2.9 Mods-MPG and Power

[watkins65]

Hey guys, I'm kinda new around here. I've searched and didn't really find what i'm looking for. I have a 2.9 in my 89' with a cracked head. I'm replacing the head and I'm looking for mods the will increase the gas milege of the truck or that will increase the power without killing mpg. You know, cake and eat it too!lol I'm open to anything. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for your help guys!

 

[IMenriched]

obviously replace the head....make sure the other one isn't near/doing same as the one replaced.

outside of that...good general maintence, is the best "mod" and maybe the cheapest. keep it tuned up.

proformance gains are going to be minimal. if you have cash to spend....headers/exhuast systems is one thing, that most who have them, found notiable difference in the seat of the pants driving without sacrifices in economy.

gearing is another areana that could help in the economy area...being harder to swap/change can be potentially expensive to "find the best" fit to your situation.
typicaly... 410's or 373 ratio seems to get the best results provided your tires and lift are near stock size for run of the mill daily driving. Others will mostlikely chime in as to what works for them

 

[AllanD]

The most important things are
1)making sure that everything in the management
system is working as designed
2)driving technique.
3)Driving at the rpm where the engine is most efficient.

AD

 

[rickcdewitt]

headers are a waste of money(so are all the other hop ups).been there wasted the money

 

[watkins65]

What's the max power i can get from the 2.9?

 

[Blacksheep]

headers are a waste of money(so are all the other hop ups).been there wasted the money

sry dude, but imma hafta go a head and pull out the for that one. How is helpin the moter breath better wasteing money? it gives u rwhp and tq. may not be much with v6's, but headers are by far a waste of money.

 

[Blacksheep]

Hey guys, I'm kinda new around here. I've searched and didn't really find what i'm looking for. I have a 2.9 in my 89' with a cracked head. I'm replacing the head and I'm looking for mods the will increase the gas milege of the truck or that will increase the power without killing mpg. You know, cake and eat it too!lol I'm open to anything. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for your help guys!

Port the hell out of those heads before u put them back on . same for the intake, upper and lower. also, go with a bigger cam, if not a bigger cam, then a bigger rocker arm. when u put a bigger rocker arm with a stock cam, it "increases" the size of the cam, not literally, but as far as how far and how long the valves stay open. another thing u can do, if u choose to do that, or even if not. find a local speed shop and have them dyno and tune ur truck. ur truck might be runnin rich, or a lil lean etc. that will help it, ALOT. expecially if u do port and polish ur heads and intake.

 

[Hahnsb2]

What's the max power i can get from the 2.9?

It's not worth it man. A 4.0 swap would be easy in your truck! And will put down numbers in stock form a 2.9 will only dream of.

 

[watkins65]

Ok had a idea, does anyone run a rear mount turbo on these trucks? They are pretty common on my DD "01 GMC 4x4" style truck.

 

[watkins65]

It's not worth it man. A 4.0 swap would be easy in your truck! And will put down numbers in stock form a 2.9 will only dream of.

I didn't really want to do a swap just yet. I want something different. Either high mpg with enough power to out run moped or a tire smoking, honda beating, little V6. lol

 

[Blacksheep]

well if u wanna beat a honda then u gonna need a power adder (some of those lil bastards are pretty quick for what they are). or if u dont wanna do a swap, the u could always put ur truck in the air and run the hondas over. . But what i was talkin about with the heads and stuff, thats what i would do if u didnt wanna do a swap yet.

 

[watkins65]

well if u wanna beat a honda then u gonna need a power adder (some of those lil bastards are pretty quick for what they are). or if u dont wanna do a swap, the u could always put ur truck in the air and run the hondas over. . But what i was talkin about with the heads and stuff, thats what i would do if u didnt wanna do a swap yet.

That's why i asked about the turbo.I couldn't find much about rear mount on these trucks. My DD is already on 35's so got that taken care of.lol This truck is total street. Thanks for all your help.
Any ideas are welcome!

 

[Blacksheep]

hmmm, i rear mount turbo for a 89............. i dought u gonna be able to find a "kit" for it. but its possible with enought tubing and duct tape. lol. is ur truck a 4wd? the reson i ask is, if it is, and u take it off roading, mud, sand, dirt, water etc... could get in the turbo and really mess it up. if u were gonna go turbo, then i would sugest u put it in the engine bay "out of harms way" if of course ur talkin about the "rear mount" turbo im thinkin of...?

 

[Hahnsb2]

I didn't really want to do a swap just yet. I want something different. Either high mpg with enough power to out run moped or a tire smoking, honda beating, little V6. lol

I understand wanting to be different (that's why I drive B2), but some things just aren't worth it and the 2.9 is one of those things. Like I told the last person, I'll seriously send you $50 if you turbo a 2.9, a million people have talked about it but I've never seen anyone actually do it.

 

[rickcdewitt]

it gives u rwhp and tq. may not be much .

you said it,you don't get enough power increase to justify thousands of bucks.
like i said,i've bought all thats avialable for a 2.9 and all it did was ruin the motor for a 4x4,swapped in a stock 4.0 for about half the cost of the wasted 2.9 upgrades and have more power and a better wheeling motor.

you don't have a 2.9l what the hell do you really have to say about them?you're just spouting textbook hopups without knowing the real effect on these motors