Lately there has been a lot of talk regarding tunnel ram engines. I'm surprised they haven't been used by more people. Some guys think they are a high performance engine leftover from the jet boat era.....not true. If you are able to reach your desired performance in the 6-700 h.p. range, tunnel ram engines are a great alternative to supercharging.
Even Mercury has implemented short runner, large plenum,
ram type intakes into their high performance EFI engines.
I personally have run a set of 555 cu.in. engines with dart
tunnel rams for the past 9 years. They've been reliable & performed well. They made 720 HP on 89 octane fuel pushing my 35 Fountain to an average of 97 mph. I recently had them installed in my 38 Fountain which ran a solid 92 mph. I'm looking for more pics and comments on tunnel ram engines.

ZUL's 750 N/A tunnel rams that are in "Out of Control" Cig TS/TG are probably some of the baddest engines I have EVER heard.

I think one major turn off is the need to go to scoops on the engine hatch. I'd rather have scoops for additional clearance than all the more engine parts and weight associated with superchargers.

Here's a Procharged Tunnel Ram 540 that fits under the hatch with no scoop. The sound usually gives away what is hidden underneath.

With new cylinder head technology with higher velocity intake ports it's easy to make 700-800 HP with a single 4 barrel set up. But, with a tunnel ram coupled with these new high speed airflow cylinder heads 800 horsepower + is very achievable. I done quite a few of these setups and yes...a set of well set up carbs and the engines are dockable and very dependable as well.

ONESICKGLADIATOR's old 36 Gladiator had a pair of 800+hp Tunnel Ram Zul's. They were the most exotic sounding, non blower motor I have ever heard.

Stan Pike's 30 foot Sutphen Inferno (Old Sport Class Boat) ran a Tunnel Ram set up on it, in the late 70s, if I remember correctly

They had problems every once on in a while getting it up on plane.

Lucky Strike -Steve, you may remember the set up better then I do?

Thank you
Jim

Zul is the man on tunnel ram motors

Yeah,all the pro-stock guys run TUNNEL RAM guess who used to run pro stock???? tripps

ant time you can get the fuel a liitle higher up it helps with the adomazation, i dont know if i spelled that right.............anyway,,,,,,,,,tunnel rams are great it is just that blowers have come so far in tech it is just easier to supercharge something than tune a wicked tunnel ram set up.........a blower motor is a lot easier to tune than a na motor in my opinion...............

My 540, built by Blue Thunder.