Under $100 Performance Upgrades
There's no question that serious improvements to your Mopar's performance take an equally serious investment in both time and money. If you're like us, however, finding the extra coin to throw under the hood can be a challenge in itself. Since frugality is a vice most of us in this end of the hobby share, we thought it would be nice to see just what a gear-gnasher could do to his or her vintage ride when the wallet's running kind of thin. We've gathered together a selection of parts that won't kill the bank account but will add to the performance and function of your Mopar, and can be installed without too many busted knuckles.
Cool Trans
Whether street or strip action is your bag, aggressive driving and high-performance driveline combinations can ramp up automatic transmission operating temperatures in short order. This leads to increased pressure and raises the potential for internal transmission damage. A quick fix is to install an auxiliary transmission cooler. This compact TCI universal cooler is made of aluminum and can be installed in an hour or less. The size is ¾ x 7½ x 15½ inches.
TCI
662/224-8972
tciauto.com
Fire In The Can
Maximizing combustion leads not only to improved fuel efficiency, but it also plays a role in squeezing out available horsepower. For induction-based ignition systems, coils are a key component to ensuring you get the best air/fuel burn possible. High-voltage aftermarket coils such as this PerTronix unit, send a whopping 40,000 volts to the distributor. If your plugs and wires are up to the task, that extra voltage can allow you to expand your plug gap and create a larger spark surface area to better ignite the air/fuel mixture in your combustion chamber. PerTronix Flame-Thrower coils come with black or chrome casings, and you can choose between oil-filled or epoxy-filled versions, depending on your needs.
PerTronix
800/827-3758
pertronix.com
Points Be Gone
Points-based distributor systems do a fair job of delivering spark energy to your plugs, but the inherent wear of and adjustment to distributor points in this age of advanced ignition technology seems-well, pointless. The PerTronix Ignitor kit allows you to keep your stock points distributor setup, but it replaces the points assembly with a more efficient and higher-output-capable electronic ignition. The conversion kit fits inside the stock distributor housing and can be used with your existing ignition components, or as a trigger for multiple-spark capacitative-discharge systems. The Ignitor also delivers more voltage than the points system, which translates to improved combustion, increased power, and better fuel efficiency.
PerTronix
800/827-3758
pertronix.com
High-Tech Monitor
Instrumentation doesn't exactly fall into the "performance upgrades" camp, but it is vitally important if your Mopar has been sent to the land of Mondo Mods. For most gearheads, the aftermarket gauges are the instruments to live by, and Nordskog Performance Products has come out with a nifty little unit to satisfy the most demanding street/strip applications. The Performance Gauges feature a through-dial LED backlight in bright red or neon blue. And they are covered by a lifetime warranty.
Nordskog Performance Products
805/483-2373
nordskogperformance.com
Tune It Your Way
It all boils down to traction. If you don't have it, all the fancy powertrain upgrades in the world won't amount to a hill of beans. Getting the correct shock firmness can make the difference between spinning and bouncing around on the track and planting rubber on the asphalt. No matter what your driving requirements, Summit Racing's adjustable shocks can help you find the right combination of suspension firmness. The company's front and rear shocks have three-way valving to let you dial in the correct damping ratio for the track or the open road. Front shocks can be set at 60/40, 80/20, or 90/10 ratios, with the rear shocks offering 40/60, 50/50, and 70/30 ratios.
Summit Racing
800/230-3030
summitracing.com
Mechanical Marvel
If you have a small-block or big-block Chrysler and you don't want to mount an electric pump somewhere under the rear of your mild modified, Holley has a mechanical fuel pump for you. These polished pumps flow 110 gallons per hour-enough fuel to feed even thirsty modified engines. Each pump also accepts 11/44-inch NPT inlet and outlet fittings for easy hookup to existing fuel systems.
Holley Performance Products
270/781-9741
holley.com
Hot Stuff
If you gotta light a fire, Crane Cams can do the job with its new Firewire spark plug wires. The racing-design, braided, fiberglass sleeving offers an extra barrier of protection against abrasion and extreme heat up to 1,200 degrees. It's the ultimate spark plug wire for drag racing, oval track, road racing, marine racing, or serious street performance. The exclusive Reactive-Core design actually filters RF "noise" from even the highest-output electronic ignition systems, and the Kevlar(r)-reinforced, braided fiberglass mesh delivers added strength and protection. The pure silicone outer jacket features a double layer of protection against extreme heat and underhood fluids. Available only in black, the Firewires can be purchased as preterminated custom sets for specific engine applications, or universal cut-to-fit sets.
Crane Cams Inc.
386/252-1151
cranecams.com
Got Fuel?
If you need to get more fuel to your stout street performer, then a Holley "blue" fuel pump is just what the doctor ordered. The pump features a new tumble-polished billet look, as well as an improved design for street/strip applications. Ol' Blue flows 110 gph (free flow) and 70 gph at 9 psi. The pressure is preset at 14 psi and includes a fuel-pressure regulator. The Holley Pump provides constant fuel flow with no pulsation, has an externally accessible pressure relief valve, and the rotor/vane pump design is more tolerant of contaminated fuels. Not designed or recommended for use with fuel-injection systems.
Holley Performance Products
270/781-9741
holley.com