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cammed 5.3 in 87 camaro. Take off issues

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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 10:08 AM
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Default cammed 5.3 in 87 camaro. Take off issues

I'll start off with my setup.
87 camaro wit a cammed 5.3, ported and polished tb, 4" cold air setup, ptc 2800 converter, 4L60e with all the hardened parts, 7.5 ls1 rear with 3.42 gear.
Cam is a Lunati 221/221, .558/.558, 114 lsa

Now my problem:
I went to the track to see what kind of numbers I would run. This was my first time on the track. I've run on the street quite a bit but was a bit nervous on the track the first couple times. The problem I have is that my time was a 14.8 in the 1/4. Before everyone starts ragging me saying I need a driver, that was not the problem.
Coming off the line, my car was pretty sluggish. It almost seem as though the gas was not getting to it for about the first half of the the 1/8th. Then all of a sudden it's like it was awaken and pulled really hard. So on the other end I'm pretty good. I'm just having problems out the hole.

My initial thoughts on this:
- Fuel pump doesn't have enough volume. It currently has a tpi pump in it. I installed this pump when I first built the 355 tpi motor. then swapped to a 5.3 and kept the pump since it had the pressure.
-Gearing. Maybe need more gear
- Timing. I have been messing around with the tune and I think it is good on down the line but may have some issues from take off.

If some of you guys could chime in and give me your thoughts it would be greatly appreciated.

I really feel as though I should be able to pull some mid 12's on motor.

Thanks in advance

Eric B.
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 11:15 AM
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Has the car been dyne tuned?
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by bmf5150
Has the car been dyne tuned?
No dyno tune. I've been working on the tune with HP Tuners.
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 12:28 PM
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Oh ok!
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 02:04 PM
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Do you have some sort of sump around the fuel pickup to make sure it doesn't starve for fuel?

Did you eliminate torque management junk in the tune?

Are you sure it's launching in 1st and not 2nd gear?
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by thunderstruck507
Do you have some sort of sump around the fuel pickup to make sure it doesn't starve for fuel?

Did you eliminate torque management junk in the tune?

Are you sure it's launching in 1st and not 2nd gear?
It's a stock tank for a tune port car so it has baffles in it. I may need to look back but I'm sure torque management is out. I am pretty sure it launches in 1st cause it shifts twice. I have it set up for wot shift at 6200. So unless it kicks down at the line it is in 1st.
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 03:13 PM
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Check and make sure you have 58-60psi fuel pressure when driving. Make sure a plug wire isn't shorting on hard acceleration.
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by thunderstruck507
Check and make sure you have 58-60psi fuel pressure when driving. Make sure a plug wire isn't shorting on hard acceleration.
How would I check to see if a plug wire is shorting?
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 03:21 PM
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TPI is rated at 45-48psi delivery pressure...LS1 is rated at 58psi. How certain are you that the TPI pump can sustain 58psi? I went with a Walbro GSS340 pump and chucked my TPI pump in the trash.

The guys have given you great advice thus far and I'd use it. Torque management could be fighting you, etc.

Get some scan data from a few street launches (in a safe manner, of course) and post it here. At a minimum, scan spark advance, banks 1 and 2 sensor 1 voltages, knock retard, LTFT for both banks, engine RPM, vehicle speed, MAP in KPa, and MAF airflow in gm/sec.
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 03:23 PM
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Originally Posted by 1987earthquake
How would I check to see if a plug wire is shorting?
At night, open the hood with the engine idling. No shop lights, keep it as dark as possible. Plug wires with problems will be arcing very visibly. Take a look at your coils also, degraded insulation will allow arcing from the individual coil to the steel mounting bracket.
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 10:23 PM
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It will probably be next weekend before I make it to the track again to get some actual track time data. I will try and check the pressure out this week. I'll check arcing this week as well. Thanks for all the advice guys. Hope I can get this issue resolved soon
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Old Aug 8, 2011 | 11:03 PM
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my car is acting exactly the same, i'm tryin to chase down the problem. interested in what you find out! i just put a brand new aeromotive 340 in my tank so i don't know why i would be having fuel pressure issues. its time to test the pressure and see what exactly i'm getting. my car struggles off the line and then after the shift to second gear it pulls much much harder. it hasn't always done this until recently.
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 07:31 AM
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My car will struggle off the line and pick up around 5500 or so before it shifts to second. I hope my problem is pretty simple..
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 09:23 AM
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I have a friend who is having the same problem and thought it was TM and wanted me to tune it out I just haven't had a chance yet...now I'm curious.

Please everyone post up what you find and I will do the same when I look at his car. Maybe we can find the answer between us.
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 09:39 AM
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In HP tuners....Engine tab - fuel control - Power Enrich - PE enable...........set the PE enrichment delay RPM to zero.........write calibration, then see what it does......

T,
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 09:42 AM
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I have EFI live but should be similar, I will check that out.

His is in a swapped nova.
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by TomM
In HP tuners....Engine tab - fuel control - Power Enrich - PE enable...........set the PE enrichment delay RPM to zero.........write calibration, then see what it does......

T,
I'll try and check this in the next couple days. I'll have to wait to get my laptop back from my fiance.
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 04:45 PM
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I think you have a fuel problem
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Old Aug 9, 2011 | 08:44 PM
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what was the 60 foot times. and 1/4 mile mph? and et.
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Old Aug 15, 2011 | 06:37 PM
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mine accelerates normally under 3/4 throttle but when i mash the pedal to the ground WOT it actually accelerates slower than when its 3/4.. in situations where it should down gear it does but you can hear the motor struggling to reach those high rpms. i usually have to let out of it to get it to go any faster.
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