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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech

How can I make my car faster?

  • Thread starter Thread starter bhuff30
  • Start date Start date Aug 15, 2003
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bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Aug 15, 2003
#1
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #1
I don't want to use a power adder quite yet, and I don't want to touch the head. I am talking bolt-ons that will make a noticibible difference.
Here is a list of parts I have now:
CAI
gutted upper and rounded lower
slider cam with the specs of the A237 (set at +4)
long tube pacesetter header
off road exhaust with dynomax muffler (2.25" except tailpipe which is 2")
Right now, I seem to be around 110-115 flywheelhp.
What is left for bolt-ons with a noticible gain? The ignition is excellent from the factory, I suppose I could get underdrives... but I didn't think those made much difference.
What is left in it without power adders or head porting, or did I max it out?
 
A

Anthony M

Member
Mar 4, 2003
70
0
6
Toledo, OH
Aug 15, 2003
#2
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #2
bhuff30 said:
I don't want to touch the head.
Click to expand...

Do you mean you don't want to mill the head anymore than you have, or do you not want to port it

You could try a better set of gears...The only other option I can think of for N/A is a nice port and polish, possibly a 3 valve job

Anthony
 
A

Anthony M

Member
Mar 4, 2003
70
0
6
Toledo, OH
Aug 15, 2003
#3
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #3
bhuff30 said:
What is left in it without power adders or head porting, or did I max it out?
Click to expand...

I should read the entire post before i reply...

Anthony
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Aug 15, 2003
#4
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #4
mostly, I said that because I don't want to mess with the head until I install a low compression, turbo head with better exhaust valves, porting, and everything.
Gears would definatly help me. I am afreid it is a little out of my price range though. I would have to find a good deal and install them myself.
 

Bearded Forever

Type O Danzigative the Dark
Founding Member
Sep 4, 2000
4,927
3
98
Vinland
Aug 15, 2003
#5
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #5
Best thread EVAR!
 

silver pony

Founding Member
Jun 10, 2002
2,013
0
0
San Bernardino,CA USA 92405
Aug 15, 2003
#6
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #6
Crovax said:
Best thread EVAR!
Click to expand...
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Aug 15, 2003
#7
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #7
Do you think the ranger header will help? What about changing my CAI to aluminum instead of PVC?
Seriously, I was trying to think of other simple things to do which would make more power, and I have nearly come to the end for bolt-ons. I guess a 25hp gain isn't to bad.
Maybe it is time to start losing weight.
 

ganador01

Founding Member
Jan 21, 2002
1,581
2
38
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Aug 15, 2003
#8
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #8
bhuff30 said:
I don't want to use a power adder quite yet, and I don't want to touch the head. I am talking bolt-ons that will make a noticibible difference.
Here is a list of parts I have now:
CAI
gutted upper and rounded lower
slider cam with the specs of the A237 (set at +4)
long tube pacesetter header
off road exhaust with dynomax muffler (2.25" except tailpipe which is 2")
Right now, I seem to be around 110-115 flywheelhp.
What is left for bolt-ons with a noticible gain? The ignition is excellent from the factory, I suppose I could get underdrives... but I didn't think those made much difference.
What is left in it without power adders or head porting, or did I max it out?
Click to expand...
Take your car to the side of a cliff. Put a damn brick on the pedal and send it away to its doom. With the laws of gravity going with you, i think you have a good chance of doing 0-60 in like 2-3 seconds flat. Now that is fast!
 

silver pony

Founding Member
Jun 10, 2002
2,013
0
0
San Bernardino,CA USA 92405
Aug 15, 2003
#9
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #9
..... yea I need to loose some pounds cuz this morning the scale.....




....
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
24
118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Aug 15, 2003
#10
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #10
Being that the head is the biggest bottleneck on these motors. I think you will be hard up to find any decent gains without doing head work. If nothing else you could pick up a turbo head, port it, do a valve job, etc. and install it. Your compression should still be pretty good with the flat tops (you can figure that out).

Maybe playing with fuel pressure could net some small gains. I would also build a "real" ram air/cold air intake that is down low near the ground and in the direct airflow. Making sure your timing is turned up as far as possible like 18-20º (even so far you have to use premium) would get some pretty decent gains.

Other than that you need 2 things: Gears and a 5 Speed

Stinger
 

GTPhreak

Founding Member
Mar 16, 2000
5,505
0
77
Rowlett, TEXAS
Aug 15, 2003
#11
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #11
ganador01 said:
Take your car to the side of a cliff. Put a damn brick on the pedal and send it away to its doom. With the laws of gravity going with you, i think you have a good chance of doing 0-60 in like 2-3 seconds flat. Now that is fast!
Click to expand...
get outta here scott
 

Bearded Forever

Type O Danzigative the Dark
Founding Member
Sep 4, 2000
4,927
3
98
Vinland
Aug 15, 2003
#12
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #12
ganador01 said:
Take your car to the side of a cliff. Put a damn brick on the pedal and send it away to its doom. With the laws of gravity going with you, i think you have a good chance of doing 0-60 in like 2-3 seconds flat. Now that is fast!
Click to expand...

I think he's speaking from experience. So tell us then, did th 5.0 drop
faster or did it just have more arrogance when it splattered?
 
1

140cilx

Founding Member
Sep 7, 2001
2,385
0
0
GA
Aug 15, 2003
#13
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #13
use bigger tires on the back so it's always going downhill.
 
D

Dan'l

Founding Member
Aug 2, 2001
1,539
0
0
wisconsin
Aug 15, 2003
#14
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #14
I don't know if it would be noticeable on the auto, but on the 91 5 spd, the car was noticeably quicker through first and 2/3 of second when I went to the aluminum drive shaft. -put your beast on a diet- rotating weight first(tires/rims)- I'm currently running a set of 205/50/15's on a lighter set of wheels. I loose no acceleration due to traction, and with the other lightening I've done to the beast,those tires have large enough contact patch that they are sufficient. The speedo is thrown off, but even taking that into account, the car is noticeably quicker 0 to 60 with the drastically reduced rotating weight and lower gear that the smaller tires have. Only drawback is it looks like someone put 13"wheels on my car.
 

Anlushac11

Founding Member
Feb 17, 2001
2,270
0
0
Indianapolis, Indiana
Aug 15, 2003
#15
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #15
bhuff30 said:
Do you think the ranger header will help? What about changing my CAI to aluminum instead of PVC?
Seriously, I was trying to think of other simple things to do which would make more power, and I have nearly come to the end for bolt-ons. I guess a 25hp gain isn't to bad.
Maybe it is time to start losing weight.
Click to expand...

Bhuff30 if you already have a longtube header then going to a Ranger shorty would be a step backwards.

And if you dont have it yet you need to get a 3.73:1 geared traction lock rear.
 

Red_LX

I’m not much help unless you’re looking for ****!
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,896
73
129
Morgantown, WV...where couches meet their doom
Aug 15, 2003
#16
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #16
140cilx said:
use bigger tires on the back so it's always going downhill.
Click to expand...

That's one of the best things I've heard in quite awhile!
 

StangerJon

New Member
Mar 20, 2003
141
0
0
Minnesota
Aug 15, 2003
#17
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #17
use bigger tires on the back so it's always going downhill.
Click to expand...
thats pretty good
does that work
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Aug 15, 2003
#18
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #18
140cilx said:
use bigger tires on the back so it's always going downhill.
Click to expand...
The back end already sits up 1" above the front. How much more should I go?
This thread should probably be moved to the outhouse.
 

mr_woodster

Active Member
Jul 28, 2003
1,314
0
36
Riverside, CA
Aug 15, 2003
#19
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #19
use bigger tires on the back so it's always going downhill.
Click to expand...
Aha! SO that is why they use big tires on the back and small tires on the front of 5.0's! golly all these years i thought it was for looks...
 

Cougar

Founding Member
Sep 29, 2001
913
0
0
Manhattan Kansas, KSU
Aug 15, 2003
#20
  • Aug 15, 2003
  • #20
Strap JATO engines to the roof.
 
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