I cant get traction for jack on my bone stock tired 125k 5L TBI 92 RS which is wearing 235/55/16's on stock rims as thats the closest I could find to a stock sized tire. Even on dry pavement I can melt the tires off the rims effortlessly without really getting into the gas much. Do I have to tub this thing or are there other options out there I am just ignorant about, cuase there aint much use in fixing this car up and adding power to it if I cant get it to hook up on the pavement from a dead stop?

 

A good tire will be the best answer

 

Are you spinning tires or tire? That is does your car have working Posi traction? A stock 125k 5L TBI 92 is going to be giving you less than 200hp and unless you are flooring it even the cheapest tires shouldn't just spin (of course you can make them spin). Could be torque converter/trans isn't catching until you are high RPM's?

If your car is lowered (or have dead tired springs) the Lower control arm geometry is going to be wrong and LCA relocation brackets can help.

Also after I did my LS swap I test drove the car without sway bars installed, I couldn't start off with the manual without spinning the tires, once I put the rear sway bar back in I have to intend to spin it now (I don't have to try hard but I have to intend to do it)... and that is on 10 year old cheap 16 inch tires.

So my suggestions are:
Make sure your transmission/torq converter is locking up at a low enough RPM
Bigger rear sway bar with poly bushings and new end links:
LCA relocation brackets:
A proper posi differential set up:
Good tires is always a plus.

 

I switched my old Hankook tires which broke loose very easily for a set of BFG Sport Comp II's a few weeks ago and noticed a immediate improvement in the stickiness of the BFG's vs the Hankooks.

 

Yeah, 170 horse when new, so like 140-150 to the wheel. And at 125k, maybe a few less than that. Traction should not be an issue.

How old are those tires?

Tire Rack - Determining the age of a tire

 

I dont think the trans is going south or malfunctioning. I have the same sway bar diameter but new poly bushings through out the car, I had Tony do a complete rebuild on the suspension. Car hasnt been lowered. Im pretty sure it doesnt have posi-trac as much as I wished it did! Tires are BF Goodrich Traction T/A.

Thanks for the feed back all!!!

 

If you put a posi in there it will probably eliminate it. I had bad tirespin once on a worn set of tires also and a set of Toyo Proxes really helped that but it wasn't a TBI car it was more like a 300+HP cammed Vortec build. My current TBI car will spin tires but only if I really thrash on it and it has steeper gears and a higher stall TC in it.

 

Yeah thats on the menu as soon as the rear end checks out on me or I get this last credit card paid off so I am debt free. I would imagine that would make a considerable difference.

 

The Traction T/A is a sporty all season tire. Nothing wrong with it, but it is not especially sticky, nor near the top of the BFG line. Some some stickier rubber might help.

With an L03 with 50-some thousand miles, automatic, 2.73 rear gears and Michelin Pilot Sports, I can barely get a chirp.

 

It's because you have an open differential. I've got the same problem. My tired old 350 will spin the tires all the way through first gear even with BFG Sport Comp II's. Next upgrade has to be a posi rear end.

 

@ Dyno Dave43
What would you suggest?

@ turd_gen

Yeah getting a better rear end under the car is definitely high on my list of things to do. I know that mod alone made a huge difference on my 1978 Camaro I was racing in Japan for years. Besides I am all about increasing performance more than I am about making the car look fast.

 

I don't know how often you mind replacing tires but any 200 tread wear tire ought to do the job.

 

Put an original OE Formula/TransAm/GTA spoiler on it. That extra 300 lbs will help a bunch.