Hey everyone, as most of you know I just got an 89 IROC-Z a couple months ago. Its GREAT like it should be.... but I'm really starting to get the sense it just doesn't have that POWER! Like only if I'm at a stop do I feel that great torque. But when I'm rolling, I feel hardly nothing. I'm like this thing has 330 TORQUE! Why aren't I totally pulling?! On the highway I just really don't feel this POWER. Now this being the first time I've ever owned an F-body/V8/Fast Car. So I have nothing to compare it to, but man I feel nothing, I really feel like something is missing. And when I'm rolling, and then I floor it, I feel like I should be peeling out, and hearing it. But I hear nothing! Wheres my power at?! A couple clues to this "no power situation" might be that I have 2.77 rear gears?! Or the fact that I don't know when the last time this car had a tune-up, the guy I bought it from said it will need one in May, but I don't believe him for anything, so I'll just I don't know when the last time this car got a tuneup, is that a reason?! I've currently been getting 11mpg, which is friggin TERRIBLE. I put in fuel injector cleaner, that seemed to work, but I've been tryin out my car - flooring it, so, it might be worse. I'll prob put another one in, to clean it again. But man I even got ram air, flowmasters catback, k&n filters, but I'm just not feeling the pull! Does it have to do with the fact that its an automatic, and it shifts too early for a good pull?! I'm so lost here, but I get the sense that my car just isn't what it should be! Please help anyone, any help, advice, etc I would be extreeemely grateful. Please help me out.

 

You're going to feel the TQ off the line more so, because that's where TPIs produce their TQ. You will benefit greatly off the line w/ 3:42s and you'll notice a nice gain during highway driving. And you said you don't know the last time a tune up was done. I would go out today and at least buy new plugs and wires. They're not that hard to change, I can do it and I'm pretty bad at working on cars.

 

BTT

 

I figured more people would have replied by now, bttt for you though.

 

I have/fell the same way about my 350tpi. I mean it's fast and runs good but it isn't what I thought it would be.

 

Yes me too..and I am savin' up for a Super-Ram so I can broaden my power band..so maybe I can remedy that with that ;>

 

U guys wouldn't happen to have all high mile cars or cars that might show signs of being owned/drvien by a crazy dude before would u?? 11 MPG?? Sounds to me like they all need some kinda work. Obviously gears do make some difference also.

 

ChevyLuva, 1st thing you should do,as with any used car you buy is a thorough tune up. Plugs, wires, cap, rotor, change oil, filter, fuel filter, flush out the cooling system. And sice you are doin this dont go buyin the bargin basket stuff. Its only my preference, you may have another, but i like Mobil 1 oil, ACDelco platinum plugs, get yourself some aftermarket wires, and try to get a cap and rotor with brass terminals, aluminum doesnt conduct as good. While your at it, try goin with an aftermarket coil, and/or module. At least you know you'll have spark at those higher RPM's.
Other low $$$ investments, an air foil, bypass the TB coolant (free mod) , contact ed wright or performance reasource for a custom chip, dont go with hypertech or any of those. replace you cat with a high flow unit from catco or dynomax, spend a lil extra and upgrade your rocker arms with some 1.6's
If you really have deep pockets, I reccomend SLP headers, 3.42 gears, new posi, if old one is bad, play with the suspension too. Lower it, or raise the rear like i did, LCA's with RLB's a panhard bar, Tourqu Arm, poly bushings, shocks........ect
And if you were to do all of this and the car still seems the same, then at least you can make the car shiny and take it to car shows.

 

I was having the same symptoms with my car and check out my mods i did everything to try and figure it out and then i checked the fuel filter and it was still OE duh! switched that out and was amazed at the difference

 

yes my car does get about 13mpg :-) and it doesna't have any signs of major abuse, the motor was rebuild about 20k ago. all of the iginition stuff is still oem though. the car has 125,000 on it. would they igniotion stuff cause that? I ran it int he 1/4 and it ran 14.2 at 97mph though. its just really sluggish is all. one time it runs hard the next time it runs like crap! thanks for the hlep

 

14.2 sounds about right to me, the only major mod you have is a cat-back which maybe have dropped you a tenth from stock.

 

yes I think too that 14.2 sounds right, what I was getting at was taht is isn't very consistent. one time I'll put it to the floor and Wow! the next time I'm like ok whats going on. and I know that if I'm going slower or in a different gear that'll make adifference. but I mean going down the highway at 70mph or so. one time its really good the next time its dead. I should have taken the time and explained that a little better. Sorry mark!

 

I also have a 1989 5.7 IROC with 2:77 BW 9bolt rear

When i bought it did the same thing it had 140,000 miles on it. So I started with a fresh tune up, plugs, wires, cap, rotar, fluid changes filters etc.. It helped but the one thing that made the most difference was adjusting the TV cable. It was way out of adjustment. just my 2 cents

 

I've got 107,000 miles... I will get a thorough tune up for sure. I'll check about the cable. How did you adjust the cable? The car book way?

 

Follow transfixleo's method, just look for similar posts or IM him, he's good at responding.

 

Yes, I know about transfixleo's way, but I'm skeptical of it, he even says it throws things out of whack... I'm curious of how Highhat did it.

 

I think it's your gearing. They're horrible at making you feel like you have any power at all, especially in 2nd gear. That's why it feels slow on the highway, but if your cruising slowly in 2nd, and tromp on it, it'll shift to 1st and feel great on power.
Be careful with the TV cable adjustment, adjust it too far back and it'll take way too long to shift into 2nd, and the TPI will run way out of breath.
Hope this helps,
Jeff

 

No, he's saying the book method throws things out of whack.

 

Hey

U cant even do a freakin peel out?
thats rought.. HOW CANT YOU?
in my 305 I easilyyy!!! do one.. like not even trying I can pull one off.. if I really mean to do it MAN , power slides and everything. Sometimes it just peels for fun without even trying .. its an automatic.. and its only a 305 guy..
I dunno whats ur problemo.. but be sure to get it fixed guy..
lates

 

LOL... guy. I think I can't really peel out due to the fact of my 2.77 gears, usually the smaller the engine the smaller (3.73)gears that come with it. But I got crap gears... dunno tho, could be something else, can't wait to get a tune up!

 

I did it by the tech article. pushed in the D button pulled the cable back, then I got in the car put the gas peddle to the floor a couple of times. then started her up and went for a drive thats it!