I need more power! Please help.

[Dakota Rigs]

So my lovely 91 rodeo with the 3.1 ,as those who have or has one will know, is gutless. Especially with 31s. I need help getting some power to get through the Colorado mountains. It does it now just not good enough for me. I want more speed. And acceleration. I originally looked at doing a 3.8 series ll swap but I don't have the time money or another vehicle to drive. It currently is chipped and has no muffler is the only mods to the drivetrain. I am also looking into putting a comp cams cam in it. Found a few for the Chevy 3.1l and 3.4l but don't know how much that'll help. I want to push the engine as far as I can. Maybe 200+ horsepower? Maybe more. I don't need a race car just a fast rodeo.

[Hypoid]

What is the gear ratio in your axles?

[Patrolman]

As a lot of folks would advise, it is often cheaper and easier to sell your current vehicle and purchase something that has more power already (V8). There is always a trade-off though. Power vs mpg. Buying a V8 generally will mean using more fuel than a V6.

Personally, my 4Runner and truck are both 4 cylinder engines. Slow as snot going up the mountain passes, and can only realistically hold 65mph on a flat highway, but they also get 20mpg in town, and about 22mpg on the highway. When I go to the mountains, I just plan to give myself enough time, and do lots of "sight seeing" at 25mph up I-70.

[Dakota Rigs]

OK so I only get 15-18 mpg now but selling my rodeo is never an option lol it's my first vehicle and I love it! But also the gear ratio is 4.10

[Dakota Rigs]

And I cruise faster then that 70 flat highway and 55 in the mountains but it's just so sluggish and city driving is the worst part just no acceleration

[Patrolman]

Personal opinion is that you probably can't do much better. Being able to move down the highway at reasonable speed, and still get mid to high teens for mpg, that isn't too bad. Depending on the V8, it might get low teens or even single digit mpg.

[Dakota Rigs]

I'm really not worried about mileage I just hate the sluggish and slow acceleration

[newracer]

RE-gear it.

[Dakota Rigs]

RE-gear it.

But then I lose the top speed for traveling I would like to keep the gears the same because I'm already at high rpms at 70 mph. And I travel to Vegas (my second home) a lot so I need to be able to hit 80 without problems.

[ExplorerTom]

Regearing is the easiest. If you don't want to do that, no amount of "cold air" intakes, exhaust, cams or bolt on crap like is going to make much of a difference.

Could always turbo/supercharge it. But then either of those open up a big can or worms on a vehicle not intended for it.

[Dakota Rigs]

Regearing is the easiest. If you don't want to do that, no amount of "cold air" intakes, exhaust, cams or bolt on crap like is going to make much of a difference.

Could always turbo/supercharge it. But then either of those open up a big can or worms on a vehicle not intended for it.

I do believe that with more torque and HP I could easily fixed the slow acceleration problem I only make 120 HP and more of that would help. If I RE gear it I would no longer be able to hit 80 (in a happy rpm range) on the drive to Vegas and it would make it a really boring trip and it'll take way too long.

[Hypoid]

I'm already at high rpms at 70 mph.What does the Tachometer say?

Edit: You have 31" tires on it now. What size tire came on this vehicle from the factory?

[Dakota Rigs]

What does the Tachometer say?

Edit: You have 31" tires on it now. What size tire came on this vehicle from the factory?

If I remember right 3-3.5 range

[ExplorerTom]

Then go all motor then. Get a big lopey cam, port and polish the heads. Bump the compression. If your intake manifold is aluminum, get that extrude honed. If you don't have a header(s), then get those. If none are available there is Hank's Hotrods in Highlands Ranch and he can build you some- and get that ceramic coated to keep exhaust gas temps high and velocity high.

After you you do all that, you'll have the badest Rodeo ever.

[ExplorerTom]

How often do you drive to Vegas anyway?

[Dakota Rigs]

Then go all motor then. Get a big lopey cam, port and polish the heads. Bump the compression. If your intake manifold is aluminum, get that extrude honed. If you don't have a header(s), then get those. If none are available there is Hank's Hotrods in Highlands Ranch and he can build you some- and get that ceramic coated to keep exhaust gas temps high and velocity high.

After you you do all that, you'll have the badest Rodeo ever.

I'm not sure if I upset you but for some reason in my head when I read that it sounded like you are mad at something I said. If so I'm sorry. And I don't need to go that far lol. I was just think the comp cams cam I think it's like a 260 grind. And a new exhaust set up. But I don't know how much HP and torque that will give me. But I do want to focus on the engine but nothing too serious like boring anything etc.

[Dakota Rigs]

How often do you drive to Vegas anyway?

It really depends on when I can get days off but about every two to three months.

[Hypoid]

ExplorerTom's post may have been part sarcasm, but the bottom line is correct. If you really want to modify your engine, you'll do it anyway.

Us old codgers giving advice and asking questions that are based on physics and design, may think your desired modifications are short-sighted and inefficient.

[Dakota Rigs]

ExplorerTom's post may have been part sarcasm, but the bottom line is correct. If you really want to modify your engine, you'll do it anyway.

Us old codgers giving advice and asking questions that are based on physics and design, may think your desired modifications are short-sighted and inefficient.

Well I need it as a everyday vehicle and until I can change to a different trani or transfer case I need the gearing to stay the same for top speed.

[Hypoid]

Is the factory tire size 31x10.50x15?

[newracer]

With all the money and time you'd put into it to get the HP up you'd be better off buying another vehicle to drive to Vegas, or just fly there.

[Dakota Rigs]

Is the factory tire size 31x10.50x15?

No 225/75 15 I think. I have 31/10.50 15 on it now but when I got it it had 245/75 15s but I believe the door says 225/75 15

[Dakota Rigs]

With all the money and time you'd put into it to get the HP up you'd be better off buying another vehicle to drive to Vegas, or just fly there.

Well the problem with that is I'm only 18 and already have two cars and don't want the insurance for another. I don't drive the second one much because it's a 65 Chevy c10 with a 400 sbc and I haven't been able to get the clutch linkage together yet. Lol unless I get another classic I won't be able to afford another insurance payment but $2000 into the rodeo won't be too much of a issue. The cam kit is only $330 and I'm getting the exhaust done for $900

[Chris]

Don't discount what a good exhaust system can do for you. I had one on my old doggy Land Cruiser and after the new one it was like I had an extra gear. I could run over Floyd Hill at the speed limit which I could never do before with the stock setup.

[Dakota Rigs]

Don't discount what a good exhaust system can do for you. I had one on my old doggy Land Cruiser and after the new one it was like I had an extra gear. I could run over Floyd Hill at the speed limit which I could never do before with the stock setup.

Oh trust me I'm not doubting it I have it currently with no muffler and a y pipe but I'm going to go get it with a 2" to a dual in cat instead of the t pipe that's stock on it then out of the cat I'll have a single 2.5" to a flowmaster and dual out the rear still 2.5"

[Dakota Rigs]

These are what I'm using.

[Brian]

Without re-gearing, or better yet doing a driveline swap, IMO you are at or nearly at max performance with your current rig. Doohickeys, gadgets, gizmos and other assorted bolt-ons never meet their advertised performance gains, particularly on CPU controlled engines. Chips and programmers help, but the old saying "no replacement for displacement" is true, and trying to prove it false often leads to many expensive mods that never quite add up.

[Dakota Rigs]

Without re-gearing, or better yet doing a driveline swap, IMO you are at or nearly at max performance with your current rig. Doohickeys, gadgets, gizmos and other assorted bolt-ons never meet their advertised performance gains, particularly on CPU controlled engines. Chips and programmers help, but the old saying "no replacement for displacement" is true, and trying to prove it false often leads to many expensive mods that never quite add up.

Now I'm not so sure if I 100% believe that. And my engine isn't 100% computer controlled. It is but isn't. Lol don't know why but yeah. And by what the zuzu people are telling me is the cam should give me plenty of power with the free flow exhaust, and in my opinion I love the sound of a lopey cam! And whether or not I meets it's advertised power if it gives me power it gives me power. I was going to do a 3.8 series ll swap but can't afford it and don't have the time.

[Dakota Rigs]

What does the Tachometer say?

Edit: You have 31" tires on it now. What size tire came on this vehicle from the factory?

I believe 225/75r15

[Tom]

I had a 1979 chevy luv 4x4 back in the day. They were isuzus. I put slighly larger tires on it and to gain back power I put in a webber carb, headers, and a racing distributer, and flow thru exhaust. Regearing would have been simpler. All those upgrades were a waste of time and money imo.

[Dakota Rigs]

I had a 1979 chevy luv 4x4 back in the day. They were isuzus. I put slighly larger tires on it and to gain back power I put in a webber carb, headers, and a racing distributer, and flow thru exhaust. Regearing would have been simpler. All those upgrades were a waste of time and money imo.

Well this is a GM drive train and I won't regear It unless I go with bigger then 31inch tires

[Spieg]

IMHO - The bottom line is it costs money to go fast. Exhaust/intake/cam may offer moderate improvements but can get pretty expensive (especially if you have a shop do the work). If you are already seeing 3,500 RPM on the highway then gearing is not going to help you.

If all you really need is more power on the occasional steep mountain pass, you might consider this;
http://www.mpsracing.com/images/products/NOS/BigPics_NOS/14700P_14745Pnos.jpg
P.S. - Stop going to Vegas and you may discover more money in your budget. :lmao:

[Dakota Rigs]

IMHO - The bottom line is it costs money to go fast. Exhaust/intake/cam may offer moderate improvements but can get pretty expensive (especially if you have a shop do the work). If you are already seeing 3,500 RPM on the highway then gearing is not going to help you.

If all you really need is more power on the occasional steep mountain pass, you might consider this;
http://www.mpsracing.com/images/products/NOS/BigPics_NOS/14700P_14745Pnos.jpg
P.S. - Stop going to Vegas and you may discover more money in your budget. :lmao:

Lol I live in Vegas as well as Colorado and I'm only 18 so I can't gamble and yeah no I'm not trying to blow my engine. And money isn't a issue I can spend $2000 on my truck and be happy

[Dakota Rigs]

And I'd prefer to have more acceleration. What I'm gonna do is get the exhaust done first. Then if I'm not happy I'm gonna do the camshaft kit.

[Patrolman]

IF you consider re-gearing, I think the Isuzu models came with a D44 rear end with a removable 3rd member. That means you can do some of the work to minimize the cost. But since it is an Isuzu, parts may be harder to find, and gearing may cost more due to the difficult to find parts. I agree that gears would help, and keeping it at 65mph on the highway.

[Spieg]

I don't have the time money or another vehicle to drive

And money isn't a issue I can spend $2000 on my truck and be happy

2 grand to spend? Shoot, I thought money was a problem (when I was your age it was all I could do to scrounge up a few hundred bucks).

Just throw a bigger motor in there and be done with it.

BTW NOS wont blow your motor unless you get carried away.

[Dakota Rigs]

2 grand to spend? Shoot, I thought money was a problem (when I was your age it was all I could do to scrounge up a few hundred bucks).

Just throw a bigger motor in there and be done with it.

I work Mon-Fri I don't have time for that. And I don't have money for another vehicles insurance rates. I can spend $2000 in a few week or so I make 900-1000$ every other

[96EXXLTinCO]

Tom is probably not far off though in order to get the kind of punch you're probably looking for. My Explorer is 160hp and will end up being just a wheeler. I have a sports car for when I need to crank some turns and get pinned in the seat. That might be a viable option for you, especially to go to Vegas, just get a faster car and enjoy the best of both worlds. For the amount of money it would take to get your Rodeo buzzing, you could have a nice quick little car that won't kill you at the pump.

[Dakota Rigs]

Tom is probably not far off though in order to get the kind of punch you're probably looking for. My Explorer is 160hp and will end up being just a wheeler. I have a sports car for when I need to crank some turns and get pinned in the seat. That might be a viable option for you, especially to go to Vegas, just get a faster car and enjoy the best of both worlds. For the amount of money it would take to get your Rodeo buzzing, you could have a nice quick little car that won't kill you at the pump.

But I only make 120 and would like only around 160-200 I don't want in my seat that's what my 65 Chevy c10 is for. But I can't drive that far

[Chris]

You ask for help but you appear to reject all suggestions :confused:

[Tom]

You ask for help but you appear to reject all suggestions :confused:My thoughts exactly.

[Spieg]

Seems like he has already decided what he wants to do and is asking for affirmation rather than ideas.

Oh to be young again and have all the answers...

[Dakota Rigs]

Seems like he has already decided what he wants to do and is asking for affirmation rather than ideas.

Oh to be young again and have all the answers...

OK so a sports car would be $200+ a month for insurance and I don't have time for a swap. And I'm not selling it. I'm not rejecting what I asked for i'm trying to get engine MOD suggestions not axle and car suggestions. Sorry if I seem rude about it just a stressful day

[ExplorerTom]

I'm not sure if I upset you but for some reason in my head when I read that it sounded like you are mad at something I said. If so I'm sorry. And I don't need to go that far lol. I was just think the comp cams cam I think it's like a 260 grind. And a new exhaust set up. But I don't know how much HP and torque that will give me. But I do want to focus on the engine but nothing too serious like boring anything etc.

I started out in the sport compact world. What you're looking to do is add about an additional 50% hp to your N/A motor. If you can actually do it, you'll probably ruin its daily driveability. That $2000 you've got earmarked for this project- it'll probably take all of that and then some.

So yes, what I said was done with a heavy dose of sarcasm but it was also a rough roadmap of what it'll take to achieve your power goal.

And you'll probably need another vehicle to drive while this one is under the knife. Unless you can get that old C10 road worthy in the meantime.

[Hypoid]

I took my family out for a nice meal, dozed off, and woke up with this puzzle stuck in my head. Thanks a lot!!!

The LG6 is pretty anemic!

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/auta_details1.php

I'll follow up after a good night's rest, and ask more questions that deal with your perceptions and desired outcomes.

[96EXXLTinCO]

Part of the issue could also be that not many of us are real familiar with the rodeo. I can tell you that for my 4.0 there is just not much you can do unless you go to the extreme. It's far cheaper and easier for me to do a 5.0 swap (currently in the works) and then far more high performance parts become an option. You'll want to be careful going to more HP though, the drive train is engineered for the power the stock motor puts out and sending more power through it will wear things out faster so you'll see more money going to repairs also. If you're not already involved with others in the Isuzu world, I'm sure there is probably a forum out there where you can learn anything you want to know about your rodeo and what kind of mods are possible. That's exactly how I learned about the Explorers, how I met Explorer Tom, who is the one that told me about this awesome group!!

[Dakota Rigs]

Part of the issue could also be that not many of us are real familiar with the rodeo. I can tell you that for my 4.0 there is just not much you can do unless you go to the extreme. It's far cheaper and easier for me to do a 5.0 swap (currently in the works) and then far more high performance parts become an option. You'll want to be careful going to more HP though, the drive train is engineered for the power the stock motor puts out and sending more power through it will wear things out faster so you'll see more money going to repairs also. If you're not already involved with others in the Isuzu world, I'm sure there is probably a forum out there where you can learn anything you want to know about your rodeo and what kind of mods are possible. That's exactly how I learned about the Explorers, how I met Explorer Tom, who is the one that told me about this awesome group!!

I did actually post this in planetizuzoo fist and got exact opposite feedback. Everyone there is telling me to just do the cam kit and the exhaust and roller rockers.
Cam kit
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam- ... id=57&sb=2
Roller rockers
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-rp1414-12

[ExplorerTom]

Looking forward to seeing a cammed Rodeo.

[Dakota Rigs]

Looking forward to seeing a cammed Rodeo.

Well either that or new found info says that a 5.7,5.0,4.7 use the same computer as the 3.1 just as long as they are tbi so it might end up being a cammed 5.7 rodeo..... of course that'll have to wait till way after my 65 Chevy is done and drive able

[Spieg]

might end up being a cammed 5.7 rodeo.....
Now you're talking. I bet the 5.7 would even be fine with stock cam.

[Dakota Rigs]

Now you're talking. I bet the 5.7 would even be fine with stock cam.

Oh I know it would be but the lope idle is appealing to me.... :)

[Hypoid]

I did actually post this in planetizuzoo fist and got exact opposite feedback. Everyone there is telling me to just do the cam kit and the exhaust and roller rockers.
Cam kit
http://www.compcams.com/Company/CC/cam- ... id=57&sb=2
Roller rockers
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cca-rp1414-12
That does look interesting! Anyone on planetizuzoo post any dyno charts with the new cam and exhaust?

Looking at the projected stock torque curve, I'd want to cruise around at 3000 RPM also. But then again, I'm the guy who kept two sets of tires: One set for drive-ability, one set to go play...

[Dakota Rigs]

That does look interesting! Anyone on planetizuzoo post any dyno charts with the new cam and exhaust?

Looking at the projected stock torque curve, I'd want to cruise around at 3000 RPM also. But then again, I'm the guy who kept two sets of tires: One set for drive-ability, one set to go play...

See I might cam it and get that Dino for you then I'll cam a 5.7 this and swap it out

[White Stripe]

Don't waist time on an anemic motor with no aftermarket support. 900 bucks for an exhaust is,money u could use to swap in another Motor. Shoot, u can get 5.7 tbi motors cheap. Make a plan, save up, get all the parts ready, all questions answered then swap it in. Things go faster that way and then your not burning up 300 to 1500 trying to get 15hp.