The Pontiacolypse
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10,451
Likes: 1,872
From: My own internal universe
Kind of a dumb update, but with being about to have a daughter get married and about to move to the east coast, I haven't been able to do any mechanical stuff. I did have where the car got really low on power when phoenix started getting hot (over 110). Turns out my IAT were reading High AF, so the car was pulling timing and running lean. So I tweaked the curve to make sure it didn't run lean any more, and I got full power back.
One thing I'm finding more and more as i drive it and fine tune it, it's actually quieter and more pleasant to drive. When you get on it, it's still loud and angry of course, but cruising down the road in sixth, you'd hardly know it was pushing the kind of power it is. My warm idle Map readings are getting down to the 50's, it's perfectly happy at 850 rpm, and I was able to lighten up on the adaptive spark, so the idle is less lumpy. I might try backing off even more, just don't want to get the idle dips, so taking it small steps.
Very happy with the decision to go bigger motor. Either it's easier to tune or it's less sensitive to minor changes
Only "comfort" thing I'd like to change is this resonance at 1500 RPM. It's quieter at 2000 RPM than 1500 by a LOT. I feel like I need to break up the long pipe run behind the X, but there is no room without causing even more ground clearance issues. Curious if anyone has found a way to deal with that. i've thought about cracking open the pipes and inserting those spirals about halfway between the X and the mufflers, but no idea if it would actually work or just make me feel better because i "did something"
One thing I'm finding more and more as i drive it and fine tune it, it's actually quieter and more pleasant to drive. When you get on it, it's still loud and angry of course, but cruising down the road in sixth, you'd hardly know it was pushing the kind of power it is. My warm idle Map readings are getting down to the 50's, it's perfectly happy at 850 rpm, and I was able to lighten up on the adaptive spark, so the idle is less lumpy. I might try backing off even more, just don't want to get the idle dips, so taking it small steps.
Very happy with the decision to go bigger motor. Either it's easier to tune or it's less sensitive to minor changes
Only "comfort" thing I'd like to change is this resonance at 1500 RPM. It's quieter at 2000 RPM than 1500 by a LOT. I feel like I need to break up the long pipe run behind the X, but there is no room without causing even more ground clearance issues. Curious if anyone has found a way to deal with that. i've thought about cracking open the pipes and inserting those spirals about halfway between the X and the mufflers, but no idea if it would actually work or just make me feel better because i "did something"
Last edited by Darth_V8r; Jun 13, 2018 at 08:11 AM.
Congrats on the upcoming wedding. It's interesting to see your kids grow up so quickly.
I didn't know you're in Phoenix. I lived "in the oven" for 3 years and couldn't hang with the heat so I moved back to SoCal. My parents are in Scottsdale and my sister is in Awhatukee.
Back on topic. Lately I've seen a number of cars that have TWO x-pipe crossovers. I don't know the reason, but I wonder if it would change or move the "Point Of Drone" Sounds like a sci-fi movie quote. Ha Ha..
I didn't know you're in Phoenix. I lived "in the oven" for 3 years and couldn't hang with the heat so I moved back to SoCal. My parents are in Scottsdale and my sister is in Awhatukee.
Back on topic. Lately I've seen a number of cars that have TWO x-pipe crossovers. I don't know the reason, but I wonder if it would change or move the "Point Of Drone" Sounds like a sci-fi movie quote. Ha Ha..
Congrats on the upcoming wedding. It's interesting to see your kids grow up so quickly.
I didn't know you're in Phoenix. I lived "in the oven" for 3 years and couldn't hang with the heat so I moved back to SoCal. My parents are in Scottsdale and my sister is in Awhatukee.
Back on topic. Lately I've seen a number of cars that have TWO x-pipe crossovers. I don't know the reason, but I wonder if it would change or move the "Point Of Drone" Sounds like a sci-fi movie quote. Ha Ha..
I didn't know you're in Phoenix. I lived "in the oven" for 3 years and couldn't hang with the heat so I moved back to SoCal. My parents are in Scottsdale and my sister is in Awhatukee.
Back on topic. Lately I've seen a number of cars that have TWO x-pipe crossovers. I don't know the reason, but I wonder if it would change or move the "Point Of Drone" Sounds like a sci-fi movie quote. Ha Ha..
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
Congrats on marrying off your kid... it's probably hard on you that she'll be moving away.
Probably is the biggest and best decision to ever make... and all the extra torque is nice.
Probably is the biggest and best decision to ever make... and all the extra torque is nice.
Really curious how much power you wind up making with this cam. Not surprised you’re getting it tuned up to be pretty docile. It’s pretty reasonably sized for a street car.
I’m giving some thought to how I want to spec mine, and when I get closer I’ll start talking to cammotion. Considering something with a wide LSA like 115-116. I’ll need mine to still be making real power at 7700. Original thoughts were very close to yours...maybe 250/265 112-114 LSA, but I think I’ll have to get after it a little more to make power at nearly 8000 rpm. I’m going full retard with some very specific performance goals in mind.
I’m giving some thought to how I want to spec mine, and when I get closer I’ll start talking to cammotion. Considering something with a wide LSA like 115-116. I’ll need mine to still be making real power at 7700. Original thoughts were very close to yours...maybe 250/265 112-114 LSA, but I think I’ll have to get after it a little more to make power at nearly 8000 rpm. I’m going full retard with some very specific performance goals in mind.
Last edited by spanks13; Jun 13, 2018 at 03:11 PM.
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 201
Likes: 10
Kind of a dumb update, but with being about to have a daughter get married and about to move to the east coast, I haven't been able to do any mechanical stuff. I did have where the car got really low on power when phoenix started getting hot (over 110). Turns out my IAT were reading High AF, so the car was pulling timing and running lean. So I tweaked the curve to make sure it didn't run lean any more, and I got full power back.
One thing I'm finding more and more as i drive it and fine tune it, it's actually quieter and more pleasant to drive. When you get on it, it's still loud and angry of course, but cruising down the road in sixth, you'd hardly know it was pushing the kind of power it is. My warm idle Map readings are getting down to the 50's, it's perfectly happy at 850 rpm, and I was able to lighten up on the adaptive spark, so the idle is less lumpy. I might try backing off even more, just don't want to get the idle dips, so taking it small steps.
Very happy with the decision to go bigger motor. Either it's easier to tune or it's less sensitive to minor changes
Only "comfort" thing I'd like to change is this resonance at 1500 RPM. It's quieter at 2000 RPM than 1500 by a LOT. I feel like I need to break up the long pipe run behind the X, but there is no room without causing even more ground clearance issues. Curious if anyone has found a way to deal with that. i've thought about cracking open the pipes and inserting those spirals about halfway between the X and the mufflers, but no idea if it would actually work or just make me feel better because i "did something"
One thing I'm finding more and more as i drive it and fine tune it, it's actually quieter and more pleasant to drive. When you get on it, it's still loud and angry of course, but cruising down the road in sixth, you'd hardly know it was pushing the kind of power it is. My warm idle Map readings are getting down to the 50's, it's perfectly happy at 850 rpm, and I was able to lighten up on the adaptive spark, so the idle is less lumpy. I might try backing off even more, just don't want to get the idle dips, so taking it small steps.
Very happy with the decision to go bigger motor. Either it's easier to tune or it's less sensitive to minor changes
Only "comfort" thing I'd like to change is this resonance at 1500 RPM. It's quieter at 2000 RPM than 1500 by a LOT. I feel like I need to break up the long pipe run behind the X, but there is no room without causing even more ground clearance issues. Curious if anyone has found a way to deal with that. i've thought about cracking open the pipes and inserting those spirals about halfway between the X and the mufflers, but no idea if it would actually work or just make me feel better because i "did something"
i agree with you on how tuning makes the car quieter. i'm noticing similar things to that with my own car
would dynomax bullets help with the drone? they helped quiet down my exhaust well, but unsure of how they handle drone (corsa ftw) i've got my bullets right after the x pipe and about 5-6 feet before the mufflers. different cars but the bullets could be the ticket
i think it is mostly to change the tone but i could be wrong. it seems silly to me but some like the sound
I know some people who have had great results with a muffled x-pipe. It is a perforated X with a packed case around it.
I was also really impressed with this guy's work -
http://www.g8board.com/forums/116-ex...ation-box.html
If you have a drone at an RPM you want to target then a tuned Helmholtz chamber is a surefire way to get rid of it.
I was also really impressed with this guy's work -
http://www.g8board.com/forums/116-ex...ation-box.html
If you have a drone at an RPM you want to target then a tuned Helmholtz chamber is a surefire way to get rid of it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10,451
Likes: 1,872
From: My own internal universe
To avoid multiquoting everyone into a massive post -- Thank you so much! We're excited to be sure. Moving all her crap to her new place was fun 
. but it went as well as it could.
As to the double X pipe -- THAT's a really intriguing idea. REALLY intriguing. That actually would break up that long pipe from the X to the mufflers without introducing a restriction -- assuming that is actually the problem. certainly a packed X would dampen the noise, but I would be worried about flow also. At that point a cutout might be the way to go so i can have and eat cake.
And great link, Spanks!. That actually would not be too difficult to do. Running a kooks dual, I could with very little effort get the pipes "merged" with some stainless to duplicate that chamber and then reconnect to the system as it sits. I'll do some more digging but at least there are options beyond just muffling it and losing power.
. but it went as well as it could. As to the double X pipe -- THAT's a really intriguing idea. REALLY intriguing. That actually would break up that long pipe from the X to the mufflers without introducing a restriction -- assuming that is actually the problem. certainly a packed X would dampen the noise, but I would be worried about flow also. At that point a cutout might be the way to go so i can have and eat cake.
And great link, Spanks!. That actually would not be too difficult to do. Running a kooks dual, I could with very little effort get the pipes "merged" with some stainless to duplicate that chamber and then reconnect to the system as it sits. I'll do some more digging but at least there are options beyond just muffling it and losing power.
