What mods are best for my 1st gen 2.6?

[Kerrigan]

For my 2.6ltr with 5-speed I have the Weber carb setup and Pacesetter header set to install and after that what are the best mods to make to try to get in the neighborhood of 150hp?

Order the Tuff Pan for the tranny so I won't torque it out.

Going to get it licensed as a "Special Interest vehicle" here in Oregon so I don't have to do DEQ any longer.

[pennyman1]

Check in the threads for powerram 348s buildup of his 2.6 - i beleive he used a cam from Oregon cam grinders to get his numbers up to where he wanted them. You can also get a lighter flywheel for a starquest that will lower the rotating mass and give you more horsepower - for all 4 cyl 2wd 2.6 trucks it is a 225 mm flywheel.

[Acuta73]

PM me about this Special Interest thingy of which you speak, please?

If yer gonna get a cam ground, might wanna consider getting a street polish on the head, too. You can put Starion over-sized (by 1mm) valves in the head as well as go to the hydro-rollers from the V6.

[Fordubishi]

Nawz man !!!!

2182

All kidding aside porting and polishing, a nice mild cam and some of the stuff Pennyman and Acuta73 are saying

[Kerrigan]

Any "guesstimate" on what the Webber and header will do for it, dumping the cat, etc?

[pennyman1]

For the 32/36 weber with header - 20 -25 horsepower; 38 dges possibly more but you really need a stepped up cam to use the extra fuel.

[PowerRam348]

check out oregon cam grinders. they have a grind for performance cam and it is only $99 to re-grind your core. i have a 32/36 on my truck currently and it does not deliver enough fuel, even jetted up. if you want a real header, have one made. the ones from pacesetter suck and they are only power headers not torque headers. not very good quality workmanship either. i also had a custom muffler made for my truck as well. check out my build thread in the second gen section.

[PowerRam348]

distributorless ignition is also another good mod to make a few extra horses. i have two ignition maps for my engine; one for power and one for economy.

[86goldmightymax]

a simple one is to remove the clutch fan then install an electric fan. this should pick up a couple of horsepower.

[Kerrigan]

Currently it has a lightweight fiberglass fan with no clutch.


a simple one is to remove the clutch fan then install an electric fan. this should pick up a couple of horsepower.

[pennyman1]

that still robs horsepower where the electric fan adds power -5 to 10 hp. For the best header - contact Doug Thorley for the tri-y header for the 2.6. Its a torque header tuned for the 2.6 and has exceptional build quality and has a chrome finish.

[Kerrigan]

Doug's website isn't showing me anything for the 1980 2.6ltr ...?

[pennyman1]

Contact them directly and ask them about it - if they don't have any on the shelf, they can make one as they still have the jigs. Tell them you belong to the forum. Look in the archives about this header, you won't be disappointed. Are you looking at Doug Thorley's site - doug's headers is a different company.

[Kerrigan]

Do you have the http for Doug Thorley's site?
Thanks!


Contact them directly and ask them about it - if they don't have any on the shelf, they can make one as they still have the jigs. Tell them you belong to the forum. Look in the archives about this header, you won't be disappointed. Are you looking at Doug Thorley's site - doug's headers is a different company.

[camoit]

http://dougthorleyheaders.com/

[Kerrigan]

$900-1000 for a set for the 1980 2.6ltr.
I'll go with the Pacesetter set I already have sitting in the garage.
The previous owner used a set he put on and took off for DEQ.
Said it really helped the performance, even if it was Pacesetter ...


http://dougthorleyheaders.com/

[pennyman1]

Wow thats wild - I got one from them that was on the shelf for like 235 I think. Weld up the flange to pipe connections and get them fairly smooth on the mating surface - use permatex copper for the gasket - mine has been on my 1980 for 20+ years and it has never leaked.