4x4Wire's TrailTalk Forums: The 3.0 build-up thread.

Well after much consideration I've decided to try and build the 3.0 for more power. I thought about a 3.4 swap and even a 3vzfe swap but the time and money involved was more then I was willing to invest. I've talked to a lot of folks about this and most of them seem to think I'm crazy, likely they are right. So don't bother with the "why waste you time"s and the "why not swap any other engine on the planet"s cause I've commited to this and I'm gonna see how it goes.

There is a lot of good info out there on these engines, the trick is finding it. I've come accross everything from DOA to turbo/SC 3.0s and even a lot of blown HG 3.0s. Some interesting things have come up though and I plan on trying pretty much all of them. There unfortunately nobody that offers a complete package other then DOA and thats unfortunate cause there are a lot of these things in runners and trucks flyin around.

My goal is to hit 200-220 hp under the stock redline of about 6k. I think I can do it for under $3000 and only time will tell I guess. IF in the end all I get is 200 then I'll be happy. I plan on doing almost everything one step at a time and taking it to the dyno each time I add something to get the "real world" numbers for each addition. Thankfully I have a deal with a local shop with a dyno, so it won't cost me an arm and a leg to get it all done.

There are some fairly obvious flaws in the 3.0 that make people shy away from them such as: Poor HGs, Burnt #5&6 exhaust valves and generally hot exhaust temps. I hope to fix all of these in my build and will try to show some numbers for that as well.

Here is my laundry list of mods/parts in relatively the order I plan on doing them:

Phase 1: Fresh rebuilt mill with performance heads. Gonna use EB's valves and have a good P&P done, I'm pretty confident that these will not dissapoint as even the most staunch anto 3.0 guys have said they work out well.

Phase 2: Freeflowing exhaust. I'm gonna leave the stock manifolds on for now and have a custom 2.25-2.5 progressive setup with a 2.25 Y fabricated. I'm really testing the theory of how effective headers really are compaired to just a crossover elimination. Depending on how this goes I may install headers at then end of my build. I wanna see another 30-35HP at this point.

Phase 3: Cams, there has been a lot of contension as to the effectiveness of cams on the 3.0. I'm gonna be a tester for sea2sky tuning so I wont have to invest in them if they don't work out. They are claiming 20-30hp with these cams so if they work out then I should be at my goal already, if not then soldier onward (as if I'd stop there anyway

).

Phase 4: Intake. I might be chasing a chicken here but it seems to me that the plenum is fairly restrictive and unbalbnces. Meaning that cyl 1&6 are a little starved for air, so I'm gonna port it and build a bigger air chamber for it to see what that does. I'm hoping for better throttle response, a smoother powerband and hopefully a little better milage.

Phase 5: Ignition. I'm gonna try and modify the stock for longer dwell, if this doesn't work out then I'll likely get the jacobs unit.

Phase 6: Tuning. Likely I'll use a SMT7 piggyback unit. We'll see how it works out. I wanna get the ignition advance and air fuel map all done up to see what I have.

Kinda long list I know. I hope to have it all done in the next year with phase 1 being done by the end of Feb. Sometime during all this I'll have to find the time to install the locker, LSD and gears I have sitting here.

So far I got the core all torn appart and at the machine shop, EB's valves came in the mail today

. So the heads should be done soon.

Only thing I came accross that I'd say you should all look out for is the cam sproket bolts. These are killer to get out so expect some serious work there. Or you can be lazy like me and take them to the machine shop with the heads and have them do the dirty work.

--------------------
(aka suprathepeg, aka Sean)
89 v6 SWB truck "BLACK BEAUTY" EB valves, P&P head 30 over.
95 FZJ80. Lifted. locked and rollin on 33s (my dream machine)

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