increase power?

[roverclassco]

ive got an 89 classic and all around she's a hell of a machine. but ive noticed that when im trying to hit a steep incline i lose power pretty fast. even on the street going up steep hills i can hardly get over thirty. is there any way i can increase power other than doing a total engine rebuild??
that's the only thing i can think if is since shes got somewhere over 190-200k on her

[darkstar]

push your feet through the rust in the floorboard and make like fred flintstone.

[Grimace]

fit some hiclones! instant powaaaar!

[spork2367]

throttle body spacer. take out air filter, high performance catalytic converters, run premium gas, synthetic oil, remove windshield and rear window to improve aerodynamics. then head over to discoweb.org, or lrrforums.com.

*expensive "platinum" spark plugs

[pendy]

Turn down the gravity!

[100SRV]

Hi,
at the milage you say your engine has covered it is certainly past it's best. I'd guess it is a 3528cc V8 with either Zenith-Stromberg carburetters or flap type EFi.

Get the engine rebuilt, use 9.35:1 pistons and a 3.9 EFi camshaft. If you can, get the cylinder heads ported and use a 3.9EFi exhaust system all the way back.

Swap the carburetters for a pair of SU's running BBC needles and K&N filters in a cold air box.

If you need more suggestions PM me...

100SRV

[revor]

Turn down the gravity!

Turn it down too much and the brakes won't work..

It's got to be balanced so that you don't screw up the downhill speed!

[PTSchram]

Oh for the love of God!

More horsepower out of an engine with almost 200K miles? You ought to be glad it still runs!

BTW-100SRV, if it's an '89, it's likely a 3.9 and almost certainly Lucas 13 or 14 CU(x) EMS, not flapper, nor carbureted.

Find another engine with fewer miles, a 4.6 if you want to go the easy way. Otherwise, give up now, it's hard work!

As Homer Simpson put it so well, "trying is the surest path to failure".