by 1p3bp » Tue Sep 15, 2015 3:03 am
So I just picked up my 1986 Reliant from the paint shop today and it's a world of difference. Brand new factory black. It looks very nice for what I paid for. The bumper is the only area that didn't turn out too good because it was abused by the sun but for $400 it looks great. So we drove it the longest I've driven it since I got it last year. We drove it 100 miles round trip today to and from a car show. I didn't enter I just drove it there. However, it's really hard to maintain 70mph speed in this thing on the freeway. It also has a fairly rough idle, especially with a/c on. It will do 70-75mph no problem but it seems like it's wounded up by then. The engine only has an original 48,000 miles still. Still haven't hit 49,000. We changed out the whole fuel system, everything on the throttle body, the computer, the pickup-coil, plugs, wires, coil, cap, rotor, and air filter. We just used aftermarket replacement parts. I also had the leaking tail pipe fixed. I was wondering is there any gains expected by adding some hotter wires and coil. Something from Accel or Taylor along with the K&N filter? Certainly if any power gains it will not be much but when it's rated at 97hp originally any would help. What about the muffler? The muffler looks horrible. Is there any higher flow muffler available that would bolt up to the stock triangle rubber hanger? What about adding a replacement one from something like an 86 Shelby Charger? Is there any muffler option that would mount or could be made to mount in the factory hanger that doesn't make it sound like an import, just have better flow? It's a huge difference starting my day driving my 99 Dakota R/T then my 98 Ranger 2.5. and then this little 2.2. My Ranger was only rated at 119hp and 146lbs-ft of torque with about 180,000 miles on it and it's so much more different performing. Just what if anything is there to do to this little 2.2 just to make easier to drive and not get run over.