How to get some power from 80 20R

mjfrawg · 09-23-2009, 11:26 AM

looking for some ideas on how to get a little power from a 20R.Its stock & has a carburator

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CrazyEye · 09-23-2009, 11:29 AM

port and polish the head, throw on a header, throw on an electric fan, get a weber carb for it. The truth is these motors dont make much HP even when you throw a ton of money at em.

refried · 09-23-2009, 12:19 PM

Swap in a V6

slacker · 09-23-2009, 05:10 PM

or just put a 22r block (81-84 only) under the 20R head .. hybrid engine . I have done it many times

.

cdg · 09-23-2009, 11:17 PM

Do this at your own risk.

You can advance the base timing to about 14 degrees from 8 degrees. Open up that spark plug gap a little too... Also heard good things about going with a Mallory distributor.

A solid tune up will help and is not risky at all.

I noticed a minor performance increase with the addition of a Mr. Gasket universal air cleaner. Maybe that was psychological...

If you have a catylytic converter (I think CA trucks had them in this year) you could cut it out or replace it with a high flow cat.

Remove the smog pump. This cuts parasitic drag on your engine. It is very easy to remove but watch the air injection on the exhaust as you will probably have to block it off. You may experience backfiring without the air injection (I doubt it though). Removal of A/C and power steering pump (if so equipped) can also result in a performance boost. Removing your power steering pump isn't a good idea unless you have a plan to convert it over the manual steering...

I think those are the "Economical" things you can do for your engine.

For more performance ideas you should be thinking serious machine work as any old 20R out there in stock form is probably hanging its head with age (as mine is). Maybe a bolt on header or a mild cam but honestly those kinds of things are expensive and not worth the performance gain on a tired old engine that has probably never been rebuilt... That's my opinion of course - your mileage my vary.

Overall you'd be surprised at how rapidly you can move around town in an old stock 20R with just a good tune up.

4banginRunner · 09-24-2009, 05:57 PM

cam, header, upgraded air cleaner, weber carb, tune-up, and some gears

refried · 09-25-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4banginRunner

cam, header, upgraded air cleaner, weber carb, tune-up, and some gears

And you'll be lucky if 120hp out of the engine.
these engines aren't known for making any horsepower without lots of head work and high compression pistons. Gears will give you the biggest noticable improvement.

09-23-2009, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
CrazyEye Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Williams, Az Posts: 40	port and polish the head, throw on a header, throw on an electric fan, get a weber carb for it. The truth is these motors dont make much HP even when you throw a ton of money at em. __________________ Lift it, cause fat chicks can't jump...

09-23-2009, 12:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
refried Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Republic of Cascadia Posts: 170	Swap in a V6 __________________ 1981 Shortbed 4x4 Buick 231 V6, Turbo 350 4" springs 35x12.50 15 Bfg MT 300,000+ miles

09-23-2009, 05:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
slacker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: BC Canada Posts: 2,114	or just put a 22r block (81-84 only) under the 20R head .. hybrid engine . I have done it many times . __________________ 86 4x4 , fiberglass bed , 1/2 doors , hood ... more to come . 84 2WD "hotrod" Intercooled 7MGTE 83 Trekker SR5 CURRENT BUILD My home page MY PAGE 2WD fourm I frequent NEW Trekker forum

09-24-2009, 05:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
4banginRunner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: With all the Ho Butts in Mount Carmel, PA Posts: 1,706	cam, header, upgraded air cleaner, weber carb, tune-up, and some gears __________________ 87 Toyota 4Runner 22RE--5spd swap (W56)--4.56s--BJ spacers--Pro Comp Stage II 4" bracket lift--63" Chevys w/2" blocks--40 series--late style steering box swap--BudBuilt Dual Case X-member--V6 calipers--32s--MC rear bumper--SAS parts collecting time... *79 Toyota Longbed 4x4* Frame-off Resto time. *04 GMC Sierra 1500* the DD

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09-23-2009, 11:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
cdg Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 42	Do this at your own risk. You can advance the base timing to about 14 degrees from 8 degrees. Open up that spark plug gap a little too... Also heard good things about going with a Mallory distributor. A solid tune up will help and is not risky at all. I noticed a minor performance increase with the addition of a Mr. Gasket universal air cleaner. Maybe that was psychological... If you have a catylytic converter (I think CA trucks had them in this year) you could cut it out or replace it with a high flow cat. Remove the smog pump. This cuts parasitic drag on your engine. It is very easy to remove but watch the air injection on the exhaust as you will probably have to block it off. You may experience backfiring without the air injection (I doubt it though). Removal of A/C and power steering pump (if so equipped) can also result in a performance boost. Removing your power steering pump isn't a good idea unless you have a plan to convert it over the manual steering... I think those are the "Economical" things you can do for your engine. For more performance ideas you should be thinking serious machine work as any old 20R out there in stock form is probably hanging its head with age (as mine is). Maybe a bolt on header or a mild cam but honestly those kinds of things are expensive and not worth the performance gain on a tired old engine that has probably never been rebuilt... That's my opinion of course - your mileage my vary. Overall you'd be surprised at how rapidly you can move around town in an old stock 20R with just a good tune up.