Hey guys,

I'm planning a future Hemi build for my 1968 Coronet. I'm planning on building a "Day 2" style hot rod and would like run a cross ram intake (yes on the street).

I had originally wanted to find an old Rat Roaster crossram for the car but I'm quickly turning against that idea. Although they are vintage and cool... there is no cost savings vs. the MP manifold. I like the fact that you can buy correct linkage for the MP manifold, it has provisions to mount the coil, far less danger of blow ups, etc.

I've been trying to find some real world experiences with this intake and haven't found much.

I've read these new manifolds are taller than the originals and that air cleaners will not fit under the hood... which is ok with me because I am going to run and RO-style hood scoop.

But I've also read two other things that concern me... I read a passing comment that they are not very good intakes, and that they are no longer in production?

Can somebody elaborate? Just to be clear... I'm not looking for max power, I'm sure a single carb on a modern manifold will make more power. I'm going for the wow factor.

Thanks

I run a 64 crossram and it works great, the MP crossrams are terrible for fitment do not work good and most disguard them for a RB crossram or early original unit like mine. the RR is fine to go with but you need to add 1 1/2" spacer to the lid for more pleunam which will stop the blow ups.

i run the mp crossram on my hemi dart clone and the only real issue i have is idle speed. in park i'm at 1300 but in drive it drops to 950 ( high idle speed is 1 of the things warned about in the 68 press release on the darts and cudas). it drives fine and i've put around 900 street miles a yr on it the last 3 yrs. motor is .020 over 426 with a 236/240 dur@.050 hyd. roller, hedman race headers, 727 and 410 dana. i have heard comments both ways as to it being a good intake or not and i really don't have any strip times on it to tell you as far as performance level. i,ve had some friends drive it and been told it,s anywhere from a low 12 sec car to high 10 sec car lol. i know every time i see the old style croosram my mouth waters for 1 but like you $2500 or more for eyecandy is too much in my opinion. dave

3ddart,

Thank you for your insight. Can I ask what air cleaner to do you have on your engine?

Also do you have any shots of the car with the hood closed? How is your hood clearance?

I'm planning on running a 67 RO style scoop on my Coronet... but don't want to run the something as tall as the 68 SS scoop.

Two of my good friends in N/ss run 9.50s with the mopar crossram , so I think they do work. One has a 572 and the other a 540cu in.

hood scoop is in the correct location for a ss car and the air cleaner does rub on the drivers side front. the scoop tapers from front to back. i have a torque strap on the drivers side so i don't think the motor rocks to the right much to cause this. as stated earlier the mp crossram is at least 1" taller then the original style. also i have the 1/2" blocks between the k frame and frame rails so that lowers the motor some also but also creates some frontend issues. i believe the air cleaner is a summit brand #sum g288 which is somewhat adjustable for spacing but i still needed to modify it. this is all with standard hemi motor mounts (was trying to create a realistic clone). you could possibly go with a motor plate to help drop the motor (but this may cause other issues with headers and steering linkage) or easier but also not cheap, the shortest 9" dia. aircleaners (i think they will fit)you can find. of course 1 for each carb. also there are the smaller dia aircleaners to be had. google hemi dart images and you will see examples of these. also google images of your body style and that may help you, ie 67 hemi coronet.good luck and let me know if you have other ?s. they call them hemroids for a reason, lol

I've raced a lot of years with the Rat Roaster and crossrams. For the street, forget the Rat Roaster.

We use the MP crossram on our NSS car, and it works great. It is a good piece. It is high, and by it's type of construction there is a lot of places for a vacuum leak, but that is not big deal. Pay attention and you'll be fine.

My car is a 1968 Coronet,

It currently has stock flat hood that isn't mint by a long shot, so I don't mind cutting it for clearance. But I don't want to run the volkswagen catcher tall scoop... just the regular 67 style RO/WO scoop.

My car will be kind of a poser... I'm only looking for around 550hp. Although I want it to look mean, I still want the car to be a street toy. I don't want to shim the K-member or run a motor plate.

I'm planning on running power steering, power brakes, and A/C with a low mount compressor.

Not too much to ask, huh

mine runs ok on the street. doesn't do to bad on the track either for an iron headed motor. i've been on well over 100 mile round trip drives with it. it is very tall, i think my scoop is 5in at the back and 6in at the front and barely fits the air cleaners. no k frame spacers. i prefer these type of air cleaners, they don't slow it down at the track.



http://youtu.be/PbVCXgnS4oA

Those are the 9" air cleaners I was thinking of. The filter lids are pricy but that looks good to me

I had originally wanted to find an old Rat Roaster crossram for the car but I'm quickly turning against that idea. Although they are vintage and cool... there is no cost savings vs. the MP manifold.

I have this piece ready to go when I finish experimenting with the Indy 426-2 and -3 intakes that I have for mine. I put a lot of work into this RR and I hope it will work OK. I love the look.
Mark

2nd pic

Thank you those who have replied,

I have another question for you guys. I've been comparing the photos posted to pictures of stock 68 Hemi Coronets and it appears that a Hemi in an A-body sits quite a bit higher than in a B-body?

Am I correct in the assumption that the engine bay of a Dart is not only narrower, but shallower as well?

I've also got a 68 roadrunner with a hemi in it with stock mounts I could measure from the flat engine pad to a straight edge across the fenders if you want, I also have a MP cross ram I could measure the height for you . (it's not on the car) then maybe you could get an idea of what your up against.
Russ

That would be awesome. Thank you

The MP X-Ram with slight modifications out perform all the stock production X-Rams.The only drawback is they are heavy,but can be lightened.

ok, I got just under 10in. from the bottom of the intake to the top of the fender, granted there is more room under the hood part, the MP crossram is approx 8in in height to where the carb mount. should give you some idea.
Russ