My engine is rated at about 285 hp right now. I'm looking (hoping) to
get close to 400hp out of it. Nitrous and a Supercharger are out of
the question. Is it possible to get a big horsepower gain with:

dual exhaust
headers
bigger air filter
etc etc... (smaller and minor engine mods).
One other thing. I'm trying to keep the gas mileage around the same
or better. Is that possible and have 400hp, or am I trying to have my
cake and eat it too.

Can someone recommend engine modifications that will help? Also can
someone recommend a place in San Diego CA that is reputable for doing
this sort of engine work? Thanks...

-Pat

Pat,

From the items you have mentioned I doubt you will see much more than 80
HP increase. It is very hard to make a huge power jump of the scale you want
without a supercharger, turbocharger and or Nitrous. Out of all the things
you mentioned headers would be the best bang for the buck. Next I would look
at a chip tuning devise (Hyperchip e.c.t) and also do a K&N air cleaner.

I will be honest when I say that you are really working with a small
motor size to get that much extra power and use it as a daily driver while
also keeping smog legal. You are able to find supercharges that are smog
legal. Other than that, there is a very true saying "there is no substitute
for cubic inches". Good luck.

--
Regards,
Chuck
78' Chevy 1 Ton 4X4 Van

"wormhole" <wormhole1969@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mlfllvg2jg54h2o8ks1dfq97eq5q65ae12@4ax.com...
: My engine is rated at about 285 hp right now. I'm looking (hoping) to
: get close to 400hp out of it. Nitrous and a Supercharger are out of
: the question. Is it possible to get a big horsepower gain with:
:
: dual exhaust
: headers
: bigger air filter
: etc etc... (smaller and minor engine mods).
: One other thing. I'm trying to keep the gas mileage around the same
: or better. Is that possible and have 400hp, or am I trying to have my
: cake and eat it too.
:
: Can someone recommend engine modifications that will help? Also can
: someone recommend a place in San Diego CA that is reputable for doing
: this sort of engine work? Thanks...
:
: -Pat

no, 400 HP without juice and/or forced induction will require some serious
internal mods, and gas mileage will suffer greatly. you're very much trying
to eat your cake.

-Bret

"wormhole" <wormhole1969@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mlfllvg2jg54h2o8ks1dfq97eq5q65ae12@4ax.com...
> My engine is rated at about 285 hp right now. I'm looking (hoping) to
> get close to 400hp out of it. Nitrous and a Supercharger are out of
> the question. Is it possible to get a big horsepower gain with:
>
> dual exhaust
> headers
> bigger air filter
> etc etc... (smaller and minor engine mods).
> One other thing. I'm trying to keep the gas mileage around the same
> or better. Is that possible and have 400hp, or am I trying to have my
> cake and eat it too.
>
> Can someone recommend engine modifications that will help? Also can
> someone recommend a place in San Diego CA that is reputable for doing
> this sort of engine work? Thanks...
>
> -Pat

So you want to go from 285hp to 400? you won't do it by what you want to do.
Doing what you want to do you may ge 10-15% more and thats all.

Good Luck
Bill


"wormhole" <wormhole1969@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mlfllvg2jg54h2o8ks1dfq97eq5q65ae12@4ax.com...
> My engine is rated at about 285 hp right now. I'm looking (hoping) to
> get close to 400hp out of it. Nitrous and a Supercharger are out of
> the question. Is it possible to get a big horsepower gain with:
>
> dual exhaust
> headers
> bigger air filter
> etc etc... (smaller and minor engine mods).
> One other thing. I'm trying to keep the gas mileage around the same
> or better. Is that possible and have 400hp, or am I trying to have my
> cake and eat it too.
>
> Can someone recommend engine modifications that will help? Also can
> someone recommend a place in San Diego CA that is reputable for doing
> this sort of engine work? Thanks...
>
> -Pat

Thanks a lot for all the responses. When I was first reading exhaust
upgrade kits for the pickup, they weren't adding very much horsepower,
What are some of the headers that people can recommend? I would like
it smog legal (if possible), and most horsepower, best gas mileage
rating, etc...

-Pat
On Sun, 7 Sep 2003 12:24:19 -0400, "Bill" <bwragg@<nospam>cogeco.net>
wrote:

>So you want to go from 285hp to 400? you won't do it by what you want to do.
>Doing what you want to do you may ge 10-15% more and thats all.
>
>Good Luck
>Bill
>
>
>"wormhole" <wormhole1969@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:mlfllvg2jg54h2o8ks1dfq97eq5q65ae12@4ax.com.. .
>> My engine is rated at about 285 hp right now. I'm looking (hoping) to
>> get close to 400hp out of it. Nitrous and a Supercharger are out of
>> the question. Is it possible to get a big horsepower gain with:
>>
>> dual exhaust
>> headers
>> bigger air filter
>> etc etc... (smaller and minor engine mods).
>> One other thing. I'm trying to keep the gas mileage around the same
>> or better. Is that possible and have 400hp, or am I trying to have my
>> cake and eat it too.
>>
>> Can someone recommend engine modifications that will help? Also can
>> someone recommend a place in San Diego CA that is reputable for doing
>> this sort of engine work? Thanks...
>>
>> -Pat
>

he he he....most horsepower and best gas mileage?? he he he....edelbrock
has a nice complete set for your truck....quality is great.

b

"wormhole" <wormhole1969@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:esdqlvceis0739j89jtnuad1i511c6vqeu@4ax.com...
> Thanks a lot for all the responses. When I was first reading exhaust
> upgrade kits for the pickup, they weren't adding very much horsepower,
> What are some of the headers that people can recommend? I would like
> it smog legal (if possible), and most horsepower, best gas mileage
> rating, etc...
>
> -Pat
> On Sun, 7 Sep 2003 12:24:19 -0400, "Bill" <bwragg@<nospam>cogeco.net>
> wrote:
>
> >So you want to go from 285hp to 400? you won't do it by what you want to
do.
> >Doing what you want to do you may ge 10-15% more and thats all.
> >
> >Good Luck
> >Bill
> >
> >
> >"wormhole" <wormhole1969@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >news:mlfllvg2jg54h2o8ks1dfq97eq5q65ae12@4ax.com.. .
> >> My engine is rated at about 285 hp right now. I'm looking (hoping) to
> >> get close to 400hp out of it. Nitrous and a Supercharger are out of
> >> the question. Is it possible to get a big horsepower gain with:
> >>
> >> dual exhaust
> >> headers
> >> bigger air filter
> >> etc etc... (smaller and minor engine mods).
> >> One other thing. I'm trying to keep the gas mileage around the same
> >> or better. Is that possible and have 400hp, or am I trying to have my
> >> cake and eat it too.
> >>
> >> Can someone recommend engine modifications that will help? Also can
> >> someone recommend a place in San Diego CA that is reputable for doing
> >> this sort of engine work? Thanks...
> >>
> >> -Pat
> >
>