Wintertime pinging

[NJ Turbo]

Hi guys. Maybe I can get a comment on this issue.
I have a 9k mile 87 grand national I have owned for 4 years. 2 years ago I installed the following parts. hotwirekit, k&n filter, adjustable fuel pressure regulator 41 psi, acuator/boost controller set at 17psi, 160 thermostat, and TT chip customized for the mentioned fuel and boost. Car ran fantastic and was a night and day difference.
Then my issue started when I decided to remove cat and put test pipe in. It started to ping/knock at high rpm. I decided to remove my k&n filter and install stock airbox back in and that seemed to cure the issue in the warm summertime weather. I pulled the car back out after a few months and drove it with air temps at 34 degrees recently and she is back. My question to you guys is this. Could I possibly get by with just upgrading to a bigger fuel pump? Or will I have to go bigger fuel pump, injectors, and new tt chip as I have kinda researched on google. Like I said when I switched back to stock airbox in summer it cleaned her up but now with the cold air Im assuming I was probably walking the threshold anyway when I removed cat and am hoping I can just get by with a bigger fuel pump. Thanks for your time guys!

 

[TLIMITED]

I would start with a new pump if you are running the original.

 

[Pronto]

Pulling the cat and stock air box allowed more air flow. Cold air +that extra flow= more fuel needed. You can bump up the base fuel some with the TT chip. What's your fuel pressure set at, 43? See what happens. I assume you have a Scanmaster? How much knock and what rpm? If you don't have a Scanmaster and are "hearing" knock that's bad. It can knock long b/f you hear it. If it's the original fuel pump it may be all done. Fuel filter could be clogged too. Nothing will kill a TB faster than a weak fuel system or bad tune.

 

[pacecarta]

i will take a guess theres noscanmaster since you call it ping/knock so its audible and you didnt state a KR number ..you need to have a scanmaster
with a scanmaster (or other old scool scan tool) check the o2s and kR counts... cold weather needs more fuel and you freed up the flow needs more fuel , as mentioned this can be bumped up in the chip , but you need to know what the 02s are now, you may need a pump and a fresh filter
what boost ? you may be over boosting do you have areal boost gauge
what fuel + how old is it ? 93octane i hope i dont assume anything anymore , fuel looses octane over time and does go bad, even garaged its junk within three months , you may need to drain the tank and try some fresh gas .. 93octane

 

[bison]

The stock fuel pump is barely adequate for a stock car. Once you remove the air box and have a chip with even a small increase in boost it will be lean 9 times out of 10.


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[NJ Turbo]

Thank you for your replies guys. I do have a boost guage and its reading 17psi. Before I had the cat removed I was at 17psi. Once I removed the cat she shot up to 20 psi so I backed it down back to 17. I guess I will start with an upgraded fuel pump in the upcoming weeks and see how it goes. Really dont want to have to get bigger injectors and a new chip, so hopefully this helps. Also, I do not have a scan master. My afr I believe was right around 14.1 at WOT if this also helps which seems to be way lean. Never thought removing a cat on a turbo car would lean so much. I guess the crisp cold air magnified that too

 

[Pronto]

Get a Scanmaster first! If the rest of the car is stock other than what you put on then there is no need for larger injectors.

 

[m3x1c0]

When my secondary fuel pump died my car ran a 14.5 afr at wot for maybe 5 seconds. This was enough to cause need for a full rebuild. No knock either. You are playing with fire. Get a Scanmaster and turn down that boost until you upgrade your fuel system.