Have you thought about or tried using the variable intake system?

Is that a dumb idea ? I think more miles-per-dollar is good...maybe propane conversion too

Not for a second, much less a minute.



Ask the guys who have had to replace the butterfly valve bushings. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />



Propane injection is becoming more common for turbo diesels, but I think I'll let other folks experiment with gasoline/propane mixtures and blowers..... have you ever seen a blower explosion? It's a scary sight. Here's a nice view of what I suppose could be installed in a Montero for a really brave fella:

alternate fuels racing

Here's what can happen with volatile fuels and blowers:

Al Hoffman

Frank

I was thinking propane only. Maybe the variable intake is good with propane.

I dont understand why anyone would mix the two... but I think John Deere tractors had a gas-start and diesel-run engine.

The variable intake on the cars is further up stream and does not get the extreme fluctuations that the truck system gets.
This only means the system does not fall apart, it in no way means it has one cent of value. Having driven over 100 K Miles in hilly country with these engines the best I can tell the variable intake was installed to reduce torque. With a SOHC the engine would not make enough power to climb a hill in high gear at 26 - 2800 rpm so you had to down shift to get over 3000 to open the intake. Once I eliminated the variable intake I could torque up hills in high gear and saw a consistent 2 mpg improvement in mileage.
When I installed a DOHC engine, on my first drive I found the intake opened at 4500 revs, Flukin useless. Without the variable it pulls hard from 3200. I also now see 28 mpg in my Diamante wagon with the DOHC and 5 speed, not bad for a car that got 22-24 stock.
Maybe if the variable intake was controlled with MAP and RPM it might have value but RPM only is a stupid engineering mistake.
One other item with variable intake on the cars is that it uses a position sensor, when this goes bad it smokes the 5Volt supply from the ECU. Guess what, the engine needs that 5V power to run! I have a bad leg, I like to limit my walking to when I want to walk.
As far as Franks application, he has a good intake for what he is building. Even Mitsu did away with the variable crap on the DOHC Turbo engine.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

As I've previously stated, I think the 3.0L truck mid-upper range could be improved by using only my box intake with an elbow on top...... mount the throttle body to the elbow..... and eliminate the long runners completely..... but the improvement probably couldn't be cost-justified..... unless you also installed a Tornado Vortex Generator in the elbow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Frank

In a dry intake the vortex generator has no value. They might in some cases help with a wet intake by helping to distribute some fuel droplets but a cost of impeded airflow.

Just kidding, Charlie - just kidding. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

BTW, I went back to the yard where I bought the Diamante SOHC engine and told the owner he got the last laugh on the SOHC Diamante engine since it had swallowed a washer. I think he felt sorry for me, so I just bought a '95 DOHC Diamante engine from him for $150. Can you say nitrided-steel crankshaft and the same rods as the 3000GT VR4? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Then I stopped by another yard on the way home and found a '90 SOHC Montero engine for $150. The yards should have them pulled and on the ground in a day or two.

I'll use the crankshaft and rods from the DOHC engine and sell anything else of value.... like the heads. I'll use the brackets, manifolds, oil pan, scatter shield, inspection plate, etc from the SOHC engine.... so the extra parts can be used to complete my old block... and with any luck, maybe the heads are good. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

This engine is really gonna be a bast*rd. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Anybody need parts?

Frank

I hope I dont!


That's some interesting stuff about the cars Colt. ...So the problem is in the engine management...hmmm.

You got some nice yard pickin down there. Since you are going Megasquirt you should change over to the DOHC to start with. The newest MS 2 extra code has the program for the Mitsu ignition in it, both the G63 and G72 are covered properly now.
The DOHC already has more power than you original goals to start with. Just port your intake adapter for the larger ports and let it go!

I wish it was that simple. I don't want a low mount alternator on an off-road truck, so that pretty much makes the choice easy..... but the second issue would be that the bolt holes in the DOHC lower intake won't line up with the present holes in the blower discharge plenum, which was machined for the SOHC lower intake. I don't want to build another plenum, either.

Knowing what I now know about the fuel rail difficulty, if I had it do do all again, I'd be torn over the tradeoffs because using the DOHC lower intake would make it easy to hook up fuel rail fittings. Anyway, once I machined the plenum, I tied myself to the SOHC heads. It looks like there's a little room in the SOHC heads to cut in a larger exhaust valve - if one exists..... I'll ask the machine shop if they can find something that'll work.

With a good tune, the power should be more than needed. While it was running, it was incredible.

On the yard pickin's, I just flat got lucky today. I haven't seen anybody sell an engine for $150 - even a core. The DOHC Diamante had been burned, but it was a cabin fire and the engine compartment doesn't show any signs of heat or flame. The guy originally wanted $650 for the engine, but since I had just bought the SOHC engine from him, I guess he now considers me a "good customer".

On the '90 SOHC engine, I made a deal for the oil pan and some wiring, paid $75 and left. I got a couple of miles down the road and realized I also could use the manifolds, scatter shield, brackets, etc and turned around and went back to see what he wanted for the complete engine..... only another $75....... amazingly lucky day. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Maybe business is bad at the yards now.

Frank