Thread: Tuning, Psi, RPM, spark plug gap, belt slip ect. ect...

Alright I have some basic questions. I got the car tuned for a basic 3.4 set-up..It's a mail-order tune and the shift point have been changed ect. 1st goes to around ~55 2nd ~95..seems a little high for a stock head/top end car..no?? It's defiantly over 6,000 RPM seems like its shifting around 6,300 maybe?? Not sure how off my needle is..

I went to the track on Saturday to see how the car would run, was hoping for 13's on my new snow tires . Well my first run was a total bust..it ran slower than it did stock, 14.9 to be exact. The car spun all of 1st and short shifted into 2nd. On my 2nd pass I pulled the headlight and didn't go WOT until about 15mph out. The a car ran much better for cracking a weak 2.3 60'...but I'm still really disappointed with the shift points. It felt like I was shifting into 3rd going through the traps which I felt really hurt my times. Also 3rd gear sucks lol. Wouldn't the car run faster shifting lower?? From the dyno's Ive seen these drop a lot of power after 5K. I bought this mail in tune and I'm afraid it may be locked if I buy some tuning software...thoughts??

Also another thing is spark plug gap and belt slip. I have a 3.4" set-up with the recommended belt and the TR6 plugs at ~.45" . I was seeing a solid 10psi at WOT creeping to 12psi Friday night, and the car felt AMAZING. The day I went to the track I cleaned up my engine bay and may have gotten some oil on the sc belt..? When I ran at the track I was only seeing 7psi at WOT..tonight I'm seeing 9psi..Whats with this? My cheapo boost gauge, weather, or belt slip?? Maybe the oil is wearing off, it feels better than it did when I ran at the track but still not as good as Friday night @ 10psi..

Some things that have me worried..the gap not being right, shifting too high, and why the PSI is so weird..Don't get me wrong, it runs good. But I think with some tweaking it could be better..Any input would be AMAZING!

Weather makes a huge difference in psi. The cooler it is the higher the psi, also check for any vac lines that could be leaking.

I was thinking of replacing the bbv and checking those. Whats the easiest way to spot a vac leak?

I know weather makes a difference but the temp has been around the same the past 3 nights, 50's. I think I have my plugs under gaped a little. After I re-gap the plugs to .55 and replace the bbv..Maybe I'll get a 50/50 meth injection kit and call it a day lol. Throw on a small nozzle to keep the car safe? They only run about $210

Then again I really don't have a clue what I'm talking about lol...thats why I'm asking for your guy's help/input. I don't want to blow up my dd lol

I would just get a good Wideband tune and leave it alone.

If you find that you are slipping your belt, then replace your stock 3" SC tensioner pulley with a 3.5" pulley. This should solve your problem.

Good luck!

the needle tends to be off about 300 rpm or so, when my car shifts at 6,000 it will go a little into the red as well, by the time the pcm tells the car to shift, the car really only will shift at 5800-5900 anyway.

belt slip becomes and issue when you get into the tiny pullies, i think you can run the stock size belt with a 3.4.

look at the boost gauge in this video

YouTube - Belt slip in action - 2.6" pulley

Thanks guys. I still need to re-gap the plugs (.55???) and fix the v clamp seal.

The belt I have now is a little smaller than the stock size, it's from ZZP..the one they recommended.

I would love to invest into some tuning software but it's just not worth the cost. I'd rather find someone to do it and pay them. For now I guess my mail-order tune will have to do until I can find a tuner. I'll start asking around.

The car runs pretty good I think, it went 13.9 @ 99.75 with a really bad 2.2 60'..I have a fresh set of weatherman tires and traction under 20mph is a huge issue..but It's going to be snowing soon so thats why I got them. The car didn't feel as fast at the track but when you line up against 130-150mph cars that happens haha I was only seeing 7psi, today it was back to 10psi again.

I couldn't really see the boost gauge in that vid