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

Sluggish performance... here's why

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Old Jan 15, 2005 | 10:49 PM
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Default Sluggish performance... here's why

I knew that my 87mph trap speed was showing that something was wrong. I ended up changing the plugs and can run much less on the btm. Also, I hooked up a boost guage today and I saw a high of 4lbs in 60* air temps. Right now I have a 4 rib belt on there. my guess is that it was put on there to control detonation with the stock heat range plugs that were in there originally since you'll never see more than 5 lbs with this setup.

On the to do list is change the belt and install the blower works inlet vane....
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Old Jan 16, 2005 | 03:26 AM
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Right-TO Qwiketz,

The **** will allow you to pull up to about 15 degrees of timing , geneally you can set it to about 1.5 or so in this weather and not have problems...

Mo
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Old Jan 16, 2005 | 04:16 PM
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I have since pulled it back to 1.5* and have no problems. All the good stuff is there on this motor. I just need to fine tune things.
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Old Jan 16, 2005 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by qwiketz
I have since pulled it back to 1.5* and have no problems. All the good stuff is there on this motor. I just need to fine tune things.
You have a 4 rib belt? What happened to the other two ribs? All the vortec kits I have ever seen have 6 rib belts.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 02:15 AM
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TJ,

It's a long story, that what was on it when he bought the car!

The pulleys are 6 rib he just has a 4 rib belt...

Mo

Last edited by Mo_Bandy; Jan 17, 2005 at 02:17 AM.
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 12:21 PM
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Yup, believe it or not, there is a 4 rib belt on there. The only cars that use a 4 rib vortech are the honda setups. My guess is that the mechanic saw detonation when he tuned up the car using the stock heat range plugs, so he tried to limit the amount of boost that the engine saw by creating belt slip. The car has a built motor with 9.75 compression. When I first got it, I had to put the btm over 2 to get it to stop pinging on 91octane.

Since I picked up the car, I changed out the plugs to the champion 7401's. This helped the detonation problem considerbly. I don't think I've heard any since I changed them.

TJ, how long did it take you to change the belt on your car when you broke it?
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 01:26 PM
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Wow.. 4 rib belt?? Geez, I'd turn that into dust in a heart beat. Sounds like the "mechanic" might have made some other creative mods to the system. I'd go over it all...
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 02:44 PM
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Yeah, I think what happened was the mechanic where the guy was located never really delt with a vette like this. I'm in the process of changing back all the junk he did to the car like the plugs and the belt.

With only 4lbs of boost and having to run so much retard, the car would probably run just as good without the blower even on there. I think it was Jim Bell of Kenne/Bell that said 1* of timing was equal to approximately 15hp or so. With 2*+ of timing retard, it pretty much negates the hp effects of the blower. I can't wait to get 10+ lbs of boost with full timing through this 383 (via water/alcohol injection). It's going to be one hell of a beast!
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Old Jan 17, 2005 | 02:48 PM
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Sounds like we are working on the same project....
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Old Jan 18, 2005 | 01:29 AM
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When you get the injection system on your car and the fuel dialed in you'll be cracking the whip!

I was able to get back 5 degrees of timing on the top end ... so far! Just with the water / alky injection system I'm running about 27 degrees at 6000 rpm... vice 22

I'm even now hitting 12 pounds of boost at 6000 RPM

I'm still getting the fuel dialed in, but was able to drop my AFR from like 930's to now ~ 900 looking to drop to 850...

Good luck on the projects....

To change out the belt takes about an hour or so, and a REALLY STRONG arm it is or can be a real pain in the bottom...

Mo
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Old Jan 18, 2005 | 01:57 AM
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I'm really not looking forward to changing the belt. It's so tight in there that I can barely even see the tensioner pulley, much less imagine trying to get it tightened down on the belt.

12lbs of boost? You're probably over 500hp now. I can't wait to get some good boost numbers popping up on the guage. It'll make for a fun daily commute and some really bald pzero's!
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Old Jan 18, 2005 | 07:07 AM
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Those belt changes will be much easier once tjwong gets around to selling us some new blower mounts....

Mo, any belt slip at 12 lbs? What blower pulley are you running?
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Old Jan 18, 2005 | 12:19 PM
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mo's running a 7 rib setup off the early vortech kits with the 3.12 pulley and the blowerworks vane. I was just outside looking at my blower to figure out how this stuff is going to work when I'm pulling the head unit. I'm going to download the instructions, but anyone remember off the top of their head how many bolts hold the head unit in place? BTW, I'm not looking forward to this. I can see scraped up knuckles in my future.
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Old Jan 18, 2005 | 05:49 PM
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Quicketz is correct 7 rib with a 3.125... I also have a modified intake nozzle which has definately added 2 pounds of boost.

I am hitting 56 ls/min ~425 gm/sec airflow... I guess it's time to step up to 50/50 methanol and water. HEH
Based on the Airflow measurements about 522 horse.. It's about dyno time...

I'm not seeing any dusting around the belt, it really sounds different once it seems to go past 10# maybe thats the rev limiter

I'm one for an easier belt change method...

mo
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Old Jan 18, 2005 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Mo_Bandy
Quicketz is correct 7 rib with a 3.125... I also have a modified intake nozzle which has definately added 2 pounds of boost.

I am hitting 56 ls/min ~425 gm/sec airflow... I guess it's time to step up to 50/50 methanol and water. HEH
Based on the Airflow measurements about 522 horse.. It's about dyno time...

I'm not seeing any dusting around the belt, it really sounds different once it seems to go past 10# maybe thats the rev limiter

I'm one for an easier belt change method...

mo
Does the 3.125 max out the impeller on a V2SQ? What are you running for fuel injectors? I might need to take a look at your bin....
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 12:15 AM
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hell yeah it sound different when under boost. My old 383LT1 combo hit 14.2psi of boost on the dyno with a "untuned" chip. Shot down at 4600rpm and 544rwhp,598rwt. The sound of the motor is scary.

Bruce
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 11:50 AM
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I'm hitting about 49,600 on the Impeller speed.

MO
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Mo_Bandy
I'm hitting about 49,600 on the Impeller speed.

MO
No going to try and squeeze out another 400??
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Old Jan 19, 2005 | 11:52 AM
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I Agree Bruce,

It is hard to describe, it it truly an unusual sound...

Mo
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Old Jan 21, 2005 | 02:57 PM
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wow, I don't feel so bad about the 87mph trap speed now. I'm only seeing 1.5-2lbs of boost once the belt starts slipping above 4000 rpm and about 3.5-4.0 lbs up to that point.

BTW, picked up a stage 2 snow kit off a mustang guy that wrecked his car. I mocked it up today. The salvage guy only charged me $125 for the complete setup. Talk about a score!
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