91 rs tbi auto 88k

my question is why dose it just seem so gutless in 1st
and on the freeway
and will hold at redline before it shifts


runs smooth and revs freely just feels gutless in gear
ive been told by so many v8 guys to swap to a v8 for more power
so whats up with this
its nothing like my 89 lb9

my 3.1 camaro beats this one every time is it the gearing?
or because its heavier?

i know the 305 has a recent tune up
it also has a newer k&n filter


if anyone knows of some kind of problem it may have let me know

i can tell its torquey but it honestly seems to have less take off and go then both of my v6 cars

ya so thats 4 f-bodys now

 

Base Timing? Fuel Filter? Fuel pressure? TV Cable Adjustment?

 

I remember passing up many nice fbodies that had the LO3 because I have the same impression you do.... "Where's the power." Doing little things will help A LOT, but in the end, you still have an LO3. Some guys have gotten them to run quickly, but it takes a lot of work. If you still have that LB9 car, use the RS as a reliable daily driver with some mods, but don't go crazy on it. That's what it was meant for, and it will do you justice under those conditions.

Not to say it doesn't have great potential... but if you have a tuned port car....

(PS - you C/D page says you're from Strongsville. I'm right off W150th... small world.)

 

HAHA Speakin of the devil ask Fast 355 if TBI doesnt have potential. Maybe he will race you in his 5000+ lb van and burn you hehe.

 

Chances are your car has an issue. It should be faster at all speeds over the V6 RS cars. These cars get seriously neglected over the years and a basic tune up doesn't solve everything. Simple tunes just replace the plugs and wires and what ever else the mechanic does to follow his pre-determined "tune-up" list. I bet they didn't check vacuum lines, fuel pressure, fuel filter, base timing, stuck EGR, ect ect.

 

thats weird

you probably got problems somewhere.......

my 89 tbi 305 gets up and goes...bitchin all the way

i agree STRONGLY with shiftycapone

go find a small shop to run diagnostics on it or something....

 

my STOCK AUTOMATIC LO3 runs 16.2x's in the 1/4....

I'll be in the 14's by spring, which is fast enough for me. Keep in mind, I'll still be getting 20mpg

 

well i moved to north canton now i should update that

what i ment is my v6 feels quicker and i know it is from a stop

but im sure on the free way the tbi is faster as the v6 loses alot of power there

i had at lest figured this would be something close to the the lb9 iroc but man there is a 100% differance

is that just because the tpi is that much better? or is there something that can be changed
like heads cam to bring it a bit closer?

as for how well this car was took care of it looks pretty good for what kind of car it is interior looks almost new other then dash pad

the factory paint is only slitely faded on the roof

all of the sensors where recently replaced as well as plugs wires
coil is new as is cap and rotor

i also know the fuel filter is new there are no vacum problems im pretty good at finding them lol

it runs great shifts hard just dosnt seem to have the power i thought it should

the big differance is i can floor it in my v6 and kick the rear out

this 305 just takes off and dosnt seem to have power till mid range rpm levels

both cars have the same size rims and tires

the v6 has slitly larger swaybars
only thing i can think is that the v6 has 3.23 and the 305 uses 2.73 is that why it is so much slower on take off even with makeing 20 hp and almost double torque more?


whould a gear change make that much differance?

 

Gears will make a huge difference. Hell my 98 subaru with an astonishing 165 HP feels fast in first gear. It's got 4.11 gears and a 3.25 first gear. It'll do 35 mph at 6500 rpm.

The reason your LB9 felt faster was because it had much better heads and a cam that was twice the size of the one in the LO3. There is nothing inherently wrong with the TBI system itself, just the motor below it sucks.

 

When I first got my 91 Bird, with the LO3, it had some power, but I remember checking a couple of times if my e brake was on...I have since done a tuneup, *new fuel filter, plugs and wires helped A LOT, put on an open element with K&N filter, cut off my restrictive old catback which was full of bends, some less than 2" and put on a straightpipe with turndown, (for now, full exhaust is next), new flexplate which cured a strange rattle, new motor mounts, new tranny mount, which altogether is nothing really, but holy smokes the car scats now, especially when its cold out. Way quicker than when I got it, and its actually pretty fast now. Couldn't believe the difference all those little things made, especially the fuel filter...also try a bottle of Berryman's Injector Cleaner. That makes a big difference too, with only two injectors, helps to keep em clean.