I've been really enjoying my 59 GMC these past few summers. I've taken it on seven 400 mile round trips up in the sierra Nevada mountains to fish, each time cresting a 10,000' pass. (With all drum brakes....) There is one particular stretch of 15% grade early on that really bogs down the motor. (At fairly low elevation.) Carrying a load, the rpm's get low enough that in a few spots I have to shift into 1st and move over as other cars are doing 60 plus mph. Every time I slog through this 1 spot I wonder if there is anything I can do to this motor to give it a little extra power. Just enough to -not- have to reach into 1st to keep moving.
It's a bone stock 270 with the Zenith single downdraft. Aside from installing a dual M/C and radial tires, I've not done anything to it. Wondering what my options are. At 140K original miles, it's not ready for a rebuild yet so I'm more interested if there are any "bolt-on" options that make sense. Split exhaust? Dual Zenith carbs? Re-jet the single carb.....? I know once I have to open this motor up there are lots of options, but I'm just not there yet. Any ideas? Thanks, -Steve
