Vannin' Home Forums Chevy General Discussion 78 g20 basic engine/other upgrades

Hey guys,

so I've pummeled my poor g20 over the last few months, 10k+ miles in about 2.5 months, incl a lot of fire roads. The suspension and steering are loose, the brakes need help, the ignition system needs help, and the van is underpowered for where i live anyway. so, I want to upgrade or at least rebuild the front suspension and steering, brakes all around, and the starting/ignition systems. It's currently 100% stock original.

I also want to do whatever bolt-on HP increases I can. I'd like to do an FI kit, but at least a Holley carb. Headers, valve covers? Def needs new valve cover gaskets. What else can I do to get some HP gains without an engine rebuild or swap?

so i'm looking for suggestions on what parts to get for all of the above.


thanks!

I'm doing a steering suspension rebuild at the moment. It's in the Chevy How to section below.

If it were mine.......
Good set of headers and thermal coat them.
2.25 inch headpipes into a good set of mufflers.(sound is subjective-but I'll say anything but Flowbastards).
Turn them out in front the rear wheel and put a set of Zoomies on it.

Ignition:
Factory HEI is fine. Just make sure it's up to spec. And has a decent curve in it-not the factory one.
Champion plugs.

Fuel system:

FI would be my choice and it would be a TPI system. Probably a Mega-Squirt. Throttle bodies are nothing but a really expensive carb. A MS system will allow you later down the road (if you wish) to go to a crank trigger & coil packs and get rid of your distributor altogether.

If not FI, then find a good Q-jet guy and have him build you a Q-jet tailored to your combination.


Edit: HEI- I'd get a points distributor and send it to www.davessmallbodyheis.com

Let Dave do his thing. Then you'd have the best of the HEI system without the bad which is the cap & coil set-up.

thanks man, that's helpful.

No worries.