Hello folks, I have got a 91 Camaro RS here with the LO3 TBI.


My problem is this, I have a hard time getting my timing right on this car and what I mean by that is, taking off at higher rpms FAST.

As long as the car is below 35mph and I gas the pedal, it takes off nicely, but lets say 45-60 I get like a little push sometimes and it just sort of drags on.

I know the car has power at higher rpms and when youre going 45 mph. I was just wondering what can I do to make myself go alot faster at higher rpms?

I want to be able to chirp those tires and just leave whoever is behind me in the dust....

 

well i dont see u churping the tires at 45 on a stock l03...assuming this is an auto and u just mean u want more passing power there may be something wrong w/ the kick down. normally these cars will kick back down into 3rd gear at over 75% throttle, if not may be somethin wrong w/ it. now u mentioned somethin about timing the best way to do timing is set it at the distributor then play w/ SA on your chip if ur set up for it. im tryin to learn the basics of tuning as we speak so i wont be any help there but plenty is available on the diy prom board.

 

If you haven't already, get a timing light and set the timing to stock 0*. Now test drive it. Bump it up another 2*. Test drive and compare to 0*. Repeat.
You can probably bump timing all the way up to 4-6* before running into detonation, knocking, etc.. Peak performance should occur somewhere in the 4-6* range. Maybe more, maybe less.

What is your timing set at now?
When was the last time you changed your fuel filter?
Last tune up- plugs, wires, etc..?

Instead of butt dyno, you may consider doing this at a track and run it at each timing level a couple times. It would be you best bet at an accurate measurement.

Not sure what you are looking to get out of the TBI engine. They usually take substantial mods to get a significant increase in performance.

 

I lack power on the highway too *shrugs* always thought it was kinda normal .. using a stock L03 with the stock 700 tranny

A transgo shift kit would help though right ?


As far as timing goes .. yup.. a few advanced ... also remember when setting the timing.. let the engine run warm .. just in case the IAC or something may take time to operate fully

 

I just changed out the spark plugs two days ago, platinum autolites all around, fuel filter I probably wont touch since its too advanced for me...distributor wires and all that look to be in good shape.

I want basically more passing power at higher RPMs....I am getting American Thunders slapped on within this next month or so, and I am getting some other stuff done as well...

 

OK folks correct me if I'm wrong ... but wouldn't this help for passing power ?


TPI type modified air intake

Transgo shift kit



Tuning will of course help uhmmm E V E R Y T H I N G .. something I need to do within the next few weeks too

 

my '89 LO3 is stock performance wise other than an open element filter right now. I adjusted the kickdown cable and at WOT the car goes sideways when it hits 2nd gear and the motor is still cold.

 

I may have to play with that *lol*

 

when the car is warm, at WOT it twists a little bit, sometimes chirps the tires. Oh yeah and I have my timing advanced 4* too, but thats it until this winter... Then it gets pulled apart.

 

well i'd look in to some headers, a full catback, a new highflow cat converter, new open element cold air intake in place of the old crappy 1 and i'd change out the stock plug wires for some aftermarket msd wires or some other good wires along with swap out your cap and rotor. You could also get an aftermarket high performance coil for about 50.00 which should improve throttle response slightly along with allowing you to over gap your plugs a little. I'd probably also pull out the intake manifold and put a aftermarket performer tbi manifold on it which should net you a small increase in power, with these added performance upgrades your computer should still be able to keep up and you should notice a small s.o.t.p. feeling from a gain of i'm guessing around 30-40 hp from the full exhaust, new intake manifold, and a new open element air cleaner. Also i would consider the transo shift kit which should make for quicker more precise shifts.

It would probably net you close what a stock tpi car puts out (give or take 20hp and ft lbs torque).

 

thanks alot flaming ford thats alot of good information...

I am going to be reducing weight to the car as well, right now it weighs about 3100 lbs maybe 3300 with me in it and full tank of gas...I'll be switching out the hood, doing some lighter engine work and what not, so all in all I hope to get this thing down to 3100lbs with me in it plus all of the modifications done to it.

I plan on doing my magnaflow or American thunder catback within this coming month or so and I will be shopping around for an open element cold air intake...if K&N makes a open element for my car I'll go with them.

Which transgo shift kits are good though? I heard B&M was top of the line

 

b and m is not as good as trango acording to many...the transgo shift kit is more like band m transkit and even comes w/ a corvette servo i belive

 

I've heard don't go with the B&M .. seems some of their kits ya just get a bunch of little gaskets and crap .. and they only make your tranny shift HARDER but not better

When so many people say go transgo .. I would go.. transgo

 

B&M kits suck ***

 

ROFLMAO !!

 

but what exactly do shift kits do for my car?

You guys are talking to a newbie in car modifications but I am really eager to learn as much as possible.

 

Decrease the shift times, increase line pressure, holding pressure, fix flaws (700-R4 is LOADED with these), etc. Basically it takes the slush out of the box and makes the trans more performance oriented.

 

is ..... a few months ago I would have gone with a Performer TBI intake .. maybe some other little gadgets .. etc etc

Now ... I would say ... the smartest thing is to learn the tuning.. chip burning

Cheaper than the full exhaust system.. although that should be added too ... cheaper than a lot of brand new intake manifolds

 

My RS (LO3, 700R4) is nearly stock, and I have no problem chirping the tires when I hit 2nd gear. Hers a little rundown on my car:

- full 3'' Flowmaster exhaust
- dual snorkel air cleaner (still needs hoses to be fully functional)
- timing advanced at least 8* (might even be more than that...premium fuel is mandatory)
- stock transmission, gears, and open differential

I've never been to the track, but my friend has a stock '01 Grand Prix GT, and he swears my Camaro is a little quicker than his GT. We've raced a couple times and it has become apparent that my RS has the edge.

My LO3 has almost 182,000 miles on it. It seems like it still runs very strong, which baffles me considering the mileage and because my car has had a rough life due to abuse from previous owners.

 

Hey gatoRS92,
Did you have any difficulties putting the dual snorkel air cleaner on the LO3, such as with the dual THERMAC or fitting it around the engines stock setup?
Also, will an air filter from the regular LO3 air intake assembly fit the dual snorkel intake assembly?

 

Dual snorkel plus full exhaust would probably improve responsiveness