Cheap ways to make power?

[QNev]

My 1990 has some beef with highway driving. I have a top speed of about 105 km/h but when I go on long trips I can only really cruise at 90 km/h on a good day. I just changed some dead spark plugs and noticed a big help in the low revs but I don't know what else to do.

I was reading the FAQ sticky and it mentioned taking some material out of the upper intake and that it makes a considerable gain in flow. Is the upper intake the rubber tube? What material is this talking about?

I'm not even going to ask about a CAI because those are a scam on small engines.

What else can I do?

Thanks guys.

 

[88BII]

booooooost

 

[Bent Bolt]

Remove 2.9. Install 4.0l .

 

[Psychopete]

Remove unneeded weight. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Keep the engine tuned up and in good running condition.

I've been there, but I spent a lot of money. It really wasn't worth it in the long run, I wish I would have put in a V8 from the get go. But I did learn a lot and had fun with it.

The aftermarket for this engine is pretty slim, and what's out there is pretty expensive.

That "material" their referring to is a piece of metal that keeps the intake hose from colapsing. If you remove it, I might suggest you use a different intake tube entirely. FWIW, I had mine cammed and all sorts of other shit, and I used the stock tube with the metal in it.

Just keep the air box, it is drawing in fresh air from the front of the truck.

Pete

 

[QNev]

Thanks Pete. The 5.0 swap would be awesome but way out of my price range and ability. Guess I'll just have to tough it out

 

[BlackBII]

Cheap and Power shouldn't be in the same sentence!

You can clean out some material in the upper intake plenum, the ports don't quite match the lower...

I did it on my 2.9, it moved the torque curve up a few hundred rpm's and deepened the exhaust tone. Difference in power? maybe 2 hp at 4800rpm

Do what pete said

 

[QNev]

You can clean out some material in the upper intake plenum, the ports don't quite match the lower...

2 HP? Only 2 HP? That's like doubling my ponies man! What do you mean by this though? Which part is the upper intake? The plastic air box?

 

[IMenriched]

2 HP? Only 2 HP? That's like doubling my ponies man! What do you mean by this though? Which part is the upper intake? The plastic air box?

no not the plastic air box...it is the airbox for the air filter

the upper intake is the Alumimum unit the sits between the valve covers, and on top of the engine...bolts to the lower intake the lower intake which connects the heads to the block of the engine. The upper intake is Kinda tall, looks like 3 legs under it. The 3 legs are what bolt up to the lower intake. the inside of these 3 legs start to divide up the air and the lower intake finishes dividing the air and adds the fuel mix for each of the cylinders.

what they are matching is the inside ports where these 2 bolts together (the upper intake and the lower intake) & is what they are getting closer to matching up, commonly called port matching. Often these two surfaces don't have smooth transfer or flat edge where air hits and gains turbulance and resistance. If it is matched very closely to the same size and shape, the air doesn't get so turbulant and has less resistance...gaining in a smoother flow of air...and thus more power.

hope that clears it up a bit for you

 

[QNev]

IMenriched, THANK YOU!

 

[IMenriched]

IMenriched, THANK YOU!

your very welcome
but your title of your thread mensions cheap...port match can be very expensive...because it very labor intensive......Literally sanding away at metal componets takes time and fenesse....If you pay someone for this, it adds up fast...hence counter productive to cheap

 

[MagnaV30]

I have a top speed of about 105 km/h

I would say you have bigger issues than doing a port match and polish if you can only attain 105...
My ranger can make 185, and only has an electric fan, and a mild port match.

When was the last tune up performed?

 

[QNev]

Haven't had one yet... haha

Maybe checking the timing might be a good thing too

I thought the top speed was normal for this thing. Magna, is yours a 2.9? And are you in the wheels forums too?

 

[ranger]

well i can hit like 65-70mph in 3rd gear red lining dont know what that is in kph

 

[Psychopete]

well i can hit like 65-70mph in 3rd gear red lining dont know what that is in kph

105-113

 

[Hahnsb2]

That "material" their referring to is a piece of metal that keeps the intake hose from colapsing. If you remove it, I might suggest you use a different intake tube entirely. FWIW, I had mine cammed and all sorts of other shit, and I used the stock tube with the metal in it.

I never had a problem with that removed on mine, I like to remove simply because it makes the tube much easier to work around.