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WOT blows

Old Jan 29, 2008 | 07:35 PM
  #1  
DukeofHurl's Avatar
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From: Waxahachie,Texas
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 350 Q-Jet
Transmission: 700R4
WOT blows

I parked my Camaro about 4 1/2 years ago due to being broke and having a child on the way. I got it running again about a year ago and just now am in position to actually spend a little money on it. One problem it has and had before I parked it was that at full throttle it feels as if its choked up and actually pulls harder at half throttle. It is a LB9/700R4 2.73 gear. This car ran a 17.3 1/4 mile when I decided to put it to pasture. The only code it was throwing before was for EGR. I haven't checked the codes again yet. I have bought a new EGR and an AFPR to put on it. Has anyone else seen this problem? I thought maybe it could be the cat also but am not sure.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 07:38 PM
  #2  
vipershark11's Avatar
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From: CT
Car: 92 trans am clone
Engine: LO3
Transmission: 700r4
Re: WOT blows

holy slowness! hmm it could be a fully plugged cat i had that problem on my probe. the cat was so clogged and melted the car didnt go over 60 literally once i gutted it, it worked great again. somethings def not right with that car. try a fuel tune up first and see where that puts you. also at WOT what rpms are you hitting? anything roughly above 5k on your tpi will feel like a dog if thats where youre at.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 07:48 PM
  #3  
DukeofHurl's Avatar
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From: Waxahachie,Texas
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 350 Q-Jet
Transmission: 700R4
Re: WOT blows

Yeah I've had the car for 11 years so I'm very familiar with its power band (which also blows). It doesn't reach a point that it feels like the engine hits a wall. I've had it up to 120mph in its current condition before and it was still pulling. It may very well be the cat but I'm just not sure. After I get my new parts on it I'm taking it to the muffler shop to get a Magnaflow cat anyway. But I'm on a limited budget and I don't want to do that if there are other parts that I may need to replace. Can't remember what the RPMs are exactly, but I do remember that it was shifting when it was supposed to.

Last edited by DukeofHurl; Jan 29, 2008 at 07:52 PM.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 08:24 PM
  #4  
Supervisor42's Avatar
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From: Arab, Alabama
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: WOT blows

Put a $12 fuel filter on it first.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 08:32 PM
  #5  
DukeofHurl's Avatar
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From: Waxahachie,Texas
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 350 Q-Jet
Transmission: 700R4
Re: WOT blows

I have replaced the fuel filter b4...but I don't mind doing it again. Could the fuel pump not be getting full voltage to it due to old wiring? Or am I making it harder than it has to be.
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 09:19 PM
  #6  
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From: Arab, Alabama
Car: 1988 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350 4BBL
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: WOT blows

Originally Posted by H8U666
I have replaced the fuel filter b4...but I don't mind doing it again. Could the fuel pump not be getting full voltage to it due to old wiring? Or am I making it harder than it has to be.
It's would be more likely that the pump is old and not making pressure or the pickup strainer is partially plugged. Low voltage would be most likely caused by a bad connection that would overheat and stop working altogether until it cooled down.
Borrow a fuel pressure gauge from A/Zone and see what it drops to at WOT.
If your pressure is still within spec, it ain't the fuel system (CAT plugged?)
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Old Jan 29, 2008 | 09:49 PM
  #7  
DukeofHurl's Avatar
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From: Waxahachie,Texas
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 350 Q-Jet
Transmission: 700R4
Re: WOT blows

Sounds like a plan. It will be a few weeks before I get to touch the car...will keep y'all informed as work progresses and decisions need to be made. Thx.
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Old Jan 30, 2008 | 12:58 AM
  #8  
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From: Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Car: 1984 Camaro Z28 T-tops
Engine: 350
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: WOT blows

Definately check the fuel filter. I had mine clog over the course of a day. I picked something up when I fueled up my S10 one day and it went from being able to squeek into 2nd gear to not hitting 3000 rpm in gear at full throttle. Did what your car does, pulled harder at 1/3 throttle than full. Changed the filter and everything went back to normal... Maybe check the fuel pump strainer sock if the filter doesnt fix it?

Last edited by 84Z28406; Jan 30, 2008 at 01:00 AM. Reason: spelling error
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Old Jan 30, 2008 | 02:04 AM
  #9  
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From: Glendale, CA
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: WOT blows

Originally Posted by H8U666
full throttle it feels as if its choked up and actually pulls harder at half throttle. It is a LB9/700R4 2.73 gear. I thought maybe it could be the cat also but am not sure.
Hmm our cars are just about the same and mine feels the same way. At WOT my car revs up to about 4500 RPM and it doesnt feel like its going anywhere. For how hard the engine is working nothing is really happening and does feel a little choked. I know its not the cat since mine was replaced about 6 months ago and I replaced my fuel filter about a year ago. I've had my car for a little over a year and a half and its always felt this way.
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Old Jan 30, 2008 | 09:14 PM
  #10  
DukeofHurl's Avatar
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From: Waxahachie,Texas
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 350 Q-Jet
Transmission: 700R4
Re: WOT blows

Your problem may just be the notorious TPI power band. I believe all TPI's start to lay over at that point. I put a Hypertech distributor coil on mine it helped the upper rpms alot. My buddy put the same coil on his '90 Vette and he and I both rave about them. The Hypertech coil puts out 53,000 volts if I remember right. I believe the stock coil puts out somewhere around 38,000 and most aftermarket coils range from 38,000 to 45,000 volts. The hypertech coil gave me more seat of the pants performance than the other few bolt ons I've done.
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Old Jan 30, 2008 | 11:54 PM
  #11  
thegooseman's Avatar
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From: Glendale, CA
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: WOT blows

Really? Well I have that tune up kit from jegs (stage 1)that came with the cap and rotor and the MSD 8.5mm wires. I doubt that coil is as good as yours so I will look into that.
----------
I forgot to add it came with their coil too.

Last edited by thegooseman; Jan 30, 2008 at 11:55 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old Jan 31, 2008 | 04:38 AM
  #12  
Tobias05's Avatar
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From: any clime or place...
Car: 1987 Camaro SC, 1999 Z28
Engine: GMPP 350HO, LS1
Transmission: Built 700r4/EDGE 3200, T56
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Eaton 7.625, 3.42 Zexel Torsen
Re: WOT blows

keep the msd.

id look at fuel filter, and then timing myself.
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Old Jan 31, 2008 | 07:42 PM
  #13  
DukeofHurl's Avatar
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From: Waxahachie,Texas
Car: 1986 Z28
Engine: 350 Q-Jet
Transmission: 700R4
Re: WOT blows

I have not used other aftermarket coils...but I am VERY pleased with the Hypertech.
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Old Jan 31, 2008 | 07:59 PM
  #14  
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From: Manchester, CT + Nashua, NH
Car: 90 Firebird Formula
Engine: LO3
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 one wheel peel
Re: WOT blows

I think I know the exact feeling you are talking about, however mine is probably for a complete different reason.

Sometimes, if it was a real cold night (like 20*F or colder) and I havent let the engine warm up, it will pull great up untill you hear PE kick in, then it will fall on its face and bog down. It sounds like its working real hard, but it isnt going anywhere.

I have TBI, and wet induction I think is alot different than MPFI. I just attributed it to the changes the ECM was pushing as it hit PE, and those changes not going well with a freezing cold intake manifold (fuel puddles, ect). The problem always went away for me just as the temp guage started to rise. Also, I try not to beat on the car before it warms up, but we are all in a rush sometimes.
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