I ran the car again down at Keystone yesterday. The was run the first time at ~160 and the weather was not perfect, but much better than before. I had the honor of meeting corkyvette! He and I talked for quite a while before I raced. He checked the car over and said everything appeared to be in check.

I explained how my oil pressure and WB are acting much better after setting the valves. I told him I was really confident that the car would run a minimum of 12.8 at 107 MPH. He agree it should easily be able to turn that time.

First run:

RT .498
60' 1.952
330 5.536
1/8 8.474
MPH 84.08
1000 11.021
1/4 13.204
MPH 101.04

I was totally amazed, but not surprised. Corky came over while I was laughing (now I don't even get mad, I just shake my head), with my dad and stare at the engine.

Corky came over and we discussed some items that could be messed up. One thing I mentioned that surprised him was I said I was crossing the traps at ~4600 RPM. He said there was no way I could be crossing at that RPM and that MPH. I said well I am not 100% that is what I saw. I just happened to glance down at the tach as I crossed. I said I would check on the next run.

We were discussing RPms and I explained that I normally shift at 5600. The one time I did run a 12 was when the tranny would not shift into 3rd and I way over reved 2nd. Then let off. It went into gear, then I got back into it. What came out of the conversation is that I way over reved 2nd gear. And that maybe my tach was off and I was not getting into my power band. I explained the car doesn't seem to be loosing power at the top or anything. So we made a plan for me to shift it at 6400.

Next run. Car at ~170 after burnout. Tried to really get the tires heated and sticky to improve the 60' I lost. I hit 5000 RPM in second gear and they were really smokin. I burned out of the water and staged. Tach set at 6400. I really thought that might have been the problem and that is why I saw the unusually high RPM at the traps.

I launched the car and knew right away the 60 was no better than the previous run. Car ran up to 6000+ and I could feel it flatten off, but I wanted to stick to the game plan. Each gear was taken to 6400. I crossed the traps feeling less than optimistic.

On my return to the pits an official came running out to stop me. I knew why.....I thought I must have hit 12s and inmy haste getting ready that morning forgot my helmet. They never asked so I did not bring it up at the tech check-in. He stopped me and I put the window down. He said you really got that car movin in that run. I said OH Yeah! Thinking maybe the ET was well into the 12s. He said yep with that 13.4 you can park the car unless you have a helmet. I said, 13.4 that SUCKS! He said well you still need a helmet. I said OK sorry. I won't run again. So that shot down another theory.

Upon returning to the pit I was met by Dad & Corky. I said well that wasn't it. I forgot to do one of my jobs during the race. Watch to see what RPM I crossed at, I was data logging that run so we went to view the data and see what RPm I crossed at.

Upon reviewing the data we found something I have never noticed before. During the run the car will climb in RPM for instance:

4000
4025
4050
4025
4050
4075
4100
4125
4150
4175
4150
4175

Sorry for the long set of numbers, but do you see the problem? My RPMs actually go backward at times? What the hell is up with that? This very well could be the gremlin. The car is running in my opinion worst than ever lately. The 60 ft seems very sluggish and nothing has been changed.

Corky thinks, and I agree I have an ignition problem. Or a fuel problem. But the funny thing is, and I am very sensitive to things going on in the car (if you know what I mean). And I feel absolutely nothing that would indicate the car missing.

I am turning to you racing gurus to give me a lead on what the heck could be causing this type of behavior. I have the old cap, so I am definately going to replace that ASAP and see if that makes a difference, and then onto the plugs and wires. All of which are new equip.

Again I would love to hear what you guys think would cause this and have it not be felt? I would think maybe a weak coil, that is firing, but not missing. A miss I would think you would feel bigtime.

I am going to post this in a few spots, hope no one cares. This is a HUGE lead that I think might solve me 5 month long search of my missing power.

Thank to all that try to, and already have helped. And a Huge thanks to Corky for sticking with my through the night helping. Corky is a real stand up guy! And I also met 87_TA. It was nice to finally put some faces to the names.

Lets hear it guys.

So your WB didn't indicate anything funny, like a rich/lean cell?

I am running a tad rich, but nothing that would indicate a huge leaning out problem, like the pump not working.

Well Ski,
I was just playing around on the rmp calculator and it says you
should be crossing the traps at 4,007 rpm at 101.
Your gear is so high that you could stay in second and cross at
6500 rpm,i doubt that this is all of your problem but i would say that the 3.07 gear is killing you.
You are hardly getting a chance to take advantage of your power
band - especially in third. As for the shifting at 6400,in my opinion that was a little on the high side being that your peak was at 5800 i believe you said.
I would not say the air was so great either-there was a lot of humidity,alot of people i seen were running a little on the slow side.

i dunno what kind of tranny you have ??? fill in the blank please _________________?????
also with yr engine combo a slightly different cm might help. i think something with a tigher lda. looking at yr 60 ft time you could loose some low end TQ. and trade for midrange punch. also you seem to be choking the motor at the 1000ft marc.with tyr current setup i would shift at 5200rpm and see where that get you. also check the cam looking again at the sixty ft # i would think it could be advanced a few degress. was the cam degreed ??? or did you use a 3 kew way roller chain ??? i think the combo look pretty sound but something is amiss. those afr 190 heads with yr induction setup you should easily be making 400-425 hp. thats is of course with the right cam. give me the down and dirty about yr motor

piston shape
heads
chamber size
rod length
bore
stroke
intake
TB size and flow.

just the usual stuf

also all the specs form yr cam card.

lets see if your combo just needs a little tunning !

piston shape Flat top stock pistons (4 valve reliefs cc ?)
heads Comp 190 AFR with valve and spring upgrade
chamber size 58 cc
rod length Stock 350
bore Stock 350
stroke Stock 350
intake Lingenfelter SR
TB size and flow. 48 mm

just the usual stuf

also all the specs form yr cam card. 221 int & exh .560 lift

Hope this helps...Thanks

If you have the 700R4 then the RPM decrease could be due to mandatory TCC lockup. It will happen only in 3rd gear around 75mph (give or take)

Tim

I had similar symptoms once. I changed alot of things and was at my wits end until a buddy of mine told me to try putting in a new pickup coil. My car came right around. It is a shot in the dark, but for 10 bucks or less what the hey.

Call me stupid, but were is the pickup coil located? I would imagine its part of the distributer, Right?

Thanks.

Could you *feel* the problem, other than time slips and data logs?

Mine seems to have lost all its snap.

Yea you have to take your distributor apart. It is what the ignition module is hooked to. No I couldn't really feel it in the seat of the pants. Like you all I knew was my timeslips were falling off and for all I knew something was going south on the engine because I had replaced and inspected all I could think of. I have to admit I did feel a little difference when I put the new one in. The car ran smoother,, not to mention my ETs were back so maybe I was just on a high anyway. I say give it a shot. After all the mods we make this shouldn't be very hard on the pocket book