Looking for advice on basic engine mods to boost performance.

[Schurkey]

At 9000 feet, there isn't enough air getting into the engine to make getting exhaust out much of a problem.

That engine is BEGGING for forced induction/power adder. Any form of supercharger or nitrous is going to be a huge help.

At the point where you have the intake system appropriately pressurized, all the other stuff will make a difference--exhaust, cam, etc.

Gearing, scrapping the silly tires, or greater displacement are about the only things that would help without forced induction.

 

[Danny CainOBS]

Welcome Sonic, Ko2’s are the mountains favorites. Sweet rig

 

[Erik the Awful]

At 9000 feet, there isn't enough air getting into the engine to make getting exhaust out much of a problem.

That's a fair point, but what's a "basic engine mod" that will help him out? I consider supercharging a major engine mod.

Out of curiosity, how well does E85 perform at altitude?

 

[Silverado1994]

I'd even say the stock manifolds are fine. The Y pipe and stock cat are much bigger problems and cheaper to replace. Easier too, I know I'm not gonna try to do headers on my 30 year old engine.

You make a good point with that.

 

[Silverado1994]

I wouldn't do ANYTHING performance wise on a 30 year old engine except for a rebuild. lol

 

[351FUN]

I wouldn't do ANYTHING performance wise on a 30 year old engine except for a rebuild. lol

Nah slap some dart heads on that 300k mile bottom end and let it rip!

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

Well OP has a fairly new crate engine in his so, why not? Get rid of the swirl port heads and go with better flowing aluminum heads for starters. Here's some with the bolt setup for the TBI intake manifold, made by Trick Flow. For $1100/pair, it's hard to beat the price.

Summit Racing SUM-162108 Summit Racing™ 62cc Aluminum Cylinder Heads for Small Chevy | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Summit Racing™ 62cc Aluminum Cylinder Heads for Small Chevy with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Cylinder Heads at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[Schurkey]

how well does E85 perform at altitude?

On a vehicle that doesn't have a way to measure alcohol content of the fuel (i.e., a non-flex-fuel vehicle) I'd expect it to be every bit the disaster it is at low altitude.

RACING E85 has a consistent formula, so the fuel curve can be tuned. PUMP E85 is mis-named; it is never intended to be 85% alcohol. Supposedly the fuel varies by seasonal changes from 65% to 83%, or something like that. So there is NO way to tune for it unless you can measure the alcohol content of each tankful.

12+ compression helps.

 

[351FUN]

On a vehicle that doesn't have a way to measure alcohol content of the fuel (i.e., a non-flex-fuel vehicle) I'd expect it to be every bit the disaster it is at low altitude.

RACING E85 has a consistent formula, so the fuel curve can be tuned. PUMP E85 is mis-named; it is never intended to be 85% alcohol. Supposedly the fuel varies by seasonal changes from 65% to 83%, or something like that. So there is NO way to tune for it unless you can measure the alcohol content of each tankful.

12+ compression helps.

Absolutely. In the SHO world we'd run e50 tunes and you cannot do anything like that without measuring each time you fill up. Easy way to break 500hp but always seemed like too much hassle for me.

 

[Silverado1994]

Nah slap some dart heads on that 300k mile bottom end and let it rip!

Nuh-uh!!! Gotta be AFR's bro!!!

You must be registered for see images attach