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Why is my car so slow???

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Joined
Jan 4, 2005
Messages
221
My car lacks performance in a big way. I just is plain slow. best e.t. 13.9@101.2 with a 2.4 60' with race gas and 20psi and 43lbs Line off. It spools slow, everything about it is slow.

Here is what has been done so far:

87 GN:

Spring cleaning
TA-49 adjustable actuator
009s
Adjustable FPR (Fuel pressure rises with boost correctly)
Hotwired 340 pump
Turbo Tweak 93
Reds 93
Transmission with re staled D5 (2800 rpm)
Valve springs and seals (Kirbans)
Timing chain
Water pump
Various gaskets on motor
Coil pack, wires, plugs (GM,MSD, Stock AC Delco)
HR motor and tranny mounts
Volt booster (Reds)
Kirbans 3" DP
Hooker Cat back
Homemade cutout by me (which turned out badass by the way)
Fixed exhaust leaks
Checked waste gate puck for sealing OK Definite ring on puck and housing
Waste gate solenoid (checked lines and y are all ok and routed correctly)
S-10 wheel cylinders
shoes and drums
Vaccum brake conversion
SSBC calipers and slotted rotors
Fiberglass front bumper with aluminum mounts

This car should be a rocket, it just feels sluggish. It won't build boost from a stop, and doesn't start to build boost until its halfway through first gear. Since I did the valve springs I'm getting knock all over the place with either chip ad recommended boost and FP settings for each chip.

Please help me. I'm new to Turbo Buicks and I'm fortunate to have some friends who are experts. I am so frustrated, disappointed, and baffled. I read on this board everyday and talk to very knowledgeable people often. I would just like to see some other Ideas, you know the more heads the better. I hope I gave enough info. I will try to fill in any blanks I may have left.

Thanks and sorry for the book

Dom
 
First, it looks like u have some good parts, and u did spring cleaning.. congrats on that.

What are you using for a scan tooL?

What are you o2 / knock #'s in third gear?

Also 2.4 60 ft. is not too good. Get some sticky tires and it will cut your e.t. way down.

Also any knock retard that is getting picked up is going to pull timing.. solve that first.. just some advice for you.
 
Seems like your making HP do to the MPH to short time . I would take a look at a loading up situation on power braking at the line then it clears up after launch.
Shorts at 2.4 is piss poor get that to a 1.8sh your mid 12s easy MPH will go much higher.
Good luck
 
I wonder if the destalled D5 is working properly... Sounds like not enough on the bottom and maybe blowing throw at top.

The only other thing is what octane are you running with the 93 chips, I see you run race gas.
 
The only other thing is what octane are you running with the 93 chips, I see you run race gas.

Yeah Race gas and a 93 chip typically WILL not work well togther, especially at your boost level. Most stock TRs can way into the 12s with only 93 if tuned right and decent traction. It is very possible that you could lower your boost and tune with only 93 and knock a second off that time. If you still want to use the race gas then you need to use the TT chip and bump that timing to at least 23 and see what happens or have Eric burn you a race chip; the fueling and timing curves are different on the Race chip. If I'm mistaken and you were using the Red's chip it would even be worse on Race gas and way too rich.
And you have confirmed that your chips are for the 42 lb injectors ?? And BTW: Don't let anyone tell you that the 42 lb injectors are no good, they are great especially when Eric has done the chip for them. Anybody that still believes that hasn't been paying attention in last few years.

With the TA-49 you shouldn't much or any stall for that matter. Something is going on if cannot build boost while power braking.
 
punisher87,the race gas on a 93 octane chip will not make good power.race gas will require much higher timing.20lbs of boost on the ta49 is way to low,the 49 needs to be 23+lbs especially on the stock motor.raise the boost with the correct tune, make sure you have a scantool, good set of tires,and report back with the results,after that look into the converter.good luck
 
I knew I would leave somethings out:

I have postons headers (de-slagged I checked myself) and kirbans crossover
I have Torque Thrust IIs with Nitto 315/35/17s out back. I don't think traction would be an issue because the car won't brake em loose anyway.
I am running a scanmaster

The readings are as follows:

O2s are right around the 750s up to low 770s but normally around 760s
I haven't seen more than 3* of knock at its worst.
Blms fluctuate but are right around 128 +or- 2 points at worst
Int is right on 128
mafs are good
every thing else is good except last night tps was a little low .45 and 458 I will make the adjustments
no codes

Oh and only one screen in the maf

My friend noticed my throttle body shaft seals are leaking but I don't think this could be the whole problem. Could it?

I tried tuning for pump gas only at 17psi and 43lbs line off and the car was mid 14s with very very mild knock maybe .3-.5


I do agree with running race gas with a street chip

Brian on this board went 12.98 with pump gas and my identical setup minus THDP no alky

my ultimate goal is to run alky but if the car isn't running right I'm not wasting any more money on speed parts until it is right.

The thing that sucks it this car had some of these parts installed when I bought it all of which were included in the sale. I wish the included parts were all in boxes waiting to be installed by me. Being a mechanic I don't trust anyone else's word or work, for that matter, when it comes to work performed on a vehicle your buying.

later,

Dom
 
If it won't build boost then check the exhaust for leaks, converter stall (likely suspect) , the turbo, low rpm fueling and wastegate solenoid. You got the parts to be fast but you won't get there with no boost. Maybe you could try a manual boost controler.
 
If it makes you feel any better.... a 1.6 60' time would net you about a 12.70 ET.....

This is alot better... but still nowhere near what you need to be running.

You need to be at 5-10 psi boost before the car ever moves.... and it hooks...

Your MPH is down as well...

I went right at 108 mph on my stock turbo first time to the track with alky.....

As others have said.... check very closely for exhaust leaks...get a RJC boost controller.....and the converter/tranny sound real suspect to me.

You should be running real low 12's with a 49 on 20psi.... trap speeds should be 110+...with half @ss air....easy

HTH
 
+1 on checking for exhaust leaks. Also how old is the turbo? is it in good working order?
 
I would check for exhaust leaks first and then look at the transmission. I've cut 2.2 60's on 235/60/15 radials. (not drag) If you're turbo is taking that long to spool then there's a serious problem. You might be running too rich, or maybe you're missing on some cylinders. If you get everything running right and it still won't go I'd check the converter. FWIW using race gas with a street chip isn't going to slow you down. (ready for flames) That's a popular myth that in my opinion has gained traction because the base theory sounds good but when applied to real life the results aren't consistent or drastic. Kinda like keeping the alky nozzle as far from the TB as possible. In theory, yes. In practice, it doesn't seem to matter. I would leave it in until you get it running right and then switch to pump if you want to tune for it. That's my .02 cents. james
 
Just installed a boost controller. It helped, but its still not perfect.

Turbo has less than 1,000 miles
Coil pack is brand new only days new.

Tranny and converter are brand new.

I'm gonna piss with it for a bit with this new boost controller.
 
with pump gas and identical set up at 90* went 12.7 @ 107mph..with 1.92 60' with BFG radials...do you have a data logger...what plugs and gap...thining it might be converter...is it locking up at WOT just saw you are running 17's...wahti overall height...lots of people have problem running bigger rims...and your 60' shows it
 
Something to look for....hook up a scan tool and check TPS voltage under load (while driving, not standing still in your garage). Mine tested fine in my garage, but at WOT I was getting popping. I noticed the voltage wasn't going up when it should. A new TPS sensor fixed it. Your problem actually sounded like a bad fuel pump- I know you said you have good fuel pressure but maybe you should check it again. Is it 60 psi at 20 lbs of boost?
 
for me

I dont trust the "re-stall d5" try a stock one if you can you dont need a re-stall for your set-up any way

Be sure the came is at the right position

Be sure your came is not flat. with our old came a stiffer spring can flating it up open your oil filter and check for metal flake.

about fulling system that number look good to me

O2s are right around the 750s up to low 770s but normally around 760s
I haven't seen more than 3* of knock at its worst.
Blms fluctuate but are right around 128 +or- 2 points at worst
Int is right on 128
mafs are good
every thing else is good except last night tps was a little low .45 and 458 I will make the adjustments


hope it can help

cp
 
Are you going back and forth with the chips or sticking with one for several passes? I would pull some fuel out of the chip in first gear and crank the timing to 24-26 degrees. That should help the spool up off the line. Also I have no experience with a d5 converter. Does it lock? If so, maybe it is locking too soon in the 1/4. What intercooler are you running? Are there any leaks there? This is another place I would look as well as any exhaust leaks.
As others have pointed out you need to work on that 60' time. That is killing your times on the big end of the track.
Eric's TurboTweak chips are great and leave plenty of room for adjustments. I would highly recommend tracking your progress when making adjustments to the chip. See what is working and what is not. Your O2's look alright at the top of third gear.
Something else that comes to mind is the plugs. What are they and where did you gap them? Everything works together and they all play a roll in a good tune.
 
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