Don't do FB... I prefer none of those social media platforms... Watch Social Dilemma and the great Hack... the software guys built those platforms and didn't realize they were messing with the dopamine in the brain... that is why it is so divisive and why those engineers won't use or allow their families to use.

 

If you keep EFI than you pretty much have no choice but to keep those EFI heads. However, there’s lots you can do to them such
as bigger valves and porting. If you don’t do Facebook here is a Scotty’s website:

Parkland Performance Auto Machine - Home

Check out that top end kits he has available.

 

I'm with EllieMae above. Look at PPAM's offerings. Adding their ported heads, intake, and a set of headers (Bank's headers are a great fit but $$$) will put you at the limits of your fuel system, and near 350 HP. You can certainly make more power than this, but it will increase in cost exponentially and be much more involved.

As for the rest of the truck:
Shocks will make a little difference. I like Bilstein's shocks. They're in a sweet spot as far as performance for your money. Air bags for the rear are a good idea. Air Lift's units work well. I had them in my '89 when I bought it. Nice being able to deflate them most of the way when you're unloaded and just pump em up when you're going to tow a trailer or haul a load.

With a C6 and 4.10s, I'm sure your fuel mileage is just bad. 8-10? Changing to an overdrive trans might get you closer to 10 as an average, but probably not worth the effort for maybe 1 or 2 MPG. The C6 is a very tough trans though, and will take a ton of abuse before failure.

As far as removing emissions components, if they are working, I would leave them alone. You don't stand to gain anything by removing them.

Everyone has their own idea of what muffler style sounds the best. The catalytic converters do a good job as a muffler on these trucks (if you still have it). Typically you can cut the muffler off, and leave the converter in place and it will have a nice mellow tone, but not obnoxious. If you're looking for more volume than that, I prefer a Magnaflow style muffler. Something straight through that will do a good job muffling at idle, but will still give you some volume when you step on it.

 

Another option for ported EFI heads on your 7.5L engine: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ts-are-in.html

Long read, but very informative.

 

To continue on with GNR22 thoughts of a OD tranny. If you decided to go with a E4OD tranny its a electric shift tranny and you would need the PCM and wire harness from a newer truck. Also check out 460efiguys.com He is doing something with the intake and changing over to a carb style throttle body that is supposed to pick up both performance and MPG

 

Another option if you decide on the E4OD is to get a stand along controller for it. Check out USshift.com. A member here has their Quick Shift 2 controlling an E4OD on his '79 for the last several years.

 

I wasn't really pushing the idea of swapping the transmission. For the cost to swap to either an E4OD, or a 5 speed, a guy can buy quite a bit of fuel. Especially if he is mostly using it as an around town tow vehicle. I was pointing out that he really doesn't stand to gain much more by moving away from the C6.

 

Lot over great inputs, thanks everyone! Ya I think there trans will stay besides a fluid changes and AAMCO look over. If there were to be a change I totally agree that it would be the rear end but that would be the last thing I would do. And true, I only use it around town so gas isn't much of the issue.

I looked at the Parkland Machine shop website and that is a possibility... I still have to look at the post for the switch to carb from EFI, so more research. The heads are a bit pricey but that s why this is in the planning stages, budget will be build to accommodate the build. I am already putting aside a few hundred a month for it.

The suspension will get airbags for sure and after the tune up of the ignition system (plugs wires cap and rotor although the truck starts just fine). Thanks tho for the Blisten shock input. I really do not follow any mag or show about building a truck, might start but with all the experience and knowledge here... why.

With the stock rims and tires, I know it is limiting my sizes. So with it being 2 wheel drive, not really needing the monster tires but am looking for possibly swapping out the rims/tires to something larger but not too huge. I am sure with the drive setup in there already, it can handle it.

 

I wouldn't bother switching to a carburetor. If you're going to go that route, get a good 4bbl manifold that works in the RPM range you want, and put something like an EZ-EFI or Holley Sniper EFI throttle body on it, anymore doing that setup isn't much more than buying a new carburetor in many cases. I thought I remembered you saying it was already an EFI engine though.

 

While true that I want to stick to EFI, I am open to other ideas.