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Why is my car so slow???

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Old 08-27-2011, 11:16 AM
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Default Why is my car so slow???

i have a 2000 trans am with pacesetters,ls1 intake, catback,lid,ptc 4000stall,et streets, 3.23 and frost tune.started running at the track this week and the best i pulled was a 14.2 was night with a 2.0 60ft. last night i got a 13.9 with a 1.92 60ft and im trapping like 96.7mph. everyone is saying that i need more gear or my converter has me out of the stock ls1 cam powerband.but i ran 2 similarly modded fbodys last nite and they both had smaller stalls...one a 3200 and the other a 3000.our 60ft's were comparable.hell one of em still had the stock ls1 intake and stock lid and ran 13 flat.

they were pulling away from me like it was nothing.but ive seen it too many times here on tech with people on the stock cam and gearing just like me with big stalls running dam good in the 12's with similar 60fts.am i missing something?
Old 08-27-2011, 11:22 AM
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Thats a big stall with such a shallow gear, I would definately run a steeper gear, normally Required with such a converter., Even still thats a higher ET than I would have thought. Engine running ok, any codes or such? Car feel like its leaving good? No spin? How are you leaving, Footbraking the car to what RPM?
Old 08-27-2011, 11:28 AM
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Trapping 96mph in an ls1 is a major problem unless ur running on top of a mountain. My 98 mustang gt ran high 13's @96-98 with roughly 200rwhp.
Old 08-27-2011, 11:33 AM
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I disagree with raron55... The gear is only going to affect how the converter feels at low speed. A 4000 converter is fine with a stock cam... thats right where the ls1 makes peak torque, so whoever said its keeping you out of the stock cams powerband is wrong!! Sounds like your car is pulling timing. 96mph trap speed is about 12-14mph low. You need to get a scan tool on it and see whats going on. Fwiw I ran 13.8 @ 102mph 2.0 60ft with a 2000 regal gs, it had a pulley/down pipe/ tune.

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Old 08-27-2011, 11:34 AM
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something is definetly off, I run a 13.4 in my m6 with no mods other than a k and n intake and a cutout. still on stock exhaust manifolds and all. i do have a tune however and it dynoed 331hp.

with those mods you should be in the 12s. my friends auto 02 with a 4000 stall and long tubes and custom exhaust and lid ran 12.9 best and a 13.2 average.

you need to start looking into this motor and make sure everything is tip top, do a compression test and see what you get, I would also get a dyno run just to see if you are even close to where you should be on hp i know you have to take a dyno with a grain of salt but atleast it will give you a idea and a baseline. i would have the agree the 4000 stall is a little big for a stock engine and 3.23 gears but you should still be up therein the low 13s atleast and definetly better than a 2.0 sixty if your hooking descent.

look at your 1/8 time comapred to your 1/4 also and try to determin if your losing all your time in the beginning or overall.
Old 08-27-2011, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by RARON455
Thats a big stall with such a shallow gear, I would definately run a steeper gear, normally Required with such a converter., Even still thats a higher ET than I would have thought. Engine running ok, any codes or such? Car feel like its leaving good? No spin? How are you leaving, Footbraking the car to what RPM?
thats wat i was thinking as far as the gearing.im sure a better gear would help but its too many cars ive seen on here with 3.23 and big stalls hitting 12's with similar mods..thats why im confused now lol.running great as far as im concerned even put in fresh ngks and wires on wednesday. it was hooking well footbraking to 3000, didnt get squirrely or spin at all.
Old 08-27-2011, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Sprayed1998
Trapping 96mph in an ls1 is a major problem unless ur running on top of a mountain. My 98 mustang gt ran high 13's @96-98 with roughly 200rwhp.
smh...now i feel even worse lol...my 1/8th was 9.0 at 79mph if that matters
Old 08-27-2011, 12:38 PM
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Id start looking for obvious issues bad plugs / wires, broken vacuum likes, dirty injectors etc. something is OFF.
Old 08-27-2011, 12:44 PM
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CHeck your MAF sensor I was having the same problem
Old 08-27-2011, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by gs462
Id start looking for obvious issues bad plugs / wires, broken vacuum likes, dirty injectors etc. something is OFF.
I agree, start with the simple stuff and then work your way deeper until you find the problem, but there is something definitely wrong.
Old 08-27-2011, 12:52 PM
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My 02 auto when it was bone stock, was traping 102-103. Granted 02s had the LS6 intake already so maybe a little more ooomph, but not that much. I think your engine may be on the tired side unfortunatley. Although I think that is too much converter for a stock LS1 IMHO.
Old 08-27-2011, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by RARON455
Thats a big stall with such a shallow gear, I would definately run a steeper gear, normally Required with such a converter.
No, and no

Originally Posted by kinglt-1
A 4000 converter is fine with a stock cam... thats right where the ls1 makes peak torque, so whoever said its keeping you out of the stock cams powerband is wrong!!
Sorry, but it is not necessarily desirable get a converter that stalls to your peak torque rpm...A 4k is not optimal for a stock cam.

OP, you have something wrong with your car. It is down on power. I personally would start with the simple stuff first-plugs, wires, filters, then check fuel psi, compression and leakdown.
Old 08-27-2011, 01:15 PM
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Get you some nitrous!!!!!!! lol
Old 08-27-2011, 01:31 PM
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just out of curiosity where are you located and at what altitude?
Old 08-27-2011, 01:34 PM
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youd be amazed what a good tune up will do for you, you didnt run race gas or anything, just curious you could have plugged up your cat prob see worse et's if that were true though
Old 08-27-2011, 01:36 PM
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i may check my maf as i do have a k&n filter hopefully the oil residue hadnt contaminated it.i put in fresh tr55 plugs and new wires wednesday.will check for vacuum leaks and check fuel pressure hopefuuly sometime this weekend.what readings should i be expecting on the fuel pressure?
Old 08-27-2011, 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Ws6Dnero
Get you some nitrous!!!!!!! lol
dont really want to use the gas.....
Old 08-27-2011, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 82cetuner
just out of curiosity where are you located and at what altitude?
not sure on the exact altitude but im in memphis, which im guessing should be low.......?
Old 08-27-2011, 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted by popethe5th
youd be amazed what a good tune up will do for you, you didnt run race gas or anything, just curious you could have plugged up your cat prob see worse et's if that were true though
fresh plugs,wires,and new fuel filter on 93 octane.running tubes with off road y so no cats
Old 08-27-2011, 01:40 PM
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The 4K stall is fine. The gear is fine.

Something is wrong. The first thing I'd do is a compression and leak down test. This will confirm that the motor is tight. If all goes well there, I'd get someone who's competent at scanning/diagnostic and start checking your sensors. Make sure the MAF is clean and functioning properly, 02's are switching like they should (although they zero out at WOT), check for misfires, etc. Also make sure your trans is shifting at the correct RPM. A stock A4 LS1 should be shifting around 5900-6100.

You don't need "this and that" parts. You need to diagnose a problem that's happening. Not band aid it with more parts.


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