2000 mild mods questions

[WncLee]

I'm pulling my upper intake to replace injectors & while I'm there was considering an intake spacer. First off I wanted to make sure it was worth it, second what have people had best results with if it is worth it, 3/8" or 1",clearance won't be an issue as I can work around that & make a scoop if needed.Also has anyone tried the 4 bank programmer? Like idea of being able to switch as I'll be towing a camper some & when not getting better economy on road trips will be nice, then the times I'm lead footing it. Been working on it slowly when I'm able, putting in timing chain,water pump,cam position sensor,flowmaster with no cats, msd coil packs, cold air,taylor 8.2mm Thundervolt plug wires. I know torque monsters,anything else I should look at that doesn't break the bank? My plans of a stroker went out the window when I was unable to return to work due to spine issues. I don't have it in me now to do headers but will in the future once I recover from upcoming surgery. I'm fighting the broken water pump bolt right now, it broke about a year ago but had a double spinal fusion & parked it,trying to get it fixed before they have to redo fusion as the bone graft didn't take & 3 more discs went out on me due to loose plates & screws. I want my Ex rolling again as the Jetta doesn't cut it for me even though it handles damn good it doesn't have a V8 rumble. Thanks for any ideas, the forum has always helped when I need it.

 

[Dono]

My God man, with back issues you don't want to be dealing with headers or intake spacer.

With a 2000 v8, you are also going to have to deal with that egr tube. The tube will have to be 'stretched'.

From everything I have read, an intake spacer doesn't do much for you performance wise. It will help keep your upper intake cooler by less heat transfer from the lower intake.

With your back being so bad, I say make sure everything is tuned up well with factory stuff and run it.

 

[WncLee]

I didn't even think of the egr tube, glad you said that, unfortunately I do have to do injectors, one sticks here & there & getting horrible mileage & stuck when happens when pulling out in traffic. Been dealing with the back for 3 1/2 years, 5 surgeries so far hoping that next 2 will straighten me out. I learned my lesson that I'm not superman anymore LOL, the 85mph jet ski is what I really miss, been sitting 2 seasons. Atleast I am still kicking, can't do powersports anymore so I wanna make the Ex a sleeper from hell

 

[2000StreetRod]

fuel injector cleaner?

Have you tried adding a bottle of Techron fuel injector cleaner to the fuel tank? I add one about once a year. It may take a few hundred miles of driving to work. Has it been more than 50K miles since the fuel filter was replaced?

If you're replacing the fuel injectors to install higher flow injectors its a waste of time and money unless you modify the PCM tune. Without a tune when the PCM is in closed loop it will adjust the fuel trims to compensate (lean) the air/fuel ratio until normal. In open loop the PCM will use stored data tables to adjust the AFR and the engine will run rich at engine start and WOT.

 

[colintrax]

Considering your back, I'd would definitely try some fuel injector cleaner first. Still have a stuck fuel injector in a month, then pull the intake.

As for a spacer, it's not going to do you any good. Can't help ya with the programmer but I bet it's a waste of money as well.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i feel your pain (literally). have had more then my fair share of back problems in the last five years and it too has slowed me down.
speaking of slowing you down, i also wouldnt bother with the msd coil packs. i personally havent used them, but member [MENTION=119708]ahodges[/MENTION] has. i think he burnt two of them out before calling it quits and going back to the stockers. if you do want to change them, i have a set of screamin demonds that i am not using (i have the stock motorcraft ones on my truck and they work fine) and can work something out if you wanted. go with things like a electric fan, roller rockers or a throttle body (no bigger then 70mm) if your looking for some less expensive mods. the rockers and fan may also give your a little better mileage as well.

 

[ahodges]

Definitely save your money on the MSDs and stay with the Motorcrafts. Yes, I had a MSD fail on me with less than 1,000 miles on it. They that did the tuning on my truck said that even on drag cars he stays with the Motorcrafts because they produce a stronger spark than any aftermarket coil. I wouldn't waste the money on different wires either as you won't notice a difference.
From what I've heard when looking for power out of a stock 302, headers, exhaust and intake make a big difference when used with a custom tune. If you really wanted to change it up you could go with a mild cam and roller rockers.

 

[WncLee]

One of the stock coil packs died on me is why I put on the MSD's,I had the choice of MSD's or some junk I've never heard of from Autozone & I needed them that day so MSD it was. I have to do wires as 2 of the holders were cracked & 2 of the wires hit the manifolds, tend to miss things like that when working in the dark. I tried cleaner for quite awhile before the water pump gave out & replaced the fuel filter when it started the hesitation hoping it was the filter, bought the stock injectors. Electric fan is going in when I put it all back together. In 3 weeks time the coil pack went out, AC compressor & freon tube died,blend door went out,sway bar links,transmission cooler line,hesitation started & then water pump, I got fed up & bought the Jetta since I was traveling a bunch for DR's 3 hours each way so getting 30mpg was nice & a whole lot easier getting in & out while I was healing up from last surgery. Will try more cleaner once I get the front of the motor put back on & just run it around town for awhile to see if it works, been dreading pulling the intake, I do have a neighbor that will help with it if I have to. Breaking out the die's tomorrow & going to weld a nut on to try to get that stubborn bolt out before I go cutting the timing cover. I did find out that you can pull the brackets off the engine & heat up the timing cover along with the bolt & comes out pretty easy only after the head snapped off the one still stuck. Thanks a bunch for all the info & glad I didn't order that spacer. I almost shot my Flowmaster last night going after a skunk,learned my lesson about shooting 1/2 asleep without glasses on LOL.

 

[WncLee]

Regarding rockers can 1.7's be used without having to do anything else? Waiting to get a tune done until after Xmas & didn't want to screw myself putting 1.7's on, have a friend that has some from a motor he was going to build but car got smashed up before he got to.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

In my experience, don't modify anything from factory stock if you want reliable and as few issues as possible. The power difference you'll get from playing with all of this is going to be virtually nothing. Toss a set of gears in and you'll fell the biggest gain. But again even this is a fairly large task.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Regarding rockers can 1.7's be used without having to do anything else? Waiting to get a tune done until after Xmas & didn't want to screw myself putting 1.7's on, have a friend that has some from a motor he was going to build but car got smashed up before he got to.

i dont think those will fit under the stock valve covers to start. 1.7 might be a little on the large side for a stock motor as well.

 

[Dono]

I do know 1.6's will fit if you 'massage' the corners of the factory valve covers.
I'm not sure about the 1.7's.

1.6 rollers (you need pedestal mount) would definitely be an upgrade.