LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Went to the track...

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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 11:25 AM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by kinglt-1
sounds like a fuel issue. You shouldnt have to command 11's afr to get 13's. Check fuel pressure!
what should my fuel pressure be at WOT?
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #22  
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most like to run from 12.8 to 13.2 @ WOT
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by matt94z
most like to run from 12.8 to 13.2 @ WOT
so i hear. ive always thought mine was weird for running best at 11.8. i dont know but i think i have an ignition issue although it could be fuel. i'll have to check the pressure again.
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Old Oct 2, 2009 | 02:04 PM
  #24  
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checked the fuel pressure with the key on engine off and at idle. pressure is 40psi with the vacuum off 45 with it on. going to have to wait until later today so that someone can give it some gas to see if it drops.
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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 12:00 PM
  #25  
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okay so i'm trying to find out the source of my problem. i still need to check fuel pressure while giving the car gas. should have that checked out before the weekend is over. in the meantime i decided to take a look at my old opti just to see if it could reveal anything. so below are the pictures. i did notice three out of the ordinary things.

First it looks like one of the metal points looked weird:



Second the rotor was cracked:


Third there was some gunk or oil like substance on the rotor side cap as well as some discoloration on the other cap:



Are these trouble signs? Does it look like there was an issue. Currently I have an MSD unit on the car and I'm tempted to open it up as well.
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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 01:16 PM
  #26  
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personally i don't know what the opti is "supposed" to look like, but that looks pretty nasty. I went with an opti from thepartsladi on ebay and it was pretty reasonably priced. but that's my .02
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Old Oct 3, 2009 | 05:55 PM
  #27  
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anybody else have any thoughts or comments on the condition of the old opti? looks like it was had some issues but the car didn't have any of the classic opti failure signs.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 12:28 AM
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I would atleast replace the cap and rotor imo.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:47 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by kinglt-1
I would atleast replace the cap and rotor imo.
well that was my old opti that has been off of the car for over 2 years. i would need to check the new msd unit to see what type of shape it is in.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 08:23 AM
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First off MSD Opti's have been known for Wierd things.Can you post a Dyno graph?If possible post the 452 graph also.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 08:58 AM
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So you are pinning you belief that this is a potent setup on one freak dyno run????

I see nothing about your build(not that you gave much info) that would suggest 450rwhp, that is a pretty lofty number for a hydraulic A4 car. Possible but everything would have to be perfect.

Bet the 370rwhp number is accurate. People these days think any randomly thrown together parts will meet or exceed 400rwhp and that is not the case.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 11:13 AM
  #32  
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C_,

The old Opti looks like normal wear.
You need to verify your fuel pressure under a load @ wot.

If you are trying to check pressure it won't be accurate with the car stationary.
Can you hook the gauge up with some tubing so you can see it while driving?

Don't have any experience with the MSD opti.

Good luck.

Brad

Edit: It would seem that if you are commanding a richer mix than you are seeing on the wideband it would relate to a fuel issue.

Last edited by bmax; Oct 4, 2009 at 11:52 AM.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:37 PM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by 96capricemgr
So you are pinning you belief that this is a potent setup on one freak dyno run????

I see nothing about your build(not that you gave much info) that would suggest 450rwhp, that is a pretty lofty number for a hydraulic A4 car. Possible but everything would have to be perfect.

Bet the 370rwhp number is accurate. People these days think any randomly thrown together parts will meet or exceed 400rwhp and that is not the case.
very true caprice but i am also going according to the fact that the car made more horsepower on the old less potent setup. on my old setup the car made 396hp.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 02:43 PM
  #34  
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The FP @ idle seems a little low, IMO. It should be more like 43.5 or so, at idle, and with the vacuum line off, it should be a little higher, something like 45-47psi. Does the pressure bleed off on the gauge, when you shut the car off? Or shortly after you turn the key on to prime the system?
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 03:04 PM
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43.5 is minimum spec with the line off.

People make the mistake of blindly believing "upgrades" always add power. SSSOOOOOO many people make bad choices and endup not getting the upgrades they wanted.

If the dyno said 370 twice and 450 once then the 370 is accurate even if this setup should have been better.

All it takes is cheap pistons with thick parasitic ring packs and a mediocre bore job and all of a sudden a full build makes less power than a stock shortblock did.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 03:16 PM
  #36  
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Mine was a little higher, due to a AFPR.

You could always put your fuel pressur gauge on, and zip-tie it to your wiper cowl, facing the windshield, then you could have a passenger watch it as you go down the road.
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Old Oct 4, 2009 | 04:48 PM
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yeah fuel pressure under load is the next check. i just need to get a couple parts so that i can rig up the gauge somewhere easily visible.
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Old Oct 5, 2009 | 02:12 PM
  #38  
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okay checked my fuel pressure. its dropping to about 30 psi under load. took the vacuum line of the aeromotive fpr and it was steady at 47. so i ust plugged the vacuum hose up and left it like that for now. anyone have any thoughts as to why with the vacuum line on its dropping like that while without it the pressure is steady?
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Old Oct 6, 2009 | 12:44 PM
  #39  
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the consensus seems to be that the bladder in the fuel pressure regulator is bad. will either buy a rebuild kit for the aeromotive unit on there now or just go back to the stock unit. funny thing though was that even with the vacuum hose plugged at WOT it was still running lean. either way hope to have this fixed with enough time to get back to the track and put down some better numbers.

i also ordered a digital fuel pressure gauge to monitor it just in case i change the regulator and the problem is still happening.
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Old Oct 6, 2009 | 02:44 PM
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Sounds like your pump is weak.
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