Ws6jason

Hey guys, I just got my 2nd f body, a 2000 ws6 a4 with the .323s. The only upgrades are a slp cat back system and k&n air filter. My last car was a 2000 z28 a4 with .273s, with Flowmaster cat back system, k&n air filter, and a hypertech hand held tune. Why would the z28 feel so much more powerful than the T/A? From what I've read, those old hypertech tuners do very little. I would think the .323s would give more launch than the .273s? Is there something I'm missing here? Any feedback is appreciated. ...

HCI2000SS

iTrader: (2)

Hard to say. Could be one or several reasons. But generally I've noticed a tuned car always feels significantly faster regardless if it only gained a few horsepower. Things like throttle response, tip in part throttle, torque management, etc...all that changes with a aftermarket tune.

Btw where in MI are you?

Ws6jason

Onaway

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

A Hypertech tune wouldn't have done much in this regard, it's nothing like a proper dyno tune or even a good custom mail order tune.

More likely, the current car might just need some maintenance, and/or the engine or transmission (or both) is not as healthy. Even when they were all new and stock, some were a bit faster than others; 18 years and many miles later, there's certainly going to be some differences between some of them.

As for the gearing, in certain circumstances, the 2.73s actually do feel a lot faster - specifically when going WOT right around ~35mph. This is a massive dead spot in a 3.23 car with a stock tune (it's stuck with a downshift to only 2nd gear). With a 2.73 car, it'll drop all the way back to 1st gear at up to about 37mph, which provides much more mechanical advantage than a 3.23 car in 2nd gear. Of course, either one can be tuned to downshift differently (I custom tuned my 3.23 car to drop back to 1st at up to 35mph, which was a huge improvement), but in stock configuration the 3.23 car won't go back to 1st at anything above 29-30mph.

In reality, the actual measurable performance difference between the two ratios is minimal when all else is equal, but the 3.23 car definitely shouldn't "feel" weaker at launch. Again, the current car might just need some maintenance or the engine/trans might be weaker/more worn.

bammax

Read this
https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-firebird-1967-2002/1897968-fat-not-phat-ws6-almost-2-tons.html

RockinWs6

Funny I noticed the very same thing going from a 01 Z28 to a 01 WS6. The Z felt much faster especially at low speeds, Both cars stock except exhaust. I never really cared that much because both cars were fast enough for street cars. I think the Z weighted a little less too.