So I was driving around some nice straight roads around 2 am and decided since I got the roads to myself ill test my 0-60. I expected with a new goodwrench 5.7 350, rebuilt level 2 th200c with stock gears, and slightly performance exhaust I should be doing around 7-8 sec but it ended up being 13.35 sec. I know I've heard plenty of guys with thirdgens that get a 13 or 14 sec 1/4 mile so how can this be so slow? I thought about getting a better ratio in the back, I'm not so worried about top speed dropping because I have no overdrive and wont go much past 110 before I'm running in the red but my MPG are already in the low teens and I thought that it would lower it even more. Any help?

 

Throwing money at it isn't the smart move. Stop, and turn your thoughts to diagnosing the problem. Even if you have a 2.73:1 axle, you should still be able to do it in 9 seconds.
The Goodwrench 350 isn't a very good 350, but it's a pretty good replacement for a stock LG4.
The first thing to do is another full-throttle pass. But at redlione, kill the engine and coast to a stop, in neutral. Then remove a spark plug and read it. Is it dripping with gas? Way rich, hurting power. Bone white? Way lean, possible lean misfire. Caked with carbon? Oil fouled, check the valve seals.
Also, get a dial-back timing light, or measure your damper, and get the appropriate timing tape, so you can use a normal timing light.
Now, put it in neutral, with the e-brake set, and rev it up. How's the spark advance showing?
You should have about 6 degrees at idle without the ESC or vacuum advance. Which do you have, anyway?
If vacuum, you should have 24-30 degrees at idle with the vacuum advance connected.
Dis-connect it, and then rev the engine. It should advance toward 36 degrees or so. If it's a stock Goodwrench, it'll like more.
But if you're nowhere near these numbers, no wonder you're slow.
If it's non-computer, then get a curve kit. Try for 38 degrees total centrifugal advance, including the initial, all in by 4000 rpm. Also try for at least 10 degrees initial, maybe even as high as 16.
Then you'll need an adjustable vacuum canister to fix your part-throttle timing.
Once your fuel and spark are about right, you should run much better. Not just acceleration, but also gas mileage.
Then if you want to do something about gearing, swap in a 200-4R or 700R-4. The deeper first gear will help your 0-60, and the OD will help your MPG.
After that, then consider a 3.73:1 axle.
But bear in mind that you're at high elevation, with an 8:1 engine. You're not making much horsepower. Milling the heads would also help. If so, then no more than 14 degrees initial.

 

wow, I wish i could say this was very useful to me at the moment haha but I'm damn near retarded with cars. slowly but surely im fixing that though
I will do what i can as i learn it. as for the ESC or vacuum advance i couldn't tell you. I really wish i could put in a 200-4R, but I just put in the rebuilt 200c 3 weeks ago because i got an amazing deal on it. Im a student so money is tight for now, but i do plan to swap in a 200-4R later. I really appreciate the help though, without you guys at thirdgen id be a completely hopeless wannabe car fanatic

 

Okay, so we're starting from zero.
Are you better with the forum than with your engine? I expect so. Somewhere here in this forum, there's a section that has regional sub-forums. Find the one that includes Colorado, then start a thread in there asking who here understands this stuff, and lives in your city.
Next, how many wires, total, are connected to your distributor? There will be a few running from the base to the cap, don't count those.

 

well for one its probably a second faster than you think it is. But if its not running 100 percent all times will be skewed. dont get me wrong those cars were no hot rod from the get go anyway. (for the time they were okay but really they were really slow)