[mysticowner]

I tried the Victor, Stealth regular size and the RPM air gap on Edelbrock
RPM aluminum heads, flat top pistons and a comp cams 288 marine cam.
I went with the air gap. It was fine down low where the Victor was to lazy and seemed to have better midrange to top end than the Stealth. That was with a 1" open hole spacer. Height wise I didnt see much differance between the RPM and the Stealth.
This is on a boat engine around 400-450 HP.

 

[R_Williams]

Cool, Im still torn between the Stealth and the RPM Air Gap for my SCJ headed 521 build. The price is also something to be looked at $230 vs $320

 

[customblackbird]

i just recieved my stealth regular ports for xmass today. the intake is nice. It does seem kinda tall tho, but i would have to assume that the RPM is taller due to the open gap beneith the runners. I am however alittle PISSED that the intake flange sealing surface has 2 decent side MASHES on the sealing surface edge. and 2 smaller mashes. Like the intake was dropped. but the packaging seems fine. This happened with my holley stealth ram intake for my SBC as well. I will have to grind these out inorder for the gasket to seal. ports are pretty smooth tho but they seem to be alittle smaller than the felpro gasket port openings.

 

[customblackbird]

i couldnt justify myself spending the extra 130$ for the RPM either.

 

[R_Williams]

i couldnt justify myself spending the extra 130$ for the RPM either.

Thats one of the main things Im pondering myself, that and the performance side of it.............

 

[customblackbird]

well the stealth is designed for 1800-6800 rpms... but from what ive read they dont really perform that high. I would only be pushing my 521 to 5500-6000rpms max. I know the RPM would want to peak a good bit higher so i went with the cheap stealth due to the lower RPM range. I would think if your running the motor to 6000rpms and higher to prob go with the RPM over the stealth. The RPM does deliever nice midrange tho as well from what ive read.

The mad porter would be able to give u hard accurate numbers on the differences of the 2.

 

[R_Williams]

Im thinking 6500rpms max on mine. I searched the Stealth on here and got a bunch of info but I havent read to much about people running the Air Gap....... I wonder if its the price that keeps people from running it or if its not what its made out to be?

 

[customblackbird]

mostly its the price i would assume.

I did read an article in "engine masters" and they tested a few intakes on a 351 ford. They tried a summit intake, weland, RPM air gap. they RPM air gap made the most power... out of the 3. However they only used one cam. So a cam matched to each intake would give u better results. the RPM didnt make too much over the stealth tho... until the upper RPM ranges.

 

[bigblok86ranger]

How much did the Air-Gap out perform the Stealth by? I ran a Stealth for years and I know it worked alot better than the non Air-Gap RPM. I guess what it comes down to is, is an extra ~5hp(just guessing) worth the $130 extra? To the average street/strip enthusiast on a budget probably not, and another thing everyone needs to remember is the small power increase on the dyno may be useless once installed in a vehicle as many engines need a compromise of the dyno tune once installed into the vehicle.

 

[R_Williams]

Thats what Im thinking. I wonder if on a 521 stroker the difference would be that noticable?

 

[mr_xa460]

I am however alittle PISSED that the intake flange sealing surface has 2 decent side MASHES on the sealing surface edge. and 2 smaller mashes. Like the intake was dropped. but the packaging seems fine. This happened with my holley stealth ram intake for my SBC as well. I will have to grind these out inorder for the gasket to seal.

i had the same issue with my stealth too, same thing thought the box was dropped etc but didnt see no damage to the box.... when my engine builder was porting out my edelbrock heads he port matched my stealth at the same time and smooth off the little ding to the sealing surface.

i went the stealth as was recommend by paul kane.

 

[79Puller]

I switched from the Air-Gap to the Stealth and made a big difference , but I was using CJ heads and the CJ intake. The motor seemed to pick up alot faster with the stealth.

 

[mysticowner]

Here's 3 pictures in the same boat for height comparison.
Stealth, RPM and Victor.
Again, on this engine the RPM got the nod.

 

[The Pope]

i couldnt justify myself spending the extra 130$ for the RPM either.

Same here. And the Air-Gap wasn't even avalible yet for the 460 when I bought the Stealth many, many moons ago.

 

[R_Williams]

I guess the old saying goes you wont know which one works better on your combo unless you try em Cant buy 2 intakes though either

 

[gregaust]

i just recieved my stealth regular ports for xmass today. the intake is nice. It does seem kinda tall tho, but i would have to assume that the RPM is taller due to the open gap beneith the runners. .

Just for info
The RPM airgap is actually a little lower
RPM = 4.81" front and 6.15" back. 5.48" at the carb
Stealth = 5.25" front , 6.75" back

 

[customblackbird]

Just for info
The RPM airgap is actually a little lower
RPM = 4.81" front and 6.15" back. 5.48" at the carb
Stealth = 5.25" front , 6.75" back

hmmm, thanks for the info greg. Thats interesting! i guess i was correct that my stealth seemed kinda tall lol.

I do like how the RPM looks in the pics that were posted tho. it reminds me of the Victor/ford racing intake with individual runners

 

[R_Williams]

I like the way it looks to. I think I might be a tewst mule and try the Air Gap

 

[mcalvo]

I have a '70 Torino Cobra with a 460 (.030 over), ported C8s, Srp pistons, eagle rods and 3.89 rear gears. The cam is a Comp Cams roller (with 254 intake @ .050 260 exhaust @ .050 and .586 lift) and I ended up going with the standard port Stealth.

Other than the roller cam I think it's a pretty typical budget minded build (non-stroker) in a big heavy car. Hoping to engine dyno it in the spring (so i can thoroughly test it and better match the converter) and I will post the results.

-Michael

 

[rmcomprandy]

People ... to clear-up what seems to be a misconception.
The Air-Gap is NOT simply a Performer RPM with an air space under and around the runners; it has larger runners internally than a Performer RPM.
AND, we seem to be forgetting that WOT and part throttle is a major differentiation with the performance of all these manifolds.