I have a 3.0 1992 Aerostar. This is the old bulletproof Vulcan pushrod engine. Had the timing set up (actually right on spec) and it would spark knock, so I ran mid grade fuel. Then I retarded the timing 4 degrees from spec and it runs on regular with out knocking. Well the difference is night and day in performance. It's a real dog now, but was somewhat peppy. So my suggestion is advance the timing a bit and run higher octane. See if that does anything. Otherwise the best way to increase power short of a blower, is go get a 4.0 V6 IMHO.
Get a performance muffler to free up a little bit of power. A chip would help, but will require premium fuel (not a problem really, unless you are tight on cash), and most of all I bet a change to the rear end gear would help a lot. Probably have a 3.73 rear end. Not sure what would be best, but at least 4.10, but somethin on the order of 4.50 would probably be better (not sure can get).
I suggest the gear because once the Aerostar 3.0 is rolling about 20 mph, matting the pedal usually gets a pretty decent response as she screams her way on up to the mid 5000s. It's out of the hole where these things are the real dogs and a higher number (lower ratio) rear gear would help that immensely.
You could "re-gear" by getting smaller diameter tires which has the advantage of lowering the Aero for better handling. Thing is, those 14 inch wheels are an anachronism. Hard to find tires for it.
TP - I have an older aero too with the 3.0L - do you advance the timing simply by loosing the Dist poles set screw, and slowly "guessing" on how much to turn the distributor?
I run 89 all the time now, and it's peepier than 87, and doesn't ping on hills, but if I ran 93, and tweeked the advance, will I shorten the life of my good engine?
mediaman67, On my Aerostar you loosen one screw and turn the distributor. I didn't do it because I couldn't get the screw loose. So I took it in to the shop and they did it. It was right on spec they said, but since it was pinging pretty bad (unless I used better than 89 octane), I had them retard it. They retarded 4 degrees and now it runs fine on 87 octane with no hint of a ping.
I don't know the effect on the life of your engine. I heard you can get ping that is not audible and it potentially can be damaging. But they do make computer chips for various engines that advance the timing for perormance. As I understand it, the computer chips also require higher octane.
I am thinking it might be worth it to put the timing back to spec and run high octane just to make the thing peppier.
Ideally I wish the rear end would go out so I can get a lower gear, like 4:10, instead of the 3.73 that's in it. That, I think, would make it GO!
I heard that changing the Rear end to something other than OEM makes the tranny work harder, but who knows - I do know that the A4LD in these are not as good as the Engines - at least the 3.0L
I also know that I will never own anything that I drive that has been as trouble free - wife hates it cause there are no cup holders, but even she knows it's die hard ness :-)
I know about those chips - they basically just run the engine richer, by tricking the ECM into thinking it's still "cold outside" - run rich = dirty engine... mostly valves and seats I would think...
I was thinking about it for use once in a while, like for hilly roads, etc which we have more of up north, but I go back and forth...
I'm still trying to figure out how to check the timing on the 3.0 - that way, I can mess with it, and if I get too far off, I can always go back...
well i never changed the timing in my aero but i changed the cps in my ranger and checked the timing and it was right about 10 btdc and i just used a timing gun... theres a lil mark on the balancer thing for tdc so i just put chalk on the and with the light it was hitting about 2 teeth btdc which is 12 degrees... hope that helps oh on mine tdc was the 6th tooth, after the missing tooth when i was on compression stroke to get it close....
oh and id go with the underdrive crank pulley
Last edited by bluedevil3758 : 01-24-2008 at 04:32 PM.
Join Our Site - Its free, quick and easy!
