OK here's the deal:

I have a '87 D-100,bone stock /6,and a 904 trans.

Right now,it is pretty much a dog when it comes to acceleration. It still has the 1BBL on it,which I'm sure is part of the problem. When I floor it,I can hardly get it to go over 55 mph. What should I do about this? I'm on a shoestring budget and this is my primary transportation.

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

I would check the timing chain

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Hello and welcome!

(1) dump the lean burn ingition and carb. Th eeasiest ignition system swap for lean burn vehicles is to change to HEI ignition. See here: http://duster318.freeservers.com/tech/hei.html Get a non-computerized one barrel carb, such as a Holley 1920 or 1945 or Carter BBS.

(2) check your timing chain and distributor advance curve. Much power and mileage can be gained by fine tuning your advance curve. Do a search on this site to find good discussions of how to re-curve our distributor

(3) upgrade your exhaust if you don't already have a 2 1/4 inch exhaust line

(4) disconnect the EGR valve and remove all the hardware for it.

(5) swap to a two barrel carb

In sum, the absolute cheapest way to cure your accelleration is to swap to an HEI ignition and find a used Holley 1920. These are everywhere for cheap.

Thanks for the suggestions,I'll have to look into them.Now I'm wondering if after the mods that I want to do (I.E. super six and electronic ignition) will allow me to:

-keep the lock-up convertor
and
-pass IL emissions

any idea?

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

You will need to keep that cat in the exhaust for sure. Check it, if its starting to plug, that WILL make it a dog.
You can't recurve the Lean Burn dist., as there are no weights or vacuum advance at all, just a pickup coil. Lean Burn is "supposed" to take care of the timing advance and retard functions. you,ll need a dist from an older motor. eliminating lean burn shouldn't matter as far as passing emissions, actually a good running non LB electronic ignition should run cleaner, as long as your carb and other mechanicals are up to snuff. You won't be able to remove/disconnect the EGR and pass. If you fail and they decide to open the hood they'll flunk you the next time too even if the tailpipe readings are below specs. Cut a piece of sheetmetal to the shape of the gasket and sandwich it in there like a 2nd gasket so they don't see it.

Well it turns out I already have an HEI module on a dist. I saved from a '83 El Camino I used to own. Will this one work ok for the conversion? I was out junkyard shopping,found two holley 1920's but they were both frozen,so no luck today. I'm also working on securing a dist. from an older car,has anyone used one from carquest? I work there so I get a discount,but I've never used one of their distributors.

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

bump...

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

Before you do all that Reed suggested, I would check the emission laws for your state. While the suggested improvements will make the van run better, it will also make it extremely illegal to drive on the road. So you better check those laws before your start digging into the vehicule.

The HEI module you want to use is the 4 pin variety.

I think what I'm going to do for now is do the HEI conversion,but leave most everything alone as far as emissions equipment. Everything else seems to work fine,I think I should be able to pass emissions as long as the equipment is intact,but I guess I'll see when that time rolls around.

Now what would I use to control the lock-up convertor if I were to remove the computer?

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

I believe a lot of people rig it up to where they have a switch that they flip when they wish to lock-up the converter. Not the most elegant solution, but very simple and servicable. Ideally you would also want to tie in to your brake light switch so that it automatically unlocks when you hit the brakes. Shouldn't be that difficult to do.

Well,I scored a Holley 1920 on the 'bay for $1,so there's one more piece to the puzzle..

What kind of vehicle should I order the dist. for?

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

So should I order a dist. from,say, a '75 Scamp? or a pickup?

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)

Got a dist. today,from a '80 Dodge d150,should be good to go...

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Nick

1987 Dodge D-100(225/904) Daily Driver
1979 Dodge Ramcharger (318/727/NP208)(Under Construction)