Everybody wants more power, and a supercharger is a glorious way to achieve it, but it also carries a $3,000 price tag. So what performance steps are there that deliver more bang for your buck? Glad you asked, because I offer you a bunch of no-buck and low-buck power and performance tips. Taken alone, you probably won't notice any single improvement. but added together, they form the little details that add up to allowing your car to run a tenth faster or more consistently in the brackets.
Honestly, the low-buck price range goes from free to a couple of hundred bucks.
Some tips require removing parts while others are simple do-it-yourself projects, and I give you leads on where to locate these parts and services. Read and consider the tips that might apply to your specific application. I hold no responsibility for your actions, so don't blame me if you mess up your car.
Slippery Lubrication:
There are two kinds of motor oil: petroleum-based and synthetic. Petroleum-based oil is refined from crude, and synthetics are configured from petrochemical base stocks. The synthetic advantage is that it can be blended to achieve outstanding temperature and lubrication characteristics. This means reduced high- temperature volatility compared to a natural oil, which is something to think about when running a 24-hour showroom stock enduro race or simply commuting to work. Also, a synthetic oil reduces friction, so more power is delivered to the crankshaft. Reputable dyno operators figure synthetic deliver about a 2- to 3-percent gain in horsepower. Besides the oil pan, synthetic lubricants can make manual transmissions and rearends considerably happier when a lot of power is being applied.
Y-Blocks are Back:
Ford's Y-block was introduced in 1954 as a 239ci OHV V-8 and was later offered as a supercharged 312 mill in 1957. Despite it's proud history, lack of serious development denied this engine a true performance status. In the restomod '90s, that may be changing. I know of one builder who is planning a 312ci Y-block for his '57 Fairlane. The car will have a leading-edge custom cam, interesting head work, and Holley's Electronic Pro-Jection fuel injection. I predict that Y-blocks will become fashionable again. So what's the power tip? It's the heads. The ones with the largest valves were cast between 1957 and 1959. These had 1.925-inch diameter intakes and 1.51-inch exhausts. Casting prefixes include ECZ-E, F, G; EDB-D, E. Engines before 1957 had 1.78/1.51 valve combos. Heads cast in 1960-'62 had intakes that were reduced to 1.64-inch diameter.
Caution: High Voltage:
I thought about this while talking to a Power Tour veteran. He commented that carburetor-equipped cars ran rich while driving through high-altitude terrain, but this wasn't a problem if the cars had a good ignition. That's the key, and my tip. It may cost some, but it's an excellent idea to run an aftermarket ignition system that on a bad day puts out 40,000 volts. That kind of punch can keep igniting the fuel mixture even when the air/fuel ratio isn't as ideal as it should be. And if you run a supercharger on your car, then an aftermarket ignition is a must. The voltage delivered to the plug can help the spark from literally being blown out under boost pressures.
On Time Timing:
