2.9 Performance?

[RustedRanger]

The new "cats" "suck" 15 HP from a V-8...on a Chevy 305-350 TPI anyways,so I'd guess it would be around 7HP on a 2.9. Camshaft tech has come a long ways since 1985...also there are many grinds out there that when emissions are tested wouldn't be detectable if you get one from a good company that does computer compatible cams....I'm not saying it would be cheap since it would most likely be a custom grind.

 

[88 Red Ranger]

I have an 88 2.9L. What about if you are from a state that does not do emission testing for that old? The cat has been gone for years and the O2 disconnected for a while also. Before I owned it in Dec,2008.

 

[88_Eddie]

the best way to get some performance out of a 2.9 is remove it from your bronco or ranger and put it in a power wheel.

 

[gribly]

so, if the presense of a cat can suck 20hp off the engine, than clearly all this talk being spouted that cats don't hinder the engine is false.

When it was stated that emissions were holding the motor back a few horsepower, that is not entirely true. The euro version still has a cat, and emissions does not mean just the cat. It includes all sorts of stuff, like the EGR, air pump, the stupid ass intake setup rangers have, and the engine tune.

I have always stated that a 4.0 cat doesn't hold back a mildly built 4.0 barely a whisker, so if you don't wanna spend the money while building a new exhaust, just yank the cat off of a Ranger from a junkyard or something. Even if your state does not do inspections or emissions, you still have to run a cat, since the clean air act is Federal.

 

[heptofite]

uh, actually in 1986 the cars with 2.9s in europe didn't have cats, that wasn't till the 90s.