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John N

Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2005
Messages
150
I'm going to the track Thursday for the first time with my 87 T-Type. It has a scanmaster, but I'm used to small block Chevies with carbs and distributors. How would I tune this motor or is there really anything I can do with it other than changing chips?
 
I have a race chip and a street chip for my car. The race chip is for 50# injectors though and my car only has the 009s which the street chip is for. What can I do to change anything regarding fuel or timing? I got mixed reviews on messing with the fuel pressure. The scanmaster can give me O2s and other stats and codes, but what can I adjust? I want to tune it with what it has so it runs the best it can. The Te-61 has an adjustable wastegate, but not sure what the normal turbo 6 owner messes with. Are there certain steps you guys take to adjust these cars for racing?
 
My $.02...

Chips are for specific size injs.. No changing to that 55 chip w/ 009's in the car.
Street and race chips have different cals in them. Use care when mixing chips and gas of different octane.
No "tuning" on timing. It's in the chip cal.
About all you can do in "tuning", is change the boost level.

If the car has only a Scan M., & no other gauges, I'd suggest you stay at home til you get the bare minimum...That being boost, knock, oil, fuel psi.
 
What other parts do you have?
If your fuel pressure regulator is adjustable and your wastegate actuator is adjustable, then those are really the only "tunables" for a basic car. You want to do the other standard stuff like weight reduction, sticky tires, etc. if possible.

Add octane with race gas or Xylene, and creep up the boost and watch for knock.
 
I was just wondering as far as the motor goes. I have knock and boost gauges. I just tossed 3 heavy trash cans worth or "junk" like AC, stereo, sound deadening, etc and am in the process of getting it back together now. I also have prostars and slicks, an adjustable wastegate, and and adjustable fuel pressure regulator. So it seems there really isn't much I can do without something connected to a lap top like an XFI unit, huh?
 
An aftermarket computer, need not be fast, can change your fuel and timing... with my maftpro genII, i can take out/add fuel thru RPMs in .5 increments... more when its cool, less when its hot out...
 
I want to get something like that. Then its much more tunable. Seems like newer MAFs read higher and do a better job too
 
powerlogger with a LC-1 and a turbo tweak chip will get you what you need. if you have the funds you could always skip all that and go with an XFI system.
 
Another option is the translator and extender package. I have the trans + and extender and it's all the tunability that I will ever need. You can step up to the pro if you want mafless or just more tuning of the maf based system. Search and compare features of each system, then decide which one fits your budget. And yes, without a chip burner or chip with adjustable parameters (turbotweak or extender/commander line), there's not much you can do except tune the boost and fuel pressure levels to get what you can out of the calibration with no knock. Racing fuel will give you a pretty good cushion to crank it up at the track safely but it will never be optimal without something user adjustable OR sending the chip back to your tuner a few times with some data logs. I fought my car for a long time and never got it over 14 psi with no KR. In goes the extender and I've tuned it to ~19psi on 92 octane with 0 knock. I love this car now.

hope this helps
bob
 
I think I'm going to have to do something liek that. I don't want to put up over 2000 for XFi though so I'll probably go with one of the other options mentioned.

I did figure out that I have 50# injectors in the car right now. The street chip I have goes with the 50s, but the race chip goes with 009 injectors I don't have. So I'll be running with the street chip tomorrow. I'm hoping for 11.50-12.00 as it sits. The previous owner said he ran 21 PSI on 93 octane. I'm going to go easy the first pass to see where everything is at and tune what I can for traction eliminating knock from there. You have all been very helpful. Let me know if there are any more suggestions. Thanks!
 
John, youll be hard pressed to get 21 PSI on pumpgas without knock... I can manage 20# with a big ol honkin front mount, and 17* timing...
 
That's what the guy told me. I felt the same way. He also said he got KR and let of early in 3rd so it will probably be coming down a bit. I think this chip has 18* timing.
 
i would suspect, on a tire... since the only suspension you have is airbags, and your setup... you'll get a 13.00 the first time out.
 
Better not. lol

He went 12.27 at 110 something letting off with balder tires.
 
don't be so quick on the call unless you have some track times with these cars, they are different from any small block or LS-1 i have ever driven, and they take a lot of testing to get the car to launch right!
Good luck, Dan
 
Considering the previous owner ran it at the track exactly once with less traction and letting off early and got that time, I think I should do at least as well after removing 3 trash cans of non race-related weight from the car and making a full pass (hopefully). We'll see. He just left the car in drive (column shift) and I will do the same first pass.

Anybody have tips on spraying alky? I have an SMC kit in the car which I don't think is progressive.
 
Daniel and Chris you suck. Went to the track. This thing along with myself need some bugs worked out.

1st pass
15.064@87.26

That had me worried, especially when I heard a rattle and didn't hear the turbo on the return road. Turned out the adjustable rod came off the waste gate. That run was basically on motor. Got a clip and put it back on. Messed up the boost setting in the process, but I believe it might be the same or about a turn lower than before.

2nd pass
R/T ... .063
60' ... 2.050
330 ... 5.502
1/8 ... 8.341
MPH ... 85.88
1000 ... 10.801
1/4 ... 12.896
MPH ... 107.32

That was with the SMC alky injection turned off. Traction was bad, but I expected it with the low profile street tires. I believe the fuel pressure was 42.5, didn't see any KR on the scanmaster recall and the O2 recal was in the low 800s I believe. I really don't remember the exact O2 reading. This car has a bench seat and column shift. I left it in drive the whole way and it did go into 4th at the end of the track.

3rd pass
13.03@107

Lost this slip unfortunately. The 60' was worse by a tenth. The alky was turned on, but apparently did not spray. I had my eyes on the track and did not notice if it said it was spraying or not down the track. I was told it automatically comes on without pressing the button so I didn't. This pass was with the fuel pressure at about 40, 1.4 KR, 820 O2 recal, left it in drive again.

The check engine light came on after every pass and turned off when I restarted the car. I'm assuming that's from knock.

Suspension is all stock with the exception of airbags. I will work on making it hook when I get the slicks on the car. I should be able to knock off a few tenths with a good 60'. Getting a good tach and shifting my self will help I think. The car had 3/4 92 octane in it (the rest was 93 I believe) and the dump was uncapped.

So let me list what I know about the car for you all. I'm told this combo should be going mid 11s. Previous owner went 12.36@110.96 at 21# letting off with bad traction and the dump capped. I don't think that was with the alcohol injection either.

TE-61 Precision turbo, 3" TH downpipe, poston headers and crossover, 50# injectors, adjustable fuel pressure reg, forged pistons, balanced and blue printed, 206/206 cam, ported intake and heads, power plate, SMC injection (I don't think it's progressive), EGR blocked off, duttweiler necks on stock intercooler, scanmaster, 2800 converter, testa chip (18* 93 octane street chip), walboro and hotwire, ARPs on heads and mains, billet mains, dirty 14" K&N, F body radiatior, airbags in the rear.

That's everything I was told about the car. Besides the traction issues, any ideas on what it should run and how to get it there?
 
Nice R/T!!!!

Well knock isn't good but running a 12.80 I don't think 1.4 will hurt you.
As far as the 820 O2's that was a lil rich but the octane wasn't there hints the KR.
Do you have any pic's of your Alky kit Controller inside the car?
You need to get you're self a Turbo Tweak Chip, or Max Effort. That will make life a lot easier. ;)
With what you have you should be in the 11's. ;) These cars are finicky don't worry it will all come together. :D
 
When the money comes in it will be going right back out. It's not great, but you can see the SMC set up in there and the super sagy headliner.

8-22-07007.jpg
 
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