More Power 3.0l

[niklash]

What can I do to increase power in the engine? Can I take the air pump of, will it increase power? I looking for easy things to get more power without much $$$.

Thanks Niklas

[JackT]

SSI heat exchangeres and thats about it for not much $$$. That will cost you about $1,000.

[banjomike]

I asked the same thing after being told that the air pump sucks about 15hp! In truth it only puts the tiniest drag on the belt that drives it (pull of the belt and spin the pully to see for yourself). And what it does is inject air into the exhaust to help any unburned fuel finish burning to help the emmisions. The one negative side effect is that it can cause the engine to run a bit hotter due to the extra combustion in the exhaust. If you do remove it some states require it to be there when you get your smog test. My mechnic says that you should put the belt on for a day every month at a minimum or the bearings could seize!?

After learning all of that I reconnected it. The belt will come off for future AutoXs.

Instead of adding power, loose weight!! Take out the AC, loose the rear seat backs, etc.

[1fastredsc]

If your looking to go cheap, lighten her up and then get a cat by-pass (like $120 or something). Extra 10-15hp plus lose total ac system, rear seat, sound deadening in engine well, and you should be good for like 100 lbs or so of weight loss. Unfortunately, with CIS cars, if you want some real power, you need $$$.

[m325ix]

I just put B&B Triflow heat exchangers and the exhaust on, let me tell you, first test drive out I could not believe it was my car! It felt so much more powerful, so fast, so light... nice exhaust rumble added to the feeling I bet , but never the less, the gains in power were pretty noticeable!

[SilverPoly]

Drew's right about the SSIs.. they give you the most bang for the buck on the 3.0

But I also concur with Mike, lose some weight on your car and you will feel some difference. I took off the a/c york unit off and what a difference that was.

[ChrisBennet]

If your cat converted is plugged, that can sap a lot of power. Gutting the cat is free but may effect smog compliance. After any changes to the exhaust, get your mixture reset.
-Chris

[1fastredsc]

I was trying to keep in mind cost the way chris is. But if you have about 1.2k to blow, by all means ssi's and a dual in muff plus back dated oil lines. It will increase overall power, but best of all, you get a broader and smoother torque band for much more power all around. The loss of the cat is the larger portion of numerical improvement in power. The equal length of the ssi's will give a very small amount more, but there main purpose is to stabalize your power for a broader "pull."

[Vipergrün]

Niklash-

In addition to the SSI's and dual-in muffler, you can try to richen the mixture and increase the timing advance. I believe this will work the same as on the later SC motors which have the O2 sensor. I have timing advance set to 35 degrees BTDC and CO at 3.5%. BTW, verify the smog pump pully is moving freely, some of them are hard to turn, this will eat power, and perhaps your belt as well.

Have fun.....

[Alan Cottrill]

how does removing the evaporator/blower assembly in the "smugglers box" in the front of the car affect the handling?

does loosing that weight hurt the handling?

[pbs911]

I did exactly what Brad suggested, plus dropped about 650 lbs off the car. You can go with the pre-74 exhaust and save a few $$ off the cost of the SSIs if you want. Guys at the track could not believe it was only a 3.0.

[banjomike]

Assuming no need to pass emissions this appears to be the current wisdom:


1. A really good tune up with some agressive advance settings (search this board for "35 degree" and you'll find lots of discussion about timing advance.
2. SSIs w/out the cat. and make a yard decoration out of the smog pump. (~$900 at PP)
3. When the engine eventually needs a rebuild, high compression pistons and 964 cams. (rebuilds $!$!$)
4. MFI!!! I hear this is the killer app (very $!$!$!$), though I am curious if any old MFI unit will work or a specific and rare setup is needed in a 3.0L

[Vipergrün]

Ok, one more tip here, and really, it's not as lame as you think

Change your fuel filter and accumulator if it has not been changed in a while. My SC was running rough at idle and seemed a tad sluggish. Hmmm, no record of the filter EVER being changed with 77K miles!! I swapped it out and MAN, what a difference. So, throw this into the tune-up catagory, along with plugs, cap, rotor, etc....

[Bryantch]

pbs911
how did you loose 650 lbs? Atkins diet?

[Alan Cottrill]

I lost 50lbs on Atkins. I can feel the improved performance!