Sounds like a weird question, but there are things that can drain HP on a big cam car with it's fair share of miles. I'm having trouble figuring out what's wrong with mine... I have just under 115K on an 2000 MS3/I/E Camaro.

It all came about last Friday, when a couple buddies of mine at work commented that my car smelt like it was running rich. I didn't doubt them since they are old school drag racers. I guess I never noticed from a slow change in smell?...

Then the next day, me and Michael Morrison (MMorrison09) ran across each other on the highway early that morning. He was in his freak stock SS that some of y'all may know of. (Still waiting on my "JoeKnowsDrug" t-shirt from my old car...lol) We went from about a 70 roll and he pulled on me. I threw it in 3rd and bucked at him, when he proceeded to punch it and it was just a chase race after that. I KNOW my car outta caught up to him, but I just couldn't.

I know my valve springs are WAY due for a changing, but there's gotta be something else. I also noticed before all this, that it didn't seem to pull like it used to. Recently, I had a bad clutch for about 3 weeks, so I'm sure the computer picked up some grandma driving habits, but since the new clutch I've been trying to teach it to get up and go.

When it's hot outside, I get codes thrown for TPS that come and go. Could this possibly be an IAT sensor that's throwing things off? If it's getting more air than the TPS thinks, then it could throw a code for that and if the IAT is off, it could make the car run rich.

Or is there something else I'm over-looking? Sorry it's so long. I'm just trying to figure this out. It's been bugging me. DAMN YOU MICHAEL!!! lol

 

Seems like your tuning could be the main problem. 115K miles for a LS1 isn't a lot if it's maintained well. Mine has 104K and runs like a champ. Get a good tune and a driver mod installed and you should be good to go

 

Ouch...

It's a Texas-Speed tune that was done with the cam almost 90k miles ago.

I don't need a driver mod. Michael jumped me and he admitted it. There was no honk off or anything. We were just messing around. It was 6:45 am on a Saturday.

 

Changed your plugs?

 

Damn, makes me like my little carbs even more.

 

I'm sure he is like his 15-20mpg to your 7-10mpg...

 

Eh, I don't have a carb and I get about 5-10 mpg on 93 octane.

 

plugs, wires, tune /thread

 

Does your foot ever leave the floor? That is terrible gas mileage.

Joe, have you taken your car to the track at all? I too think mine is down on power a little. Maybe it's the red 2000 Camaro's that suck, ha. I would look into changing your springs though if they have a ton of miles on them. Sorry I couldn't add anything else constructive.

 

That's normal driving, my friend. My work is about 20 minutes from my apartment. One round trip uses 1/4 tank.

 

Dang. Glad I have a 6 speed then, ha. I work about 25 miles from home and can drive my car all week on a tank of gas.

 

Lucky bastard. Yeah, about 3/4 of that trip is city stop and go driving, so the stall does contribute to my horrible mpg. I'm just going to get a 4 cylinder dd soon. I'll flip **** when I don't have to fill up every 3 days!

 

Lol I'd have to fill up every two weeks. Even my 70 Camaro can go two weeks on a tank.
Drive like 15 mi a day.

And westtexasbuff, going strong right? Didn't you blow up your whole motor like 4 months ago?

 

valve springs...

loss of compression...

dragging brakes...

flat tire...

low fuel pressure...

60 mph head wind...

lose throttle cable...

 

TH350/400 with a stall is the biggest drain on hp

 

It's usually not the tune that goes bad but other things aren't maintained...let's say when you got your tune the plugs and the o2 sensors were perfect...well after so much time they arent perfect anymore...plugs wires MAF springs...its all about the upkeep of the car...

And as for the valve springs those definitely need to be changed...you don't want to break a valve spring...I know on big cams they recommend you change them like 10-15K miles...but that's certain cams yours might not be one of those and the numbers aren't exact...they're just guesses

 

And as for you getting beat by a stock car that sucks...I've seen many ms3 cars that roll out hardcore...my black ss could run with some C/I/E cars when it was stock...then I put it on the bottle added full exhaust and could take down some built motor cars...

 

The stock SS that I raced is known to be an absolute freak. I've seen it take down cam cars from a dig.

I'm gonna do springs first I guess. And I'll do a leak down test on it while I'm there. I've looked at brakes, flat tires, fuel pressure etc.

Idk about the whole O2 sensor thing... I'd think that they are either good or bad, no in between, but I'm not 100% on that so don't get mad at me.

I'll mess around with some small stuff and testing before I get too worried about it being something big.

 

I was using it as an example...there are many things that could fall into the category

 

Ew BURN hahahhhaaa.



I get 20 or so WITH a carb Chad, ******, LOL.EFI gets about 26 or so usually, but i dont mind losing a few MPG to make more power cheaper