[428RA4]

So here is the preliminary drawings I'm working from which I will start to cut mock-ups next week for the lower Ram Air pan. There will be some shifting of the two center carb bowls I'm sure, but I have a pretty good guesstimate where it needs to fall. I have sourced the open cellular foam that can also be cut at work for the sealing pan.

The intake has been pretty much finished, but I'm having carb base plates made to mount holley carbs tandem and side by side along with base plates for Holley Dominators.

As you can see in the attached diagram. the new lower Ram Air pan is a monster and takes up a lot of space.

[demonic68]

Originally Posted by 428RA4

So here is the preliminary drawings I'm working from which I will start to cut mock-ups next week for the lower Ram Air pan. There will be some shifting of the two center carb bowls I'm sure, but I have a pretty good guesstimate where it needs to fall. I have sourced the open cellular foam that can also be cut at work for the sealing pan.

The intake has been pretty much finished, but I'm having carb base plates made to mount holley carbs tandem and side by side along with base plates for Holley Dominators.

As you can see in the attached diagram. the new lower Ram Air pan is a monster and takes up a lot of space.

Man I really live this project I know I have said it before but the the factory look your going for is great

[428RA4]

So here is the first prototype from this mornings cut file. This is 3mm black sintra plastic which is thicker then the 30 gauge steel the final will be made out of. This first pull "blank" will be used to check fitment under the hood and to tweak position of the part. My biggest fear is the pan to firewall clearance which will be tight to say the least.

As you can see, there is only one hole for the carb. This is due to fitting the part to an existing car pattern.

[428RA4]

And here is a quick cardboard cut out of what the final part should look like after structural bends and pockets are made.

[428RA4]

So I had a little time to throw the new proto-toy on the Hotwheel. It looks like I have good clearance to the firewall with less then a half inch to spare. I guess I could pull the wire loom gutter off the fire wall if I wanted to get a few more inches. but I do want room for pan flex and sealing. I see that I will need to cut additional small holes in the pan to provide an inset clearance for the carb bowl vent nuts at the top. On an original GM design, the carb bowl opening is bell shaped to allow for strength. With the medium rise intake, there is no extra room for fan fare and the pan needs to be pretty much as flat as possible. With the support brackets and metal bends to give rigidity to the part - I feel comfortable eliminating said bowl structure. Besides that, the Ford air cleaner pan is basically flat anyways.

The clearance for the radiator hose is somewhat moot due to the fact that the new Quad intake has a front mounted goose neck which moves it out from underneath the Ram Air pan - which clearly is a good thing. The spacing is pretty darn tight and not much room for sloppy design work. I also see the opportunity to shave the pan size down a bit on the sides so I can a least get access to the oil fill cap on the valve cover. So many considerations need to be taken into account and for a first run design as of last night to first article prototype, I think this is truly a doable project. But, as with any custom design, I'm sure there will be other screw you things waiting for me down the road.

[428RA4]

Here is the quad fitment shots as I brain storm how to implement air cleaner lid and filter. It's becoming challenging to actually design with two models and eventually the marriage should come together. At least, that is the plan...

[demonic68]

It's looking good

[428RA4]

Today is thrash out carb base issues and how to address that with mounting carbs multiple ways.

ie; In line or tandem and side by side. So far there is 4 different pair combinations slated as a goal, but I believe 3 for sure.

[GILLIGAN]

WTB raV 2x4 intakes
exhaust mans
how are things on west coast?
supposed to have sleet in houston
bumper car nationals !!!
glad chief pontiac has large beak

[dci]

Mike you sure you don't want to have that intake reproduced? I'm sure you will sell them especially to the street crowd.

Looking good!!!

Don Johnston
DCI MOTORSPORTS INC.
330-850-5050 shop
330-628-3354 cell
Designer of the DCI Tiger Heads and the NEW DCI Ram Air 5 Heads !!!!!

[428RA4]

Hey Don -

It's not that I don't want to reproduce the intake, it's just not financially possible for me to engage in that venture. The desire is there, but the funds are lacking along with a very big risk of investment. So far i see maybe 3 people would be interested in the part. It would be cheaper for me to just buy 3 Ford intakes and have Gaby convert them - as strange as that may be. No one but crazy me would pay the money I did to create that intake. To redraw the part from scratch would also not be a solution due to costs.

Besides that. My intake is not finished as of yet. I'm in the process of modifying the carb mounting base plate to accept different carb bolt on configurations...

[428RA4]

So this weekend I really explored if all this stuff will fit under the hood which is still a big question. I will for sure have to pull the upper pan off and if I'm lucky, the quad air cleaner lid will tuck nicely within the oval pocket of the under hood structure.

For sure the moving of the upper goose neck water thermostat housing was a real necessary and I must give a huge shout out to Tom for suggesting to me to go with the correct water crossover. For sure with out this change, things would be not only tight, but may would of not fit. Just look at the clearance I barely have along with the firewall tightness...

[428RA4]

So I'm wondering if I'm just turning into a blow hard and should I continue this thread or is there interest in this project still?

[tom s]

I think its interesting to read about someone that is as crazy or maybe more than me!I really doubt anyone one else will throw the kind on money you and I have thrown at building a 2-4 intake and I for sure would not be going through what your doing to run a RA pan.Tom

[428RA4]

Thanks for the interest Tom. I must agree with you, but I figure that we have all the machinery at work and I have the knowledge to draw and design so - what the hell is my thinking. If I was an excellent welder, I would of taken on the intake, but that is better left to experts in that field. I can, however, make stuff and figured some people would find this project interesting, but not doable themselves so I wanted to share the journey. Not sure if many give a crap, but I'd figure I would ask...

So I ask, should I continue?

[Sirrotica]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I've read every installment you've posted............

[428RA4]

Thanks for the support as well. It helps me keep moving with the project and encourages me to justify the stupidity.


;o)

[johnta1]

So I ask, should I continue?

I think you should.

Very interesting project for sure.

[428RA4]

So I got the balls and will last night to spend a little more time with the girlfriend. I pulled the Ram Air Upper pan off the hood to check fitment and placement of the lower pan and air cleaner lid.

The great thing about this project is that I can satisfy the few hard core guys that want the lower pan to be as stock looking as possible. That means having the lower pan, spark arrest screens and foam seal only. This design allows me to present the car as such or add the air filter and lid for another point of view to the display.

To be honest and the reason why the Ram Air pans were usually missing from cars is that the engine can't really breathe correctly with all that plumbing under the hood - but it sure looks cool...

I also started to work on foam shaping and testing. I wound up cutting up a used foam seal and splicing it up to figure out the game plan.

It will be kind of sad to see the stock configuration go away, but lets see how well stuffing two carbs under the hood works out.

Not sure as of yet, how to deal with an upper pan if at all. A lot of tweaking needs to be thrashed out first.

[428RA4]

cont.