C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

stuttering in 6th gear

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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 10:14 AM
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Default stuttering in 6th gear

I have a 1996 LT4 that will not accelerate in 6th gear. The symptom is for lack of a better definition stuttering. I do not have any codes thrown and 1-5 seem to perform normally, however when the temperature exceeds 210 I get random misfire codes.

I have new injectors, plugs and wires. Any ideas would be helpful. I suspect the opti, but heat can effect many things.

P0300

Last edited by starfire54; Mar 31, 2013 at 10:38 AM.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 10:22 AM
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post the codes up maybe someone can help.
So many good deals on LT1 cars..but god that stinking lousy pos ignition $y$tem they have keeps me from owning one. What an abortion of a design. Nice followup to the flop of the CFI and TPI intakes lol.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
So many good deals on LT1 cars..but god that stinking lousy pos ignition $y$tem they have keeps me from owning one. What an abortion of a design.
Don't let the Opti scare you away from an LT1/LT4 car, especially a '96.
There are far more of them out there without any issues at all than ones having problems.

Jut over 120k miles on mine now, without any issues.
Still has the factory original Opti.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 10:43 AM
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Dont get me wrong they run great with some mods and drive way better than the early C4s...drove a 93 with EVERYthing new from bumper to bumper after i sold my Z...new msd opti too.
On a hot summer day sitting in traffic occasionally it would start that random slight miss business or typical opti stuff. That and they run so hot lol. I was just waiting for the thing to die. It didnt but shook my trust.

Those cars just arent for me dont trust em.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 12:21 PM
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I had a 94 that went crazy when moisture got into the plug in on the dist, pull the plug and see if it's wet, water can get in that plug and make you carazy.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 01:13 PM
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 04:19 PM
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like that video above said...first thing i thought of was spark plug gap....you say they are new but are you sure the gap is correct.....plug gap is critical.....
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by ricky's c4
like that video above said...first thing i thought of was spark plug gap....you say they are new but are you sure the gap is correct.....plug gap is critical.....
I neglected to include all of my attempts. I double checked the gaps and even had a mechanic friend verify the gaps, replaced the fuel filter the day I bought the car only 20 miles or so on the filter, check fuel pressure, but have not when the car is hot (which I will), new injectors form John (FIC), new Taylor wires, NGK Iridium plugs. I will check for vacuum leaks.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Dont get me wrong they run great with some mods and drive way better than the early C4s...drove a 93 with EVERYthing new from bumper to bumper after i sold my Z...new msd opti too.
On a hot summer day sitting in traffic occasionally it would start that random slight miss business or typical opti stuff. That and they run so hot lol. I was just waiting for the thing to die. It didnt but shook my trust.

Those cars just arent for me dont trust em.
You need a 94 up b body or 95 up Y or F body...

The vented optis ROCK>>>>>
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 04:46 PM
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On my OBDII impala .. I kept getting misfire codes after a tune up.

Chased it for months until I put factory wires back on it. for some resaon it did not like the high dollar aftermarket wires.

Mike
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 04:49 PM
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At what RPM or vehicle speed does the problem occur?

If running on a flat stretch of road 6th gear is used after 65mph with a 3.33 R&P.
High load + low RPM equates to engine bucking or luggng & is bad for piston skirts.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Churchkey
At what RPM or vehicle speed does the problem occur?

If running on a flat stretch of road 6th gear is used after 65mph with a 3.33 R&P.
High load + low RPM equates to engine bucking or luggng & is bad for piston skirts.
At roughly 1800 RPM 55MPH.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by starfire54
At roughly 1800 RPM 55MPH.
You're trying to accelerate from a relatively low engine rpm in a .5 overdrive...





Gear ratios - 1st-2.68, 2nd-1.80, 3rd-1.29, 4th-1.0, 5th-0.75, 6th-0.50, Reverse-2.50
Mike
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 05:16 PM
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6th gear is a .5 to 1 overdrive. I can't use 6th on my car below 65 mph. Too much overdrive, and I have a 4.10 rear gear. I suspect that you are engaging 6th too early causing an engine stumble.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Churchkey
At what RPM or vehicle speed does the problem occur?

If running on a flat stretch of road 6th gear is used after 65mph with a 3.33 R&P.
High load + low RPM equates to engine bucking or luggng & is bad for piston skirts.

Originally Posted by blackbear bob
6th gear is a .5 to 1 overdrive. I can't use 6th on my car below 65 mph. Too much overdrive, and I have a 4.10 rear gear. I suspect that you are engaging 6th too early causing an engine stumble.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 07:53 PM
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Originally Posted by aboatguy
You're trying to accelerate from a relatively low engine rpm in a .5 overdrive...


Gear ratios - 1st-2.68, 2nd-1.80, 3rd-1.29, 4th-1.0, 5th-0.75, 6th-0.50, Reverse-2.50
Mike


Originally Posted by blackbear bob
6th gear is a .5 to 1 overdrive. I can't use 6th on my car below 65 mph. Too much overdrive, and I have a 4.10 rear gear. I suspect that you are engaging 6th too early causing an engine stumble.
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Old Mar 31, 2013 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by starfire54
At roughly 1800 RPM 55MPH.
I think you're just getting on 6 way too early. I believe the LT4s are 3.45 stock. I know I only get on 6 at around 70. If that doesn't do it double check the heat range on you plugs. I doubt it's opti. Was the problem present before your tuneup?
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To stuttering in 6th gear

Old Mar 31, 2013 | 09:25 PM
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4.10 gears will help your situation.
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Old Apr 1, 2013 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by starfire54
At roughly 1800 RPM 55MPH.
275/40/17 tire = 806 tire revs per mile (dependent on tire brand)

With a 3.33 rear end = 1343 engine rpm @ 60 mph in 6th gear.

Suspect the tach is not reading properly.
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Old Apr 3, 2013 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by starfire54
I have a 1996 LT4 that will not accelerate in 6th gear. The symptom is for lack of a better definition stuttering. I do not have any codes thrown and 1-5 seem to perform normally, however when the temperature exceeds 210 I get random misfire codes.

I have new injectors, plugs and wires. Any ideas would be helpful. I suspect the opti, but heat can effect many things.

P0300
I just went through the same scenario...it was the Opti.

'96 LT4, 123K miles - I drive around 2000, 2500 highway miles a month in this car, it's my 'work' car, and I know it well. Back in January I noticed my highway gas mileage was dropping from 30mpg down to around 27, 28mpg. Around middle of February I started noticing a slight stutter/shudder when climbing hills and inclines on the highway, and speed would drop a couple of MPH - it's never done that before.

We pulled out the Tech2...misfires. The misfire graph lit up like a checkerboard @ 65-70mph, only random while driving in town and at lower speeds. After checking injectors, wires, plugs, ICM/coil and fuel pressure I bit the bullet and ordered an Opti. I expected to see evidence of arcing and an eat-up rotor but surprisingly they were in decent shape. The bearing on the shaft had given out and there was significant 'wobble' in it. Amazing thing, it never threw a code. Replaced the Opti and now the ol' girl is back!

RollaMo, the mileage on mine was 123,998 miles at the swap...2 miles short of 124k.

Last edited by Phat98; Apr 4, 2013 at 12:24 PM.
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