adding more power


larsen101

larsen101

15+ Year Member

Joined
Jul 28, 2008
Messages
116
Points
3,101
City
San Jose, CA
Vehicle Year
1987
Transmission
Manual
so i was wondering what kind of add ons can i put on my 2.9 to give me some more power? mostly low buck things that would help add and even some bigger things but not to much$$
 
there isnt much you can do to truly increase power on a 2.9. There are many "placebo mods" that you may think increase horsepower but they don't really do much of anything.
 
dang thats not really what i wanted to hear. i need more power to push the truck up steep incline while on the freeway what i have just isnt doing the job. would that be something that different gearing would help out with?
 
Define steep, and what gear are you in going up said incline. Yes, gears would help.
 
And tires would also help. What is your current set up?
Nick
 
Downshift. You wont hurt it buy pulling grades at 4000 RPMs.
 
right now i run 32x11.5x15 pro comp muds 3.73 gears and usually im in 4ht and if slowing down 3rd its just seems hard on the engine if im doing it for a long time and not getting over the hills. i dont really know the incline % but its just going over mountians in the seirra nevada and on the coast of california that make it hard for me.
 
with that tire size it would be better to run 4.10 gears.
 
ok what about if i put 35's the tires i have are running low on tread and im looking at 35's
 
Gumout

How about adding some Gumout fuel injector cleaner to a tank of gas?

Or I saw a gas station that sells some racing fuel.

I also recently saw a movie where a guy strapped a rocket engine to his car and got airborne. :icon_rofl:
 
The bigger the tire ....the more gear(higher nubmerically) is needed.
4:10 will be a improvement with your current situation...and prolly is the best for the truck and still keep reasonable economy.

Are pulling a trailer?? or just some stuff in the bed??

swapping in a healthy (mechanically sound) 4.0 and 4:10 gears would be your best route for longer term.
and in all likelyhood easiest on your pocket book. meaning changing gears...and tires gets coslty in itself....the 35's might need (depending on your current suspention & body set up), additional suspention and or body lift to help clear. definately will if this is stock suspention height.

the 4.0 will use a MAS sensor as opposed to the MAP sensor on the 2.9....the MAS will help in those "change in elevation" situations.
 
larsen101 said:
right now i run 32x11.5x15 pro comp muds 3.73 gears and usually im in 4ht and if slowing down 3rd its just seems hard on the engine if im doing it for a long time and not getting over the hills. i dont really know the incline % but its just going over mountians in the seirra nevada and on the coast of california that make it hard for me.
Click to expand...
I live not to far from you and I have not had a problem going up any hills. The cajon in my truck, I just run it in 4th gear and 2600RPM and I am doing 55mph and still passing traffic. I am running 30" tires and with set up you see below. I would say to drop gears in it. I would run something like 4.10 or better yet 4.56s. Is this on normal streets, or highway more?
Here is the power of gears, I replaced my brothers old gaymero 2.73 rear end with a limited slip 4.10 set from a corvette. It has a 250 I-6 and now can climb things that my little truck has trouble doing.
Nick
 
these guys speak truth.

You have to change the fulcrum in the leverage your gears are providing.

3.73 need you to push real hard to move 32's. If you go to 35's you'll need to push a hell of a lot harder. Therefore, if you add 4.11 or 4.56, you'll be adding more leverage to propell the vehicle. Like using a 2 foot breaker bar to loosen a bolt vs. 5" 1/4 drive. I ran 4.11s in Sonja with 33's and never had a problem, hell she even got good mileage.
 
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