Using the search, I came up with a little info, but I was wanting a bit more...

I'm realizing the 2.6 is, shall we say, anemic. I really don't want a louder exhaust, and from what I can tell the only cams available offer very negligible gains at one end of the power band or the other. I plan on replacing the air-filter with a K&N drop-in. But otherwise the only thing I've really seen for bolt-on mods is a hotter ignition.

Reading searched threads I came up with something interesting... The hotter ignitions are buring up rotors, caps, and wires. Ouch!

So what's the reality here? Anything else I'm missing?

The 2.6 is no powerhouse, and any little extra helps, IMHO. I liked my Jacobs for the ability to rev lower, tough to describe, but it worked nicely.

I never had a problem burning up caps and rotors and I ran the Mileage Master setup for years and probably ~60K. This issue seems intermittent, but I can't really speak to why that would be. Take my experience as a data point...

Randii

I'm realizing the 2.6 is, shall we say, anemic.

Anemic is not quite fair. It is a 4 cylinder engine built to go in a truck. It has a reasonable amount of low end torque and can do pretty well higher up in the RPM band.

But, it is that. A truck engine. It is not meant to propel something at a great speed.

First off, what are you looking for? If you want to dust built v8's, sell what you have and get something else.

That said, there is plenty you can do to the 2.6. It is all listed here somewhere, it will take some searching for details.

Semi-Easy bolt on stuff:
-Header
-Cam
-Exhaust work
-Open style filter

A little more, but still bolt on:
-Bigger MAF from a later rig (I think you already have this)
-Larger single bore TB from a later rig (again, I think you already have this)

More intense in work and cashola
-smaller chamber head on an earlier block (sorry, you are already there.
-earlier pistons in a later block (a possibly for you)
-bore the block
-deck the head
-balance the recip assembly

All of the above will make it run nice. If you can bump the compression ratio (late head/early pistons) it really perks it up. Let it breath helps nicely too. Ignition stuff is a wash. The Isuzu system is more than adequate for whatever the 2.6 can throw at it.

Finally, regear. The 2.6 is happier spinning a little higher than what it does stock. Lower gears will probably make a grand difference. But, you will probably have to compensate with larger tires. I am turning 35's with 5.38's and am more than happy almost always. Big hills still bog it down, but it is better than it ever was.

Down side is you can't get 5.38's for your front axle anymore.

Good Luck,
Michael

Totally agree on the 2.6 being a great truck 4cyl. It's got way more torque than I could hope for in stock form pulling around a ton and a half of vehicle.

I think what I'm looking for is more low-end, no real increase in noise, and no loss in top-end performance. No loss in gas milage would be nice, too.

I'm really hestitant to spend any large sums of money, since the truck was free and I'm currently paying for school ($230 per hour and rising...) and getting married in July. Plus I will have to buy tires soon (summer-ish). But if I could spend an extra couple hundred and get a little extra grunt I'd be happy. For a little while...

Jhig-

Welcome to the forum. Please watch your language.

From what you have said, just drive the truck. You want to have the cake and eat it too. There are tradeoffs when you do anything and nothing is free.

Just drive it and save for that wedding and get through school.

Michael

agreed with MLClark.

I was in the same quest you were. Currently my rig has:

-MSD 6A Ignition
-Dynomax Super Turbo Muffler w/ 2.25" Pipe
-Pacesetter Header
-K&N Drop In

I noticed a difference over what it was stock, big time. You just have to realize, this thing isnt a V8 Beast. It's an underdog 4-Cyl Beast <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm allowing myself $200 in goodies until after the dark Saturday passes (not counting tires), which gives me a few options on combinations of the above. Even more if I can find used parts...

Thanks for the info!

And don't forget about the car that dyno'd 355Hp using our same engine. There are things you can do, but I think all that has been covered. Just wanted to bring up that car again. Do a search, it has been mentioned several times.....

==> Hero Material. and lest ye not forget the 580hp 2.6 Pup either. a far cry from bolt ons, but they do exemplify 2.6 power potential.

Turbo nearly as big as the engine itself <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />