Unexpected results

[HOTSIX]

After the long haul on the restoration and rebuild of this car - I gotta admit I am a bit disappointed with the results the drivetrain is giving me.

I have done a TON of work to the entire car but also to the engine. Its brand new !! I have a brand new John Craig built TA-33C...new crank, valves, cam, etc etc.

What i'm getting at here is i'm not fryin' any tires. The car seems to pick up speed well after boost kicks in....but even if I load up the brakes with a lil boost before a launch...not much tire spin...on a peg leg car.

I figured the car to be a rocket with the mods...

Now with the Turbomotion V2 kit not available...the future looks dim.

I gotta be honest with you - I am considering a Chevy V8 swap.....

What can I do here guys...to make this car what I expected ? What I mean by that is an honest 13 sec car.....

 

[John Larkin]

Even with the Pitbull chip, it should move well. Now you gotta tune it. Pull some plugs and look at their color. Odds are they are nice and gray - rich. Need to have white with brown areas - lean side of dead on. Probably have the fuel pressure a little high. Hope you have a ScanMaster or something so you can at least check O2's.

 

[blackbuick87]

If the car will not build boost you are probably too rich. what is you Fuel Pressure at?
You have added a bigger cam and bigger turbo, so you will have a little more lag than a stock car. May want to consider a mild stall converter (2800) to wake the car up

 

[Black Car]

Have you tried another chip? If not, please then do so.
I agree that the car also sounds rich.
Gary

 

[HOTSIX]

OKay guys....

I have FP set at 37 PSI, R43TS plugs gapped @ .035...

I was using the stock ECM / chip for it...have the spare ECM / Pitbull chip in my shop.

I'm gonna try the Pitbull now. Go for a spin, see what happens....

 

[JToups386]

If you were running the stock chip with it, and had all of those other mods, I suspect you were confusing the heck outta the car. The stock chip is like handcuffs for horsepower. Do as the others said, by making sure it's not running too rich. A stall will certainly help too. Please say you did take the time to degree the cam in, and didn't just stick it in hoping it would be dead on. If the cam is sitting in there a few degrees retarded, it too will take away the "seat of the pants" feeling.

 

[jetmech]

How can the cam be off if the top sprocket only go/s on one way and you line the dots up on the two gears. I thought degreeing the cam in was to check the specs that is written on the cam card to make sure it is manufactured correctlly. Unless you have a top sprocket w/ multiple keyways to advance or retard the cam. But i know my replacement spocket only had one keyway?

 

[JToups386]

The reason I asked about the cam being off, per not being degreed is this: Myself and others over the years have had a cam that was not true to spec, when just stabbed in. It could be a result of the cam gear being off, but I have come to the conclusion over time, that it's just another precaution to take when assembling your motor. It is one of the corners that people like to cut, (because it's a pain in the butt), and just hope that everything is what it's supposed to be.
I have been taught to be extremely maticulous when building/assembling a motor, and I was simply passing on the possibility for error, per my own past experience. Granted, it may be rare for them to be off, but it would sure suck to find out afterwards, and have to go back in to fix it. I also always buy the adjustable keyway timing gear sets, in order to have the ability to adjust. I guess I just assumed most people do that too.
Sorry if I sounded off base there. I was just trying to help...

 

[Richard Inglett]

JToups386 statement is true.

It's sad but true, replacement cams are rarely on spec. Have had cams be as much as 6 degrees off. Only cam that was right on was a billet roller. However, don't get discouraged. Getting rid of that stock chip is going to help and information will do the rest.

You'll get the bugs worked out and get much more than your expecting.

 

[boostedmaxPSI]

Have you had a chance to check your plugs yet? Still sounds like a rich condition.

 

[HOTSIX]

Haven't pulled a plug out as yet...but the car ran pretty good with the ATR chip in her.

Seemed to shift more smoothly even under normal driving.

Guess I need to burn a chip for the car then yes ?

Where and who does it ?

 

[jetmech]

Yes, we were thinking on the same track, the cam could be off. But i really dont think these huge company's like comp, crane, lunati, etc send out almost every cam not true to specs. they would be out of business. But im sure a few here and there make it out the door cut wrong. Still you could have that one.