25 Hidden Hop Up Tips
Be hot, look stock
by Tom Shaw
Ok, we know that lots of you like that factory look. Truth is, we dig it too. So how do you improve upon that? Well, we’ve got an idea. In fact, we’ve got 25 ideas. These are ways to go faster — quite a bit faster — without giving up that OEM look.
Not into resto? No problem. Just think of this story as 25 Hop Up Tips. But if you like to hang onto the factory look with a good bit of extra muscle in reserve, then this story should be right up your alley. These tips are easy to disguise. Some are completely undetectable. Some are for when you’re building your engine, others are simple bolt-ons.
But they all have a payoff. So file this article away where you can refer back to it from time to time because it’s a funny thing about going fast — no matter how fast we’re going, we’re not really satisfied unless we’re going just a little faster.
1. Light Headed
Losing pounds is going to be a big theme in this article. Even if you make no more power, the less it weighs the faster your car goes. So, replacing your heavy iron cylinder heads with aftermarket heads like these from Edelbrock saves a lot of weight way up front (these castings weigh 30 lbs. each) where weight transfer on launch is critical. Then there are the big advantages in port design and valve size on the new heads. Just sandblast that front panel to put a rough texture on it and paint it Ford Blue. We’re putting this tip right up front at Number One because it’s a biggie.
2. Aluminum Intake
It’s a natural mate to the aluminum heads, and it brings not only lighter weight than a stock cast iron intake, but it is an important part of the revised port design that begins in the intake and continues into the head. Just use a dual plane type like this Holley Stealth and paint it the factory engine color and all but the most scrutinizing eyes will see it as a stock piece.
3. Lightweight Starter
If you’ve ever manhandled one of those old, heavy OEM starters, you know they’re packin’ some serious poundage. But since the auto industry went on a weight-cutting program in search of better mileage, a lot of engine components have gone lean. Modern starters, like this lightweight unit from Dallas Mustang, have been downsized to as little as 7.5 pounds for racing starters, and have better heat resistance, smaller size, more torque, and a lot fewer pounds. For everybody except concours guys, this is a win/win.
4. Feel the Pressure
You may find this hard to believe, but those repro bias-ply tires can be amazingly good at hooking up on the quarter mile. Top drivers at the Pure Stock Drags (purestockdrags.com) are running 1.9 60-footers on repro bias-plys. Truly amazing. But you have to pay close attention to tire pressure. You may find this hard to believe too, but these tires seem to do best when pumped up to around 45 psi. Just watch your contact patch after a burnout. Light in the middle needs more pressure, light on the edges needs less.
5. Best Cast Iron Manifolds
If they gave out awards for Worst Design of a Cast Iron Exhaust Manifold, I’m sure Ford would have a couple “winners”. So let’s say you like the stock look, but really want better performance. The exhaust system is the place to begin, but if you aren’t up for using headers, here’s an alternative: Use the best cast iron pipes that’ll fit your engine. Example, if you’re running a 289 or 302 Mustang, you can upgrade to HiPo cast iron manifolds. And just to free you up from the “headers are always bad” mindset, Ford offered headers as over-the-counter accessories.
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