Cheap performance mods thread!

[Wallee]

Post your cheap hp gain performance mods, can be anything as long as its cheap! So we have a figure of cheap I would say anything 200 dollars and under could be considered cheap when you think of what could be spent on a engine.
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[prostreetC-10]

Quite simply in the number one spot should be the black 4 HOLE phenolic 1" carb spacer.

Number two could be long tube headers.

[Wallee]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

Quite simply in the number one spot should be the black 4 HOLE phenolic 1" carb spacer.

Number two could be long tube headers.

Carb spacer, any info on how it works? Excuse my ignorance on spacers but how do they work and how much power increase are we talkin?
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[prostreetC-10]

In a nutshell....they isolate the carb from heat and extend the throttle bores in the base plate by 1". This gives the fuel a little more time to atomize before it is whirled into the intake runners. They can be great for our trucks in helping the low end torque. On general street applications, you should run a 4 hole on both dual plane and open plenum intakes. Must be careful when using on spread bore intakes. Usually will require a thin steel plate for proper mating. It's not that they provide a tone of HP, it's that the HP gains to cost of item is really good. Could be in the 3-8 HP range or more. What I seem to notice is a pickup in throttle response.

[Wallee]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

In a nutshell....they isolate the carb from heat and extend the throttle bores in the base plate by 1". This gives the fuel a little more time to atomize before it is whirled into the intake runners. They can be great for our trucks in helping the low end torque. On general street applications, you should run a 4 hole on both dual plane and open plenum intakes. Must be careful when using on spread bore intakes. Usually will require a thin steel plate for proper mating. It's not that they provide a tone of HP, it's that the HP gains to cost of item is really good. Could be in the 3-8 HP range or more. What I seem to notice is a pickup in throttle response.

Nice! Love the detailed information, I might have to look into doing that on my truck.
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[dmw319]

Originally Posted by prostreetC-10

In a nutshell....they isolate the carb from heat and extend the throttle bores in the base plate by 1". This gives the fuel a little more time to atomize before it is whirled into the intake runners. They can be great for our trucks in helping the low end torque. On general street applications, you should run a 4 hole on both dual plane and open plenum intakes. Must be careful when using on spread bore intakes. Usually will require a thin steel plate for proper mating. It's not that they provide a tone of HP, it's that the HP gains to cost of item is really good. Could be in the 3-8 HP range or more. What I seem to notice is a pickup in throttle response.

I have one I just put on my intake (which I think is a spread bore) but I dont have a thin steel plate (there was one but it seemed redundant so I took it out). Truck seems to run fine though? Hmmm

[prostreetC-10]

Actually....I'm going to change the number one spot. I think the best and cheapest performance mod is to have someone that knows what the hell they are doing perform a tuneup on said vehicle. Nice parts that are not properly tuned/setup do not provide performance gains! You can gain/lose tons of hp just by having a carb and timing all messed up!

[Wallee]

Your right about that for sure!
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[Coley]

Definitely 'ditto' on the tune-up comments posted by Pro-Street. The other mods (under $200) that come to mind would be either an aluminum intake (dual plane) manifold and/or a set of reasonable exhaust headers. These would/could be economical if bought as quality used....and I'm a big fan of that!!!
Now, back to the carb spacer...that is really interesting. I thought that they were best for high rpm advantage, not lower rpm torque? I'm not sure where I got that 'high rpm advantage' info, it isn't from experience either way.
If that is the case.....hmmmm, I'm going to look into that mod a little further.
Question: what about the aluminum carb spacers? (note: it seems to me that the aluminum ones...which there are a lot of....would transfer heat just like the cast or aluminum intakes....so I'm not sure why the alum. ones would be much good). The phenolic ones (non-metal) sure make a lot more sense for heat isolation to me.
Good thread guys...keep the ideas and feedback comin'.
Coley

[C-10 simplex]

i agree with the tuneup----get the ignition dialed in precise for the engine.


Also, i think theres transmission modulator thing that can either be adjusted (free) or replaced ($12) to provide higher rpm shift points.

Also, if quadrajet then different metering rods and jets. Cheap.

[Wallee]

Originally Posted by C-10 simplex

i agree with the tuneup----get the ignition dialed in precise for the engine.


Also, i think theres transmission modulator thing that can either be adjusted (free) or replaced ($12) to provide higher rpm shift points.

Also, if quadrajet then different metering rods and jets. Cheap.

On that quadrajet thing, new metering rods and jets? Any certain kind of jets? Hard to do?
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[geezer#99]

You're right Coley about the heat transfer part. You know they make them out of wood too!!

[BMERDOC]

C-10 Simplex is right about the ignition. Timing, not just initial, but how it advances and how far it advances really makes an improvement. More reseach and tinkering involved and the parts don't cost a lot.

[Gumby]

a higher stall torque convertor, best seat of the pants mod ever. I don't come around corners and have to open all 4 for a laugh, just flash to TC to stall speed

[kikkegek]

I would suggest loosing the ugly flex-fan or fan-clutch and installing a electrical fan.

engine will rev easier, because you loose the heavy fan and you will gain a couple of HP.

the mod is easy and will cost you under $100,-

engine bay will also look much cleaner.

and then make a fanshroud using:
http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/54...FanShroud.html

[Gumby]

Ive done em all, inake, carb, ign mods, exhaust

Only mod that was ever an instant "oh my" giggle like a school girl every time, was my TC upgrade. And its only a 2200 stall 12" from ACC accperformance.com

would like a 2800 10" now

[terry b]

steal a car with a great motor and put it in your truck.

[Coley]

Another inexpensive one is to switch from the stock 1.5:1 ratio rockers to the 1.6:1.
This adds lift to the valves which gives the same results as a mild cam changeout...without changing the cam. You would see a noticeable improvement in your low end torque and response straight away.
Ideally the rockers would be roller or equivalent...and you might get a good deal locally (used) or thereabouts.
Coley

[prostreetC-10]

Just be careful because that can add .030 of lift or more (or less). Don't want to take springs that might be at there limit and send them into coil bind or something else. Granted...there is a lot to take into consideration in this area.

[GuyO]

CableGuyO is onto something. "Super Tuning" will make a huge difference. To “super-tune” the engine means to weaken the carbs secondary throttle body springs so that the second chamber opens quicker, richen the carb jetting (or install a larger carb.), quicken the distributor advance curve using the appropriate springs, and lower the coolant temperature.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

An intake of Craigslist is always a good deal as well as milling your heads for more compression if your head is stock. There is a lot you can do to heads for about 200
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