfull or if you have used of these I may be interested.

 

[matthon]

My 383 Weiand tr with 440 Source heads was hollowed out pretty far without issues.
Also carved out and matched the top to bottom, and opened the carb inlets.

I had another 383 Weiand tr and the runners were very small and had plenty of room to be enlarged.

Is the 2 different part#s referring to an old part#, made well, vs a new part#, made to today's standards?

Weiand tr was at the top on the old Engine Masters.

 

[moparspares]

Im guessing the other part number was for an earlier casting that was just built better quality.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Max wedge heads take a max wedge intake to seal the lifter valley. Just something to look at. I don't believe the gasket pan can be used. My son has both tunnel ram intakes and all style heads at the machine shop if you need pictures .

 

[Garrett Ellison]

Would one of the MP tunnel rams have enough material in the runners to enlarge out? This appears to be close.
[FOR SALE] - Brand New MP 440 Tunnel ram with Custom Rework

 

[PRH]

The manifold runners on the 3 “common” std port tunnel rams(Weiand/Offy/MP) are considerably smaller than the runners on a TF 270 head.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

You will need to use the max wedge intake. The standard intake does not even cover the ports. The intake will have to be welded up just to cover the port openings. Also you will need to get a special valley pan from mancini racing and I think they stopped selling them.. The original cross ram for a max wedge does not use a valley pan so they are pretty much unattainable. Unless you can find a mancini aluminum cover. My son has them but he will not part with any. Good luck,

 

[moparspares]

Are you talking these valley pans.

MRE - Hughes Engines - 1 Piece Valley Plate Kit​

Fits: Max Wedge port size

1 PC FULL VALLEY PLATE KIT M/W

VALLEY PLATE, 4 .016" BEADED INT GASKETS, 2 END RAILS WITH FASTENERS

This valley plate has an "adjustable" port height (a Hughes Engines Exclusive) and is compatible with either standard 440 or Max Wedge port size, including ported heads or manifolds and is only 1/4 the weight of aluminum plates. They not only look nice, but they fit nice too!

These valley covers are designed to work with manifold that DO NOT have a heat crossover passage that hangs below the intake port openings. That includes most single plane intakes plus the Indy dual plane. Dual plane intakes with the heat crossover passage must be modified to use our valley cover.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

That is not the one I referenced. It is a aluminum plate. The gasket above will fit a max wedge intake to max wedge head but will not adapt a standard intake to max wedge head. The standard port intake will have to be welded up and ported to cover the max wedge ports..

 

[AndyF]

What are my options. As far as I can see from research it is either Weiand or Indy and I do not like indy due to cost unless I can get used. I will be using Trick flow 270 (Max Wedge Ports). Can I take the Weiand out to max wedge size or do they become pretty thin. I have also heard there was 2 different part numbers for Weiand with one having more meat around the ports.

Any light you can shed on this would be helpfull or if you have used of these I may be interested.

Yeah I tried that once, it sucked. I had a 508 inch big block with TF 270 heads and we modified a Weiand tunnel ram so it would work with the MW ports. Ran that combo on the dyno and it sucked. The Weiand runner size is really small so it choked off the engine. If you have MW ports then you need to use a MW intake. If you want dual carbs then either get the Indy tunnel ram, or get the Indy box ram. Here is a picture of the tunnel ram that we used.

 

[PRH]

The TF270’s, like the Indy heads, have raised/extended intake ports…….so you can use either the TF or Indy valley cover plate, which is separated from any part of sealing the manifold ports to the heads.

If you’re going use a TR on the 270 heads because you want the added power they can produce, the best bang for the buck will be to use the Indy piece…….. even though it’s more expensive initially.

If you’re just after the look, then a std port piece will work…….you’ll just have to come up with a way to make sure the manifold is sealed up where the ports meet.

 

[Garrett Ellison]

Where you’re in Oz, I’d be tempted to talk to a fabrication shop about making an early pro stock style sheet metal unit with a big Chevy cast lid. It may come out close to what the Indy unit would run by the time you paid for getting it there. Something like the old retro-tech performance sheet metal unit that was available here during the nineties.

 

[MOPARMAGA]

Are you talking these valley pans.

MRE - Hughes Engines - 1 Piece Valley Plate Kit​

Fits: Max Wedge port size

1 PC FULL VALLEY PLATE KIT M/W

VALLEY PLATE, 4 .016" BEADED INT GASKETS, 2 END RAILS WITH FASTENERS

This valley plate has an "adjustable" port height (a Hughes Engines Exclusive) and is compatible with either standard 440 or Max Wedge port size, including ported heads or manifolds and is only 1/4 the weight of aluminum plates. They not only look nice, but they fit nice too!

These valley covers are designed to work with manifold that DO NOT have a heat crossover passage that hangs below the intake port openings. That includes most single plane intakes plus the Indy dual plane. Dual plane intakes with the heat crossover passage must be modified to use our valley cover.

View attachment 1716509050

I have that valley pan, my particular pan doesn't have enough stainless steel to port to the larger gasket cut out.
You'll probably want to look at the Indy tunnel ram for the 270 heads. They also have a valley plate to seal up the valley.

 

[MOPARMAGA]

Yeah I tried that once, it sucked. I had a 508 inch big block with TF 270 heads and we modified a Weiand tunnel ram so it would work with the MW ports. Ran that combo on the dyno and it sucked. The Weiand runner size is really small so it choked off the engine. If you have MW ports then you need to use a MW intake. If you want dual carbs then either get the Indy tunnel ram, or get the Indy box ram. Here is a picture of the tunnel ram that we used.

View attachment 1716509192

View attachment 1716509193

Interesting, welded more aluminum to the top of the flange. Were you able to get any taper in the runners? If you just opened up the flange then of course it sucked. That's incorrect.

 

[MOPARMAGA]

What are my options. As far as I can see from research it is either Weiand or Indy and I do not like indy due to cost unless I can get used. I will be using Trick flow 270 (Max Wedge Ports). Can I take the Weiand out to max wedge size or do they become pretty thin. I have also heard there was 2 different part numbers for Weiand with one having more meat around the ports.

Any light you can shed on this would be helpfull or if you have used of these I may be interested.

I got my wieand out to 2.550 by 1.340 but I had to weld the exterior of the runners and to get taper into the runners, I had to weld more, basically up to the carb flanges.

 

[moparspares]

Yeah sounds like trouble getting one to MW ports. I love the Indy Predator but I get cold sweats thinking about paying $1400 for an intake only. Then Valley plate, carbs, linkages and hat. Heaven forbid does it end.

 

[mygasser]

$1400? try finding a tunnel ram for a ford fe big block. i've just bought jay brown's adapter that allows the use of a 351 cleveland intake. $739 plus shipping the the uk and i still have to find a 351c tunnel ram at $1000 or more . still cheaper than a 'proper' fe tunnel ram...... if you can find one. at least bbm intakes are available, lol.
neil.
pic of adapter....

 

[PRH]

I guess how important having a proper sized TR to go along with the 270 heads would depend on what is being built, and what the goals are.

If it’s not a medium to high effort stroker, and you really just
”want” a TR, maybe the (cheaper) easy button is the std port TR on some TF240’s.

 

[Garrett Ellison]

$1400? try finding a tunnel ram for a ford fe big block. i've just bought jay brown's adapter that allows the use of a 351 cleveland intake. $739 plus shipping the the uk and i still have to find a 351c tunnel ram at $1000 or more . still cheaper than a 'proper' fe tunnel ram...... if you can find one. at least bbm intakes are available, lol.
neil.
pic of adapter....
View attachment 1716509516

I’m sure that’s all still only going to be half of what a Hogan’s or TRE manifold would run. It is some serious eye candy either way, though!
Intake Manifolds

 

[middleagecrisis]

Would one of the MP tunnel rams have enough material in the runners to enlarge out? This appears to be close.
[FOR SALE] - Brand New MP 440 Tunnel ram with Custom Rework

Given the cost and availability of used tunnel rams, plus the work done to that particular manifold, I jump on that deal if I were you.

 

[MOPARMAGA]

Given the cost and availability of used tunnel rams, plus the work done to that particular manifold, I jump on that deal if I were you.

Nice tr, that blending isn't difficult to do.