I swaped in a 400 cu 2.02 head motor into my 81 GMC Jimmy 4x4. I got the motor out of a Monte Carlo SS. I put in RV Cams, and Edelbrock Intake, low stall torque converter, and slapped some headers on it. I tried a big holley carb, but it ran horrible so just rebuilt the Rotchester 4BBL that was originally on the 400. It was a Monster, especially compared to the anemic smog laden 305 that I took out.
It was a sweet deal. Bought a Monte Carlo for $200 because it had a busted heater core. Pulled the motor and sold the Monte Carlo sans motor for $300 to some guy that stopped and asked about it sitting my my driveway. Sold the wimpy 305 out of the Jimmy for another $300 and spent the $600 on getting the heads done to run unleaded, and all the hot rod bits. Because the Monte Carlow was pre-1980 I didn't have to put any of the smog bits back on the 81 Jimmy.
Pulled up to a 3 lane light. It was me in my Jimmy, a brand new Z28, and a brand new Firebird. They were both reving their engines, it was obvious they were going to race. They weren't paying any attention to me so Idropped the 4x4 into FWD Low and waited for the light to change.
When the light changed I mashed the gas to the floor. In 3 seconds the Jimmy engine reved up to red line. It had gone thru all three gears and without even chirping the tires it had leaped across the intersection as was going 50mph.
Quickly slammed the transfer case shifter from low to high and mashed the gas again. Looked back as I sped away to see both the z28 and the Firebird had barely gotten into the intersection. Both were smokin their tires staring at rear end of the great big Jimmy pulling away with their mouths agape.
The big bonus for me was it went from getting 10mpg to 18mpg AND with the big a$$ tires it could go over 50 up hills on the highway.
