Something is wrong with this picture

[nwilson44]

Okay so you guys are probably tired of my questions but there is something not right with this picture. So today I drove a 1999 Pontiac Firebird. It was bone stock running regular unleaded gas and it was equipped with the GU6 3.42:1 ratio. The car had 125k on it. That car could run circles around my car with all the upgrades and 93 octane gas its running. It ran so much better and the only thing I know to be wrong is that ticking noise from under the hood that sounds like valve train. The steering also felt tighter. The throttle response was vastly improved on that car as well. What gives? Whats wrong with my car lol?

[KJZ28]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

I am not sure of your upgrades, but did you get a computer tune with all the upgrades? Too many upgrades and your car will run worse without the proper tune. Also if there is a problem with your valvetrain the valves might not be opening or closing properly.

[96blackmaro]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Is your car a y87 car?

[Ibanezz]

Now that term is very vague.... run circles. In what terms is it faster? 1/4? Off the line? Cornering? Acceleration?.. if your car is the one you posted the "for sale thread about" you have the 01 with an automatic, 3.42 gears non LSD, an air intake and a hypertech tuner..

You say his car is gu6. But is it g80? Auto or manual? Tires and suspension play a big part. How did you measure his is faster compared to yours. Assuming you both have drive by wire

[ssms5411]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Probably just felt faster than it really is or theres something wrong with your car.

[nwilson44]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Now that term is very vague.... run circles. In what terms is it faster? 1/4? Off the line? Cornering? Acceleration?.. if your car is the one you posted the "for sale thread about" you have the 01 with an automatic, 3.42 gears non LSD, an air intake and a hypertech tuner..

You say his car is gu6. But is it g80? Auto or manual? Tires and suspension play a big part. How did you measure his is faster compared to yours. Assuming you both have drive by wire

As far as cleanliness and cornering are concerned, my car is far superior. However in a straight line his car just feels so much more peppy and quicker. I did not floor it off the line or anything as it wasnt my car, but I did a couple of second gear pulls and his 3800 felt so much more resposive and smoother throughout the rev band. It was crazy. His car was bone stock and his was drive by wire as well. My car has the Hypertech tuner accel and msd ignition K&N cold air, 3.42:1 gear, Shock tower brace, i think 1.5 inch rear anti roll bar, and bosch plugs. The engine has less than 3k on it and it has a bad knock in it but everyone says it runs well its just a noise. (everyone that doesnt know cars....) So i dont know if its that or if this P0174 that shows up every once and a while and then goes away. I dont know if it is, one of the issues, both of the issues, or something else. Just know mine isnt right. Another note is that his was very quiet. Something mine hasnt been since the rebuild.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

My car has the Hypertech tuner accel and msd ignition K&N cold air, 3.42:1 gear, Shock tower brace, i think 1.5 inch rear anti roll bar, and bosch plugs. The engine has less than 3k on it and it has a bad knock in it but everyone says it runs well its just a noise. (everyone that doesnt know cars....) So i dont know if its that or if this P0174 that shows up every once and a while and then goes away. I dont know if it is, one of the issues, both of the issues, or something else. Just know mine isnt right. Another note is that his was very quiet. Something mine hasnt been since the rebuild.

1) Hypertech is useless- I hate to sound like a negative pr*ck, but those things are literally useless. Get Hp tuners, it's the only tuning device worth anything for these cars.
2) what kind of bad knock do you have?
3) P0174 means you are lean in bank 2. Lean is not good, being lean also robs a sh*t ton of power
4) "everyone says it runs well its just a noise"- most people have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to cars. Again, what kind of noise? Have you hooked up a scanner to the car to see if this "knock" is pulling timing from your car? Our KR sensors are pretty sensitive, this "noise" could very easily be causing the car to pull timing. Each 1* of timing is worth 3-5rwhp; who knows how much if any timing is being pulled until you put a scanner on there to see how much if any KR is being seen

You're kinda answering your own questions as to why your car feels slower compared to a stock car. You do have issues, you need to figure out what they are and your car will run better.

The steering wheel feeling tighter on the other car means that car probably has the y87 package with the 14:1 steering ratio...I don't know what you have?

Lastly, why do you have a 1.5" bar in the back? / how do you have a 1.5" sway bar in the back...that's basically a 38mm bar I am almost sure 25mm is the max back there, and you don't want a bigger bar in the back like that unless you are strictly drag racing only with the car

[bigbrian442]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Look in your other thread where you asked how fast we think your car will be.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Why the 93 octane? You gain nothing from it

[nwilson44]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

1) Hypertech is useless- I hate to sound like a negative pr*ck, but those things are literally useless. Get Hp tuners, it's the only tuning device worth anything for these cars.
2) what kind of bad knock do you have?
3) P0174 means you are lean in bank 2. Lean is not good, being lean also robs a sh*t ton of power
4) "everyone says it runs well its just a noise"- most people have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to cars. Again, what kind of noise? Have you hooked up a scanner to the car to see if this "knock" is pulling timing from your car? Our KR sensors are pretty sensitive, this "noise" could very easily be causing the car to pull timing. Each 1* of timing is worth 3-5rwhp; who knows how much if any timing is being pulled until you put a scanner on there to see how much if any KR is being seen

You're kinda answering your own questions as to why your car feels slower compared to a stock car. You do have issues, you need to figure out what they are and your car will run better.

The steering wheel feeling tighter on the other car means that car probably has the y87 package with the 14:1 steering ratio...I don't know what you have?

Lastly, why do you have a 1.5" bar in the back? / how do you have a 1.5" sway bar in the back...that's basically a 38mm bar I am almost sure 25mm is the max back there, and you don't want a bigger bar in the back like that unless you are strictly drag racing only with the car

This is the knock I have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqLQy7aET40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUeFRIZAI8s


I think your right on the sway bar. I have no clue how much bigger it is. I have a picure of the difference in size, I just have no clue how to put pictures on here.

As far as the code, I comes and Goes and I have no idea why or what it is.

[nwilson44]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Why the 93 octane? You gain nothing from it

Its a habit. I have 3 BMWs, a C4 corvette, a Butler performance 78 Trans Am, and this car. All the other cars run on premium and I dont see any use in using regular just for monetary purposes. Premium has more resistance to burn, and therefore the engine can use it more precisely, because it wont prematurely burn due to compression. More and more people are telling me that the hypertech is useless, but it says its a "premium" tune. However if it did anything the shift firmness is drastically improved.

And shell's gas has some extra additives that I noticed as well. Cant hurt the car.

[nwilson44]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Look in your other thread where you asked how fast we think your car will be.

Yeah I saw that too man. I didnt end up bringing it to baytown because it was sprinkling where I lived and didnt want to waist a 50 mile trip. When I get it running right and there isnt any rain I will be going though, rest assured.

[nwilson44]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

1) Hypertech is useless- I hate to sound like a negative pr*ck, but those things are literally useless. Get Hp tuners, it's the only tuning device worth anything for these cars.
2) what kind of bad knock do you have?
3) P0174 means you are lean in bank 2. Lean is not good, being lean also robs a sh*t ton of power
4) "everyone says it runs well its just a noise"- most people have no clue what they are talking about when it comes to cars. Again, what kind of noise? Have you hooked up a scanner to the car to see if this "knock" is pulling timing from your car? Our KR sensors are pretty sensitive, this "noise" could very easily be causing the car to pull timing. Each 1* of timing is worth 3-5rwhp; who knows how much if any timing is being pulled until you put a scanner on there to see how much if any KR is being seen

You're kinda answering your own questions as to why your car feels slower compared to a stock car. You do have issues, you need to figure out what they are and your car will run better.

The steering wheel feeling tighter on the other car means that car probably has the y87 package with the 14:1 steering ratio...I don't know what you have?

Lastly, why do you have a 1.5" bar in the back? / how do you have a 1.5" sway bar in the back...that's basically a 38mm bar I am almost sure 25mm is the max back there, and you don't want a bigger bar in the back like that unless you are strictly drag racing only with the car

No offense taken man. I appreciate you guys being honest because I dont know a whole lot about these cars. So its actually helpful to learn and hear about what works and what doesnt. I am mostly a German car guy but I like the good american cars and I love F-bodies so thats why you see me here.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

This is the knock I have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqLQy7aET40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUeFRIZAI8s


I think your right on the sway bar. I have no clue how much bigger it is. I have a picure of the difference in size, I just have no clue how to put pictures on here.

As far as the code, I comes and Goes and I have no idea why or what it is.

Get a video of under the hood, pull the throttle cable while you're under there to open the butterfly and give it a little bit of gas. That could be a spun bearing, but it is hard to tell from your video.

[nwilson44]

Re: Something is wrong with this picture

Get a video of under the hood, pull the throttle cable while you're under there to open the butterfly and give it a little bit of gas. That could be a spun bearing, but it is hard to tell from your video.

Ill shoot another video from under the hood. I, personally dont think its a spun bearing just because that was the original reason for rebuilding the motor. When it spun it the first time I had low oil pressure and a louder knocking. I think it was louder at least. I will shoot another one but there are more on my youtube channel I think too. Its is knocking though no doubt. I have good oil pressure right now too.