Re: 15-20hp more?

[GREG GRANVILLE <GAG@arlvax.psu.edu>]

>	I am considering a few options to boost the hp and torque
>on my 86 GT coupe. The 110hp from the 5cyl is not enough for me!!

It seems that cars are getting faster and more powerful every year.
A car that was a hot-rod 6-8 years ago often gets dusted by brand-new
econo-boxes. Amazing what computers and technology are doing with cars.

>Got handily beat by a friend in her Buick Century. I called up Jacobs
>Electronics in Texas and asked about their 'Energy Team' kit after 
>reading about it in european-car and it's supposed to boost plug fire
>and for my coupe they quoted a 2mpg increase, 16hp more, and 8% more 
>low end torque. Anybody tried it before? Costs $337. 

Be careful.... Jacobs spends 10x more an ad hype than they do on product
engineering. Some of their basic stuff works well (Like plug wires, etc),
but many of their miracle "black-boxes" are total hogwash.
Their sales people remind me of rejects from used car dealers, or
scummy boiler-room stock brokerage companies.... Basically, they'll
tell you anything to get you to buy something. If you don't buy
anything, be prepared to get several high-pressure call-backs to 
buy something over the period of the next two or three months.
I know of several people that ordered stuff from them only to find
that the "kit" that they shipped could not be installed on their
vehicles. They didn't really have the proper ignition parts for
their car, so somebody decided to just ship something "close" and
to go ahead and charge their credit card. One person that I know 
who went through this had to wait quite a long time will he got
his charge card account credited.
I'm sure some people have been satisfied with their dealings with
Jacobs. (otherwise they couldn't stay in business) I'm just warning
you about what I've personally seen and heard.

>I have also heard about a kit from MSD(?). that retails for less
>that basically fires the plugs many times in a split second. Could not
>find any of their ads. 

MSD ignition boxes are very good, possibly the best product of their
kind on the market. I believe they are sold by autotronics corp.
I've seen the MSD-5 boxes for sale in the Summit Racing catalog for
under $100. 

>Also thinking of a Leistritz or a Dyno-Max 
>exhaust sytem together with a K&N air filter. Any pros and cons? Bang
>for buck opinions? 

For a non-turbo engine, these two items will probably give you the 
most bang-for-the-buck. I think you're right on the mark here.
(Actually, they are the best starting point for turbos too)
Ignition mods don't provide as much return for your money and
should probably come later.

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