injection... would be a good start, things like thermo fan that reduce load on the motor, but dattoman hit it on the head

efficieny

Engine efficiency is the key, & thinking & planing will be the way to get it. Try to avoid simplistic add ons & think more towards a designed-for-the-purpose engine that is tailored for your specific needs.

If you want to use an A series, & I recomend it, then give some thought to just what it is that you really want. Fortunately the A series comes in seven different capacities, with three bore sizes, & four strokes. It also used about four or five different heads, so there are ways to tailor an A series to suit your individual needs.

All you need do now is to figure out just what you want to do with this lovely little ute of yours.

Stick a toyota blower on it. Turn the grunt on or off at the flick off a switch.

Someone on this forum has a signature that says it all - from memory it goes something like.

Cheap, Reliable, Fast - Pick 2

in the distant future i want to put in a motor in my 1000 ute thats cheap to run, has power and reliable and not to mention cheap for parts.
the a series motors are great for price on parts, strong, has some sort of decent power for age but how can i make the a series motor more economic and keep/add power. what in a engines design that makes it powerfull and economic like newer motors.
any ideas?