Upgrades while engine is out

[buguy]

I am going to be pulling the engine when I do the trans mounts. Is there anything I can do that isn't super involved while its out? I was thinking about decking the heads to bump the compression ratio but from what I've read its around 7.5 - 7.7 to 1 now and I'm not sure going higher would be too smart. I barely remember doing the HD springs but I remember not being super confident when I had to cut my own push rods to length. So I would like to have another look at all that. Just trying to get some more performance out of my stock engine. We have a bunch of machine shop type machines at work and a guy that can do the work. I just don't know what would be worth while. I don't want to spend much because I'd like to just start saving pennies for a stroker.
It is a stock dual port 1600 with as mentioned HD single springs and chromoly pushrods. T3 turbo 42/48 with a Holley 450 carb.

[Clonebug]

Just run it till it pukes......7.5-7.7:1 isn't too bad. I'm running 7.8:1 and it allows me to go to 22 lbs boost.

If you have a small turbo that comes on early you won't miss the low end since the turbo will help with that. I can get 100 plus kpa at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle and shifting at 3000 rpm.
It drives great and keeps up with anything on the road at that rpm. If i want to go faster I just rev it a little higher.

Yours might be different with draw through and carb though.

I have found a turbo isn't all just for top rpm power.....they really help at low to midrange too if they are sized correctly.

[buguy]

Really mine isn't very fast at all. I'm making boost but it doesn't seem to do much. I'm making more like 5-8 pounds though.
It's tough for me to compare though. I had a 1200 in it before and when I got the 1600 I turboed it right off the bad. Never drove it without the turbo.

[Clonebug]

5-6 lbs is nice.
10 lbs is....oh yeah!!!
13 lbs is ...Now we're talking.....
22 lbs is Holy S**T!!!!

Work on turning up the boost.......

[buguy]

I'm hoping redoing the header and getting rid of the heater boxes will help! It always seemed labored to make much boost before. I haven't driven it in a really long time though.

[petew]

While you've got the trans out, seam weld the chassis forks like this...

WP_20150201_001.jpg

Then buy or build a basic kafer bar setup...

WP_20150416_002.jpg

Both are pretty easy to do and help a lot. I think we already talked about the Berg style gearbox brace.

[petew]

Oh, and throw a camber compensator on too. Cheap and cheerful.

[buguy]

Do you have to cut a hole in the sheer metal for that kafer bar to go through to the shock mount?

[petew]

I don't think so. I have an oval window and they have straight shock towers and a hole there already. Your car will be slightly different but should be easy enough. Just search for a few pictures on Google images.

[buguy]

I'm planning to throw it on the lift tomorrow to have a look at the brakes anyway. I will have a look while its up there.