Vannin' Home Forums Dodge Performance (Dodge) 1991 Dodge 5.2 (318ci) up grades

My 89 318 TBI has been taken cross country at least 11 times in my ownership.

During these runs I would Keep it under 68MPH, DO what I could to eeK out the max MPG per tankful. Best I every got was in the high 17's. Worst I got as in the high 14's

I don't do much highway driving anymore, though the desire to get on the highway and just drive drive drive is nearly uncontrollable.

Right now if I can get 9 MPG in my traffic light infested town driving, I figure that is the best I can expect.

I do enjoy my super low granny first gear, most of the time anyway. I'd not give up MPG for more power.

It has what it has. I pass smog tests with good numbers. I'll put the money I'd put into possible engine upgrades, into Gasahol instead. ROI for me would take too long, even if any one upgrade would guarantee me more mpg, I do not believe anything but drastic internal engine mods will do it anyway, and getting those to work properly with my ECM, and still pass smog.... Not gonna happen.

For more torque all you really need to do is just advance the camshaft 2 degrees and remove the cat. Now, if you cannot remove the cat because emissions state, then just do a cam adjustment and keep the engine clean. I noticed that even taking the heads off for a valve job do wonders. I always find hard carbon deposits on the intake valves and that just ruins air flow.

I love this . I just took aluminum foil from the kitchen and wrapped the original air tube. Big Gains :P

So Ram4ever. Just what, exactly, are you trying to say here, 'cause that ain't what I did, and that ain't what I said.

Factory set up was enlarged/changed by Dodge in '94. So, You gonna Badmouth Dodge for that?

I'm fixin' to do it again on my '88. Works for me, you don't like it? Too bad, and if not, keep it to yourself...

I must edit, and I apologize to Ram4ever for misidentifying him as the poster to which I replied.

However, my statement stands. That is the first time in three years I have ever seen a response like that on this Forum. RamVan2500.

WAIT A MINUTE! I think you may have misunderstood what I posted. Please give me a minute to clarify. I was not laughing at you or your idea. I actually wasn't laughing, but the parentheses key is right above the "p" key. I was suppose to be smiling. Now if I was laughing it was at the irony because I did something very similar to what you had done to your intake tube. I actually did use aluminum foil from my kitchen and wrap it around the intake tube, but to lower temperature because the engine is setup with a speed/density system and now a mass airflow system. So any small change in temperature does have dramatic effects. From my understanding is you used the dryer vent tube because of the larger diameter, also a great idea.

Also I am not bad mouthing dodge/chrysler. I am sure you are aware of the extensive work I have done to my 95 dodge over the past 7 months, not to mention the amount of money I had to spend (I value my work more than the money). Not to mention that I plan to repaint the van next year and the van does have new carpet now. If I didn't like dodge/chrysler with a real passion I would probably would not have spent the time to fix this van which had no floor (rust), frame front (rust), rear frame (rust), and not to name a few other problems due to age. Sure at times I get a little frustrated with the way the manufacture does things, but all car manufacturers are like that. I have yet to even touch a car that is 110% perfect!

Anyways, to get back to what I was saying. I think you just misunderstood that's all. Why would I laugh at somebody's idea, especially if I had already done something similar at one point. You know from my previous posts that I don't attack people. I might vent my frustration about a problem I am having with the car and inadvertently blame some engineer, but I haven't gone on any vendetta against anyone on here. I have a good thing on this forum. I shared photos and comments of my work and got people to view and comment as well. Why would I want to ruin that?

Well I hope you understand what went on here and are all willing to look past it, especially since it wasn't intended to be an insult but actually a compliment!

No worries, thanks for your reply RamVan2500. All good here in Vannerland. Absolutely right on about our Vannin' community on here, Brother.

Glad you got Walter up and running, down the road and back. No small task there, eh. Ha! Good Job. And I was called crazy for resurrecting my Van...

Now, "Ford, has a better idea." Chevy, is the "Heartbeat of America." But I'd still rather, "Do it in a Dodge!"

Okay guys, lets play nice. . . . and thank you both for "clearing the air" before a mod (like me) had to step in ! LOL I like the idea of the larger tube (even if it is foil covered ! LOL) and it has me considering doing that PLUS adding a second tube IF I can work up a dual snorkel set up. . . . . . I like the idea of more air available with out adding more hot air into the carb/TBI .

Lol we are being good, just a common miscommunication. I wonder how restrictive the air filter is though...