So who out there has done any mods on their 3FE? And what was the outcome?
What was the Mod?
How did it perform?
Was it worth it?
What was the Mod?
How did it perform?
Was it worth it?
3FE Mods - Who has done them?
- Thread starter 82much
- Start date
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EGR delete.
I left the O2 sensors in place, but removed the cats.
Runs and idles so much smoother. Slightly more power and fuel economy.
Yes, it was worth it.
I left the O2 sensors in place, but removed the cats.
Runs and idles so much smoother. Slightly more power and fuel economy.
Yes, it was worth it.
Just ordered the plugs to do this today. I wish I could find better instructions but I think I can maybe piece it all together from several threads. Then out comes all the hose to nowhere stuff and there's room for a second battery, which will be my next mod.
- Thread starter
- #4
At this point I would paste a link to the Dead Kennedy's "California Uber Alles" if I could do that at work...
I plan to de-smog soon. I ran the stock exhaust without cats for a while and I would say there was a slight performance improvement. I recently installed a magnaflow 2 into 1 cat and 2-1/2 mandrel bent exhaust from the cat back with a flowmaster 50. I highly recommend the flowmaster 50 series: good sound without drone. I would say that this is a bigger improvement, but don't expect miracles. I would have left the cat out, but the wife complained about the smell in the garage.
I am tempted to send the throttle body out to be bored. IIRC, there was a post on here somewhere recommending a shop that does this for around $300.
I am tempted to send the throttle body out to be bored. IIRC, there was a post on here somewhere recommending a shop that does this for around $300.
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Their was a guy in australia that put a turbo on his, he made over 200hp at the wheels on the dyno with 35s. If I recall he didn't spend much on it. He used a chinese turbo. It made a rediculous amount of torque. I think he just used a rising rate fuel pressure regulator. The AFM works pretty well with a turbo from what Ive heard.
I did a full EGR and smog delete minus the O2 sensors. I replaced the O2 sensors. It runs better now than it did when I bought it new. I can email my write up to whomever wants it. I used Spook's write up but added pics and verbiage for people that aren't as well versed. The work itself didn't take long but I spent a ton of time trying to figure out what things meant. (I'm a 
mechanic...)
Message me if you want the write up. My write up isn't polished but it has helped others...
mechanic...)Message me if you want the write up. My write up isn't polished but it has helped others...
I did this through RC Engineering here in Long Beach, CA. I don't recall the price but I think it was closer to $200. I have zero clue if it made a difference because I did 7844 other things at the same time.
Only if its anodized red and has the name engraved.to The Man.
red?
It's more of a "while I'm there" kinda thing
It's ok. We know you secretly envy the reliability and bombproofness of the Mighty 3FE!
@82much, thx for helping get this all cataloged in one spot, sorry not in a mood to include a bunch of hyperlinks, mine:
- Didn't do full EGR delete, did the 'BB' trick instead. Accomplishes the same without removal of components (easier to go back to stock, still eliminates hot gas recirc). I never found any absolutely positive claims that the smog pump has any significant parasitic drain on engine performance so that's where I landed. YES to noticeably smoothed out idle, maybe a placebo/seat-of-the-pants improvement on throttle input but I wouldn't expect to see anything on a dyno. I'd only put back to stock in the event I sell, it made that big of a difference (again, nothing you'd see on a dyno but a much better engine feel once done).
- AFM 3-clicks - advances the timing. YES to a slight MPG increase and another very small placebo/seat-of-the-pants gain (throttle).
- Full baseline treatment - @jonheld, @SUMMIT CRUISERS, @LS1FJ40 (I'm sure there are others) are all huge contributors - plugs, wires, hoses between AFM and throttle body, fuel diaphragms and dampers (don't go for that "magic screw" nonsense, just replace the part), new vac hoses, fuel filters (2), O2 sensors, etc. Go OEM or bust...
- New exhaust/muffler (y-back) - awesome sound improvement, perhaps a smoother running engine/idle but that one was quite a while ago (more of a "had to do it" replacement than an intentional performance mod). The old threads about a stainless steel option (can't remember name) had some decent HP gain claims but over time as that outfit went out of business, many people were terribly unhappy with the fit/finish as well as customer service so glad I avoided that option. Couldn't tell you that the route I went with would have netted any dyno gains.
- Cleaned throttle body - immediate "smoother idle"/throttle response again, not a dyno improvement.
- Freeway runs - the 4.88's were the best PERFORMANCE improvement, hands down. On flat to mild ascents, this is such a better interstate rig than when I bought it. Steep hills are still steep hills, downshifts are part of the deal.
- Taking my roof rack off DEFINITELY has a seat-of-the-pants improvement. Go figure...
- Bought it and 8.5-9.0 MPG was the norm, currently 12 MPG after all's said-and-done. Long/flat freeway runs are easily 15-16 mpg (Prius-territory, I know).
- Trips up north for me, the number of times I have to downshift to second gear (every 3FE owner's favorite thing in the frikkin' world to do....) has been cut down by half but.....I still have to do it.
- 0-60 - I'm confident (with ZERO DATA to back it up) that I'm at least 10-15% better than when I bought it. But when 0-60 takes you around 25 seconds, you're still not turning heads. 0-45mph, however, that's really a huge improvement and don't forget freeway improved driving tied to the 4.88's.
- Advancing the flywheel a couple degrees.
- Cat removal (flange this so I can plug back in if so desired).
- Clean everything possible on the intake side.
- EFI relocation (indirect where performance is concerned but that darn engine bay does get HOT); maybe also all ground wires to be replaced.
- Injectors - can't tell if it's truly worth it but some have had successes (e.g. @SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr )
- Sock fuel filter (I've only done the inline to date).
- Charcoal canister replacement (zero performance gain here but I'm overdue - crazy fuel pressure blowoffs at this point!).
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If you do this, PLEASE share results. I've done my share of reading, don't ever recall seeing this mod done so really interested in how this goes.
Hey, don't lump me in with @jonheld and @SUMMIT CRUISERS! They know WAAYYY more than I do. I'd say they have forgotten more than I know but they haven't forgotten anything...
My knowledge consists of regurgitating a little of what I have learned from them.
- Thread starter
- #20
I'm thinking about adding this mod. I haven't heard of anybody on MUD that has done this yet. Maybe ill be the first.
Split Second is close to me so I'm thinking of heading over there sometime soon to ask a few questions.
1992 Land Cruiser MAF Conversion |
Split Second is close to me so I'm thinking of heading over there sometime soon to ask a few questions.
1992 Land Cruiser MAF Conversion |