Altitude/performance questions...
 

First off I drive a 1992 Firebird. It was built and shiped into Utah (where i live) from California... Now: I hear that in cali they have higher emission standards than in utah, meaning i may have some sort of gasoline governor that limits how much gas goes into the engine when i floor it. Could this be true? It seems to me like I'm not getting the accelleration or top speed I should be getting (when im at a dead stop and i floor it in OD, D or first it doesnt spin tires in the slightest, fastest i got it to go was about 110). I read up on removing/modifying the top speed VSS monitor thing but i'll save that for later.

Also in cali the atmosphere is alot more dense... Seeing as how im at about 4500 feet where i live maybe i need to get the computer programed a little bit differently? I talked to a guy at autozone who said something about replacing the air pump, smog filter, and a bunch of parts that are emissions related, maybe even my whole entire computer system.

I just want some facts, maybe clear up some rumors cause after i get the suspention fixed up, paint it, replace the dash, refinish the rims and put new tires on it ill look into moding it but i would like to know what im getting into first.

Thanks a bunch, Dima.

never heard of a gas governor i believe there is a top speed limiter but yes you could get a custom tune at your alt which would improve over all performance

At high altitude you get less performance. Not much you can do about it. Driving my old car up here to cowtown, it would no longer chirp the tires from a dead stop, but we're talking a 150HP oldsmobile.
Your firebird should do better. No fuel governor, that i've ever heard of. Top speed governor I thought was only on the TBI cars.

Care to actually give us some information to go on here? I think the ENGINE ITSELF would be some very helpful info. Who built it, what was put in it (exact specs if available), is it a stock replacement motor (built EXACTLY to stock specs?). Is this a 305? Any other modifications at all? Is it TBI?

I would hope that even a TBI 305 would be able to chirp 'em from a dead stop. LG4's can at this altitude so...

Its completely stock, other than the sterio :P not sure on all the specs but nothing has been done to it thus far, it just doesnt pick up as fast as it should... or so it seems.

Wish i could help you out some more but im not too good with alot of technicalities so far, but im learning pretty fast. All i know is its the stock V6 they put in there 132,000 miles ago =)

Oh and also its still has the stock 4 speed (pretty sure its 4... 1,2,D,OD) tranny in it as well. Befire i go and throw a corvette engine in it with a 6 speed viper transmition (*drool*)imma see what i can do with the o'l 6/4 :P

thats ur prob v6 sluggish rear end

With the ol' 6/4?

Yes, that explains it, a 3.1L V6 won't chirp the tires in a 3rd gen. Or only barely, at sea level, on gravel sorta thing. Not 40' of black streaks on the pavement sorta deal. A Buddy of mine had a V6 camaro, fun to drive because it was a camaro and he didn't care about it, but slow like molasses in january in edmonton.

6/4 (six-four) is what we call a V6 4 speed around here =)

I have a whole list of stuff to do to it, first being make it pretty again... Which wont take too much work but between the freakish -5 degree weather and getting too angry (punched my windshield out... got it replaced and the tape ripped some paint off my roof -.-' they wouldnt fix it) this winter has been very mean to my car :( first week it got below freezing is when my front end decided to rattle (lame bushings).

1: Magna Flow/Flowmaster Exhaust kit.
2: 160º Thermostat.
3: Intake.
4: Jet Underdrive Pulley set.
5: High Performance Spark Plug Wires.
6: High Performance Spark Plugs.
7: Aftermarket Ignition.
8: Ignition Coil Inductors...? (helps with the new ignition, dunno what they are though.)
9: Kickdown Kit.
10: New speedometer, odometer, and side gauges.
11: Camshaft.

Dunno about the cam for sure yet... thats a bit of work. But thats what imma do, pretty much in order.

I'm all about modding an engine, but unfortunately, all the mods listed have a very poor performance/dollar rating. There is a reason why very few people mod V6 cars, it's a very bad way to spend your cash. All that there might gain you 25HP, for upwards of $1000. That's REALLY hard to sleep at night after that. I'd rather see a junkyard V-8 swapped in.

And, FWIW - the 160* t-stat is a bad thing. Don't do that.

haha, you punched out your windshield?? My brother did that once, when the glass shop was inspecting the windshield (for the free insurance claim), they said "huh, doesn't look like rocks, looks like 4 rocks hit it in a series, almost like a fist....." Then they replaced it. Do you really want to argue with a guy that will spiderweb his windshield with his fist?

Actually the mods I found weren't that expensive, and most of them I can do myself. Hell I even found out how to make my own intake system, although I really would prefer not to. I found a small block V8 with around 370 HP for only $1,599, rebuilt. Problem is I have no idea what it would take to put it in, dont know if the computer system would pose a problem with it. If its just a matter of getting the converters for the motor mounts then my grandpa could do the installation for free... Same thing with a tranny if i can find a good one... Keeping my eye out for a nice 5 or 6 speed.

And yeah I punched my window out, didnt put 4 knuckle marks in it but there was one at least =) cracked from about the middle of my rear view mirror out in all directions, touching the bottom, top and driver side of the car. Women troubles ya know? haha :o

The sticky at the top of the Engine Swap forum gives the basics for the V6 to V8 swap. If you don't have emissions inspection or test to pass, it makes the swap a lot easier.