Big Block Engine Bolt-On Power

If you can set it up right, we can't think of one instance where you wouldn't benefit from a multiport fuel-injection system. Fuel injection will let your engine run at any angle off-road, plus adjust fuel and air mixtures automatically via a computer that takes multiple readings per millisecond and decides what your optimum mixture may be. Besides that, a multiport fuel-injection system squirts fuel right outside the intake valve of each cylinder, instead of fuel having to travel through the intake manifold such as on a carbureted or throttle-body fuel-injected engine. It is simply a more efficient design, though it requires much more costly components. A single injector will cost upwards of $50 if it goes bad. You could rebuild an entire carburetor for only $100.

But the gains from a system like this Performer Pro-Flo Electronic Fuel Injection will net you more than just more power and reliability. This Edelbrock unit comes with an onboard Calibration Module that you can tune, without a laptop, from inside your truck. Welcome to the 21st century.

If you're going to be dumping money into the mechanicals of the engine, remember the electrical system. A high-voltage distributor like this D.U.I. unit from Performance Distributors can really make spark duty a no-brainer on your big-block. And the better the spark, the more complete the burn of the fuel in your combustion chamber. The D.U.I. distributors are simple and smart all-in-one units with coils built onto the cap, and a one-wire hookup that guarantees it will be one of the easiest mods you'll ever make.

And don't forget to upgrade from that cheesy 50-amp alternator to a high-output unit like this one-wire Mr. Amp alternator from Performance Distributors. It will run your vehicle at 65 amps upon idle and 130 amps at peak output, and will allow a much more demanding and up-to-date electrical system to be powered.

As far as engine upgrades go, the first few popular ones are probably the best ones you could start with. Increase the size of your exhaust, put headers on, and get a high-flow air element. The easier your engine inhales and exhales, the more power you'll make and better mileage you'll get. An air cleaner like the Elite Series unit on top of the engine will let you suck in lots of fresh air, without doing it through a straw. These Edelbrock ceramic-coated Chevy big-block exhaust manifolds allow the engine to move a lot of air out without much restriction, and also keep a lot of the exhaust heat out of the engine compartment and trapped within the headers.

Once you bolt on a bunch more horsepower and torque, you'll have to remember that you'll be raising the pressure and temperature inside the engine. This will require improved heat venting to make sure that you don't overwhelm the cooling system. Besides a bigger radiator, you should look into a new water pump. A high-performance unit like this Edelbrock big-block water pump with a Permastar coating can really increase your high-rpm flow rate. Above 3,000 rpm these Edelbrock water pumps are known for pushing considerably more water than comparable units. Another nice feature about these Edelbrock units is that they provide an equal distribution to both sides of the engine.