armash

Lovefab ac mini-me vs. RLD-fab ramhorn

I am deciding between the two. Definately want to keep the <U>a/c and p/s.</U>
Going with a GT2871R turbo. B18C motor in an ek chassis. aiming for 400hp.
reason why i picked these two is because of the price range similarity.
want know know whats a better bang for the buck in terms of manifold design,
performance and quality/reliabilty.
please throw in some helpful opinions and/or suggestions

LOVEFAB
RLD-Fab

LOVEFAB


RLD-fab

patrick4588

iTrader: (1)

turbo may run out of breath before 400whp.

mike93eh2

if i had to choose between them two i would definetly choose the RLD fab ramhorn.

i have one of his ramhorns and the quality is next to full race and im not bullshitting you. and he has damn good prices also with good shipping times.

JDM_EH2

RLD Fab Before I went FR...I spoke with him a few times through PMs and he was VERY helpful.

redzcstandardhatch

we just ordered a lovefab mini-me AC compatable for a SOHC we're building.... looking forward to it.

Cody from lovefab is a good guy, who builds nice stuff.. especially for the money

the RLD looks good too.

the two manifolds arent really identical designs, so its kind of silly to compare them (although both are rather unique).i think either of them could make very similar power levels, and could easily do 400 whp.

Boostin Ex

I have a rld-fab i would recomend him to anyone manifold is great and his customer service is excelent.

armash

thanks for the inputs

i am pretty sure the fab work if not the same, is very similar, both guys seem to be very skilled. but i was curious more about the design factor, considering one is ramhorn and the other isnt. so interms of performance which one would be a better way to go?

the ac mini-me is pretty close to equal lenght and shorter runners so i was thinking mite give a faster spool compared to ramhorn. wasnt certain thats why i decided to post and squeez out some experienced opinions.

redzcstandardhatch

i dont think you will have too much of a difference from either manifold.

93supercoupe

i agree, jusr find the one that suits ur needs and go with it.

DaveF

go with the RLD manifold. there is more of a collector, and should help control boost better, than the short collector.

armash

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dturbocivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> go with the RLD manifold. there is more of a collector, and should help control boost better, than the short collector.</TD></TR></TABLE>

makes sense !

what abt the dump pipe and downpipe curvature and lenght. will that be a huge factor ?

rmcdaniels

Cody used to make a big ram-horn manifold like that, called it a SST. I had one, beautiful manifold, very well made. I'd have to go back through a few years of e-mail, but I think that he said that the Mini-Me performed about the same on the dyno on a street car. I sold it a while ago, I think the guy that bought it is still running it.

armash

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rmcdaniels &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cody used to make a big ram-horn manifold like that, called it a SST. I had one, beautiful manifold, very well made. I'd have to go back through a few years of e-mail, but I think that he said that the Mini-Me performed about the same on the dyno on a street car. I sold it a while ago, I think the guy that bought it is still running it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah because one of my main concerns is a/c and p/s retention and i think the sst isnt a/c compatible ...

rmcdaniels

My SST was AC and PS compatible, technically. I had to modify the AC fan and lines, plus modify the PS bracket. If I did it again, then I'd go with a mini-me, about the same performance and much less metal under the hood. We did pick up 26 WHP on the dyno when I changed out my old Inline Pro cast manifold for the SST though, 354 WHP to 380 WHP on the same boost.


*Edited - Dyslexia owns me*


Modified by rmcdaniels at 10:28 AM 2/16/2007

Mr.60trim

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by patrick4588 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">turbo may run out of breath before 400whp. </TD></TR></TABLE>
.

DeltaCharlie2

Just based on looks, I like the RLD-fab mani better. I like the ramhorn style runners compared to the short ones on the LOVEFAB.

Also, I like the fact that RLD-fab threw in a section of flex-piping on the dumptube to prevent it from cracking.

armash

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by patrick4588 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">turbo may run out of breath before 400whp. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah i realise that. thanks for pointing it out.
im still debating between the 2871r and the 3071r but i think 2871r might
be the one as long as i can get 370ish hp out of it eventually. initially i only want
300hp.

manifold was a bigger concern for me at the moment because of fitment issues
and being really tight on funds, i just wanted to make sure i invest in something
worthwhile lol. and thers like a month turn aorund time before i get it shipped

armash

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rmcdaniels &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cody used to make a big ram-horn manifold like that, called it a SST. I had one, beautiful manifold, very well made. I'd have to go back through a few years of e-mail, but I think that he said that the Mini-Me performed about the same on the dyno on a street car. I sold it a while ago, I think the guy that bought it is still running it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i really wana keep the cutting/shaving to the minimum just for ease sake, plus i dont have the right tools and taking it to the shop means more time and money which i would like to save as much as possible

rmcdaniels it would be moree than great if you could throw in some dyno sheet or some info about the mini-me vs. sst or something along those lines.
i really do like the mini-me ac cuz of the smaller size and fitment but i didnt wana comprimise on the performance

armash

bump

rmcdaniels

I never did mini-me vs. ramhorn, just ramhorn vs. cast (Inline Pro SS):

Inline Pro cast:




Lovefab SST ramhorn, A/C compatible, 3" downpipe. Same motor, boost, tuner, etc. Clutch was slipping up top, it made 380 after I replaced the clutch, I just never got a copy of that plot:




You can ask Cody about ramhorn vs. Mini-Me, he's dyno'd them.

patrick4588

iTrader: (1)

i would go with the 3071r. the t28 just wont make the power you want. it will run out of breath.

rmcdaniels

The dyno charts that I posted were with a GT28RS, here's one of the same setup with a GT3071R:




That got me higher trap speeds, but lower ET's. All in all, I preferred my GT28RS &gt; ALL for daily driving and weekend track use.

That was also with crappy B16 cams, a set of ITR cams should get you 30-40 WHP more with that setup (guy that I know built that same setup with ITR cams and made over 60 WHP more on the same boost, but with a bigger turbo).

Schister66

making a return line for either of those looks like a chore....good luck w/ either one you pick, but if i were buying this, i would get the RLD Ramhorn, but i also would have ditched AC...that makes life sooo much easier

blaze the chemi

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rmcdaniels &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...
That was also with crappy B16 cams, a set of ITR cams should get you 30-40 WHP more with that setup (guy that I know built that same setup with ITR cams and made over 60 WHP more on the same boost, but with a bigger turbo).</TD></TR></TABLE>
Is this also on a B18C block standard bore? It looks like either of these setups would be great to replace my greddy kit. I autox and will begin to track my car so I would definitely get either the GT28xx or GT30xx.

rmcdaniels

B16, sleeved, 84mm bore, 8.5:1 CR