Author Topic: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?  (Read 13946 times)

Offline Carlwalski

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Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« on: December 26, 2008 - 01:53:55 AM »
Hi Everyone,


I've thought about it a couple of times and although this is a poll it doesn't mean what ever the results are I drop what I'm doing and do. ;D I just want to see what other members opinions are. She is currently .030, stock rotating mass, no high performance internal mods, stock heads, stock intake (and air cleaner/lid), 4bbl AVS 750cfm carb, tti headers and tti X-Pipe exhaust. She goes well for a basically stock engine but I feel she is a little sluggish for my tastes, more of a high end car than a get up and dance off the mark vehicle. She has 3.91 rear gears so I can't see going to 4.10s as much of an improvement, not enough for the hassle of getting them in and getting quiet ones anyhow.

I have other high performance toys, (580hp and 680hp+) so I'm thinking perhaps leave this one stock and classy as she is my original #'s matching car. Any ideas on what I could do to get a little more out of her without going too wild? Maybe a bigger intake/carb set up and an air cleaner without the actual OEM cleaner lid set up? I was thinking of getting cut outs but not for power just for sound as she is very quiet inside for what the car is (Dynamat). Any ideas, input and help is appreciated. Thus far I'm leaning to leaving her as-is, just enjoy her as the 40 year old car that she is and in that respect she definitely goes hard.



Cheers,
Carl




« Last Edit: December 26, 2008 - 03:42:28 AM by Carlwalski »
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Offline hemiken

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2008 - 02:04:00 AM »
Hi Carl, i was thinking you could leave it stock and then thought you could most likely just pull the heads and swap out for a set of Mopar head gaskets.  That is of course your engine has been built before using Felpro's, this would change the compression of your engine just enough to notice an ever slight improvement in power.  The Mopar head gaskets are steel and are .020 thick compressed and the Felpro are composite material and are .038 thick compressed.  Just a thought for a freshen up :dunno: :2thumbs:
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Offline ntstlgl1970

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2008 - 02:07:07 AM »
Hi Carl,
I like your idea of maybe a different intake and carb along with an open element air cleaner. All items that can be removed easily to go back to stock. Personally, I wouldn't go any further than that since you mentioned it's your numbers matching car. Also some time on the chassis dyno to fine tune the carb and ignition advance - again, all stuff easy to go back to stock.
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2008 - 02:33:42 AM »
closed chamber heads , better cam & SD intake will make the biggest difference for the $ spent if u need to do i t

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Offline 71chally416

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2008 - 02:36:17 AM »
I'm assuming you have an OEM type carb(?) so I would go for a performer RPM Intake, a thunder 800 AVS and a good open K&N aircleaner with a Extreme top. That's the easiest way I know to 40+ extra hp on a 440 without removing the cam or heads.
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Offline 69bronzeT5

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2008 - 03:09:06 AM »
I think you should leave her. She's perfect just the way she is. :2thumbs:
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Offline Aussie Challenger

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2008 - 03:14:48 AM »
  I voted leave her alone, it must be playing on your mind now that the Cuda is coming together and will have more grunt.   :burnout:  Lucy is and was your first, once you start to play with her where will you stop, then it will be a H.P. race between the 2 cars.   :working:   :2cents:
Dave

Offline Carlwalski

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Re: Pol: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2008 - 03:42:06 AM »


Whoa! Thanks for all the replies guys, the new intake and carb plus open element air cleaner to achieve 30-40hp sounds good. Easy to go back to stock and 30hp+ will definitely be felt by way of seat of the pants. Thanks guys, all posts and ideas have been taken into account.

 :cheers:
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540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
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Offline 426HEMI

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2008 - 05:01:27 AM »
Your car looks great.  Sounds like a plan for sure.  Think I might just keep my original engine seperate so I could always put it back in.  Gordon
Got a pretty good start on my M46 optioned Barracuda restoration but now it is on hold till I can gather more funds.  Still need a few parts for it.  SIU Graduate 75 AAS Automotive Tech, 94 BS Advanced Tech Studies, 1997 MSED Workforce Education and Development

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Offline ladman

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2008 - 07:21:07 AM »
Carl, if you're interested in an intake, carb, or air cleaner, I have them listed unders "Parts For Sale".  Which ever way you go, good luck. 
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Offline jvike

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2008 - 07:47:36 AM »
I'd keep it stock, or at least stock appearing. You could do a research and find out how the F.A.S.T guys are making power... but as said, you do got other cars for power and speed..

Cheers, Happy Christmas!
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Offline hemi71

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2008 - 09:40:11 AM »
I'd keep it stock, or at least stock appearing. You could do a research and find out how the F.A.S.T guys are making power... but as said, you do got other cars for power and speed..

Cheers, Happy Christmas!

:iagree:

I'd keep it bone stock looking, and do some mods to make it faster. You could change the heads, even go to eldebrocks and paint em orange, bigger cam, better carb but leave the factory air cleaner. Make it look bone stock but add the extra HP. Easy to undo later.

Offline vinb

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2008 - 11:09:27 AM »
Hey Carl,
Don't touch it,
your Challenger is really neat the way it is and you do have other ride's if you want to mess around and go fast...
Vin....

Offline RusTy/SE

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2008 - 11:25:10 AM »
As is. In Lucy's instance the basically stock motor just works for me although i like the idea of upgrading breathing and therefore reaping extra power :2cents:

Cheers mate :cheers:
Russ
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Offline js27

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Re: Poll: Lucy - Should I Modify Her Engine?
« Reply #14 on: December 26, 2008 - 11:26:07 AM »
I have to repeat the old saying:
IF IT AIN'T BROKE    DON'T FIX IT !
JS27
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