LG4, auto with 180,000 miles. Internals never touched to my knowledge. I went in 2 years ago and changed the cam, cleaned/mildly ported the heads, 1 angle vavle job, took everything off to the top of the pistons. I installed TES headers, tweaked the rockers when it first ran again, tweaked the carb, cleaned intake manifold, put in new plugs and wires, dynomax catback, new cat, and I replaced the dist cap. Edelbrock cam 2102 was put in. I think the cam was .421 .442 or something like that. L69 size, but smaller lobes if that helps. As for the problem, I know for a fact that I have a header gasket leak. When it was cold out last winter in Philly, I could see a little steam coming out the passenger side of the hood from the leak. The car has great topend power. I've beaten many fast cars on the highway (ie newer maximas, V-tech hondas, and other cars I would definitely lose to from a stop). The problem is the low end. I know that the cam probably put my 0-60 about .5 seconds or more slower. 2.73 gears and stock stall too. The car will rev to 6,000 rpms and still pull, but I don't want to take it higher. I normally manual shift the tranny at 5,250 out of first, and 5,000 out of second (for some reason a rev limiter at 5,250 kicks in at top of 2nd). I've never hit the top of third at WOT, because I have no idea how fast it is. I have a 85 mph speedo and the car stays in gears FOREVER. Especially 1st, of course. I'm guessing this is because the cam range is off idle to 6,000 rpms, and I just have no power before about 2,500 rpms. Hence the no low end power or torque. I shift out of 1st gear at 50mph, and 2nd at 80mph. So will a stall, 3.42s, and a rebuilt tranny improve my low end? As the for the tranny, it has never been rebuilt, and it is going downhill. I was thinking of getting a Probuilt one with corvette servo and boost valve. Should I do that or should I just rebuild this one? The car runs 16.45 at 82mph in the 1/4 mile. 2.44 60'. That was april '01 with the cam, headers, iginition mods, and shifting at stock tranny speed 4500rpms*** That is important, because the car pulls like a b*tch above that speed. So hopefully I could gain a tenth or two right there by just shifting higher and with the catback. Sorry about the lenght, any suggestions welcome. The part in my sig about the LT1 is far in the future, right now I am thinking short term. Also, the car has been sitting right now since June when I got my Blazer so I could mod the Trans am but still have a car. I had to drop insurance on it, so I have a lot of time to mod it and i will have more money. Thanks in advance, you guys are great help.

~Matt

 

I did the mods in the sig 2 years ago next week. The ET quoted is actual at 5800' elevation (density altitude was more like 8500' that day).

You've got a "package" problem - as in mis-matched. I do, too, just not as bad as you've got it.

You need more stall and gear. That cam isn't anything special either, I'm afraid. I think you'd be loads happier with one like I've got.

I'm not sure what speed I'm up to when I shift from 1st, but it's over 50, I believe, when shifting at 5500. Since the tranny doesn't shift from 2-3 at WOT, I'm going through the traps in 2nd gear at about 6300 RPMs. It would be quicker if the 2-3 shift worked. It also needs more stall and gear to really complete the package (from an ET perspective - driving around on the street or highway, it's great).

 

Thanks five7. I knew I was mismatched. Any recommendation for gears and stall? I know the cam is small, but for now the fuel economy and the power is good for me. I was thinking 2200 stall at most and 3.73s at most. I just need to get in my powerband faster. I'm also getting CK rods and B hanger. Are DR rds better? How much bigger is your cam than mine? Also do you know the price? Thanks again. As for your WOT 2-3 shifts, a buddy of mine's 86 IROC with the LG4 had the same problem. He had it rebuilt with corvette servo and boost valve, and it still doesn't shift. Luckily I don't have that problem, yet. Also how much did you spend in total do you think? Sorry about all the questions and thanks again.

~Matt

 

try a 1800 stall and 3.73's or so in the rear.

 

1800 is stock stall i thought Maybe i'm wrong. At least my car usually stalls there now, so i definitely need something higher. 3.73s and posi sounds good

~Matt

 

I'm actually closer to 42 mph at the 1-2 shift, it turns out. I just know on most surface streets I can't stay in it in 2nd.

I didn't see any improvement with CK rods over DR when I had a q-jet on the 396. The DR's worked great back when the LG4 was stock and now after the mods.

I spent about $2k on all my mods (like I really want to think about that). The cam w/lifters is about $150 now, I believe.

My tranny needs to come out and get freshened up. 3-4 clutch pack is what I keep hearing. I hope to do that this winter (daughter wants to race it next year).

The best way to determine the right stall is to watch the tach and note when it really starts to "pull". For me, that is about 2800 RPMs. Around town, what I've got is fine.

I went from 2200 to 3500 stall in the '57 late this season (new one is rated at 2800-3200). The difference was incredible, since it would start to pull at 3000 with the old converter. Dropped almost .3 off the 60' times.

 

i hate to point out the obvious but if you are running a 16 + sec 1/4 there is no fn way you will outrun a new maxima!!! sorry no dice. from the factory the new ones have 255 hp and they run 14's not 16's i have quite a few mods as well but i am probobly low 15's. the last prelude honda made gets like a 14 sec 1/4 mile. as well. civics arre around a 15 to 16 sec 1/4 mile . i love my camaro and i am not trying to hurt your ego but don't say your running 16's and beatn maximas!! they are very fast! for a six!! my wifes freakin 4 cylner toyota camry runs 16.5 in the 1/4 from the factory! let me put a cold air intake and a fart can on it and i'll be in the 12's just kidding. sorry but 16's are nothing to brag about when most factory 4's and 6's are now running below 16 sec 1/4's!!

 

Thanks five7. I will probably go a little higher then, maybe 2500 stall at most. I am pretty sure that is where it starts to pull, but I want some decent gas mileage out of it. Spending another $2,000 isn't too bad for me, since I only spent $800 on the car and about $1,000 on mods so far. So $4,000 to get me in hopefully the high 14s isn't bad. 92V8RS, the only reason I run 16s is because my car's drivetrain isn't matched. Below 3,000rpms or so my car is total sh*t. I can lose to just about anything off the line. The car is actually faster at half throttle from a stop. I can't spin the tires at all, not even in a brake stand But once I am going, the car hauls ***. With the little bit of head work, the exhaust mods, and especially the cam, it pulls like a bitch. On the highway, I have beaten Maximas, whether you want to believe it or not. And yes, they were trying to race. Because of the cam, my car easily can hit probably 130mph. Don't know if I have hit that because of the 85mph speedo, but I have gone pretty damn fast. When I race, I do it from a roll, because I get a big advantage. I usually go from 40 mph at least, because at 40 I can still drop it down into 1st and the whole car jumps up and now I have little cracks in just the driver side strut from overextension. Hopefully, with a new or rebuilt tranny, bigger gears and a bigger stall I will see low 15s. Sounds like a reach, but 16.5 is about the worst this car will run. Now that I know how to shift it, I could probably almost see high 15s just shifting higher. If you want, we can race. First from a stop, then from 40 mph. I will lose by 6 cars from a stop, and put like 6 cars on you from 40. Just so you know, I didn't take what you said personally, just trying to defend my car and let you know why it runs 16s but can still take the japanese family cars and r*cers on the highway.

~Matt

 

dude that makes no sense... how can you run 16's and beat a car that runs 14's its impossible and maximas have a fuel cut off at 130. also imports have higher top end not bottom end. i had a 90 300zx that was modded a little and it pulled like a bat outa hell from about 40 on up i killed a 98 or newer convertable trans am from 70 mph starting my z had a jim wolf ecu so i had no fuel cut and my speedo goes to 160 i got it up to 155 and then slowed down the ta was about 4 car lengths back!!! thats why i don't think they were racing or new how to race. imports don't have alot of take off grunt they have all top end!!! my z would pull to 7000 rpms if i took my camaro to 6 it would blow up!!!

 

I know it sounds weird, it does to me too. But once my drivetrain is matched check my times. I'll post them for you. All I can tell you is that I beat them. Maybe a few of them weren't racing or whatever, but i've had sooo many highway races. I kept up with a modded Porsche 944S (i think it was like a 87 or something) from 80mph. I don't know how I did, but I did. He had exhasut and intake and it was stick. And the guy gave me a thumbs up afterwards. So maybe its one of those things you gotta see to believe, but I only know because I done it.

~Matt

 

dude the 80's 944 turbos only ran in the 15's

 

Ok, well that is still a kill of mine. And any other car in the 15s will beat me off the line. But can you see how I can beat a 15 or maybe even lower car eventhough it takes me 16.45 seconds to go 0-82mph (1/4 mile)?

~Matt

 

OK my z ran high 14's and from 40 on i would eat pretty much anything alive!!! but it would bog a little on take off. thats why i could see you beating american cars that are geared lower. but inports have high rpm power that was my point the maximas will pull to 7000 rpms try racing a 5 spd maxima and do a search in road and track or car and driver the 40-100 times i think are posted on there for the new maximas if i remeber right it was real fast!

 

As for the Maxima: I know it is hard to believe. I didn't believe it. Maybe the guy couldn't drive, but it looked like he could, because I was ahead by maybe half a car the whole time and he was slamming through the gears. I ended up finishing by almost full car, but don't forget, this is highway racing. Not only are there other cars, but there are several lanes, and swerving and everything. We were in side by side lanes for most of it. The beginning of the race was me in the fast lane, him in the middle. He came up on me fast, I punched it. When he saw me accelerate and then stop, he punched it. So he had the jump, I immediately got behind him, started gaining a little, got in the right lane, and started to slowly pass him on the right until i had almost a car. Then he went into the left lane to avoid some traffic and i slowed down. That was the race. My buddy was right next to me. I thought it was a real race. We were both trying and pushing our cars. I am pretty sure it was a 2001 with the 227hp 3.0L, not the 3.5L newest one. Sorry if I threw you off there. This was the summer of '01 anyway, no way it was a 3.5L.

~Matt

 

the o1 only had 222 hp but they ran low 15's i think...???

 

Stall speed: Err on the high side.

I've got a basically stock TBI 305... I put in a new tranny (700-R4) from Pro-built and he suggested a 2500 RPM stall converter. I was really uncertain since the thing is stock cam stock heads (1.6 rockers but those make a BARELY perceptable change).

But WOW. I LOVE the 2500 converter! If I had any kind of cam I would probably go even higher. It's still a lockup so highway mileage isn't a problem. High stall is good! Especially since this is kind of a "tight" converter, it'll usually start to move by 1600-2000 unless I really get on it... so for ordinary around-town kind of driving it doesn't feel like I have to rev it too high.

That plus 3.23 gears gives me a bottom end like you wouldn't believe. I can BEAT my friend's firehawk (stick) from 0-25 mph. Of course after that he destroys me, my stock motor doesn't have enough top end to even think about competing.

I picked 3.23 gears because I didn't want highway RPMs to be too high, but honestly I could probably run 3.73s no problem. Now looking back I wish I had gone with at least 3.42s... but for the moment I'm happy with my setup. I probably would have been severly traction limited with any higher gears anyway. Actually I've done a lot of suspension mods (boxed control arms, panhard rod, SFCs, new springs/shocks) or I would probably be traction limited right now.

But anyway, the gears and converter were easily the best mods I have done yet. I highly recommend them, they will absolutely fix your lack of bottom end.

 

Thanks Jeff. I will probably do 3.73s and a 2200 stall, or 3.42s and 2500 stall. It all depends on the prices of these, and the availability. I'd like to find a new rear for my car too, so hopefully I can find one with one of those gear sizes and then I'll do my stall accordingly. Also, I believe that the Maximas were low 15s in 01 with the 222 hp cars. i thought they were 227, but that is because my mom's '01 Infinity I30 is 227hp. Still, just trying to prove my point that eventhough I run mid 16s in the 1/4, my topend can keep up with much faster cars. Hopefully the gears and stall will allow me to run the times I want. Thanks for all the help guys, and thanks 92V8RS for helping me get my points across. No hard feelings at all on this end.

~Matt

 

cool...

 

I wasn't going to say anything here, but if you absolutely have to race on the roads, can't you take it to a deserted back road where the only person you're going to f**k up is yourself? What exactly qualifies you to swerve in and out of traffic at over twice the posted speed limit, with hundreds of innocent people all around you? Do you have some specific driving skills? Maybe a few road courses under your belt? You must have some kind of special talent to be able to put all those other people at risk.

Who really cares if your slow car can beat someone elses slow car? Is it worth killing innocent people to find out?

 

I'm not even going to get into that one

~Matt