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From: eric@amc.UUCP (Eric McRae)
Newsgroups: net.auto.tech
Subject: Engine Performance Mods
Message-ID: <143@amc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Dec-85 14:12:39 EST
Article-I.D.: amc.143
Posted: Tue Dec 17 14:12:39 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 19-Dec-85 00:24:10 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: Applied Microsystems Corp.; Redmond, Wa.
Lines: 26

[Na Na Na, you can't catch m~2

I have a '78 Trailduster.  This is Plymouth's clone of Dodge's
Ramcharger, a big 4WD tank.  The rig is generally in good shape but
I'd like to try to improve the engine's performance.

The power plant is a stock 360 CID with a Holley 2 barrel, and single
exhaust.  It has BoKu (metric equivalent of "lots" :-) low end torque.
It is rather gutless however, at cruising speeds and gets 8 MPG on a 
good day.  The thing is 83K miles old.

Here are some of the things I'm considering:

1.	Headers and dual exhaust.
2.	Intake manifold (4 barrel carb???).
3.	Non-stock cam (and solid lifters?).
4.	Port polishing (Does it really help?).

I'm not too interested in the economics of the job.  My goals are to
improve gas mileage and cruising range performance.  The engine is
currently in good health but it will get a good head and ring job if I
open it up at all.   I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience
with these things.  Whose headers, cams, manifolds are best?  How much
does each of these things help?  Thanks in advance for your comments.

Eric McRae   ..uw-beaver!tikal!amc!eric