Needs less truck feel

[Guest the_dj]

I'm absolutely loving the car I just got from SuperDan, but one thing is starting to bug me. The engine makes a sick amount of torque from idle to 3000 rpm, making non-racy driving feel ultra-responsive and more than eager to run. After that, however, it starts to fade out and then FAST after 4000 rpm. I end up shifting between 4000 and 4500. It seems when I go to drive it hard, it just runs out of steam. It feels like I'm driving a truck ready to haul a 5 ton load in back. I want to move my shift point up to 5500-6000 and get some torque up there that I can REALLY feel when I get on it.

 

I'm looking for ideas to get some more HP out of the engine and higher range torque. Here are the specs I know and what I have come up with so far:

 

350ci crate motor, stock heads and cam

TPI intake manifold w/ holley cmdr 950 and aftermarket runners

9:1 compression ratio

 

I was thinking about changing to the ZZ4 cam, port & polish & valve job, and shaving the head to raise compression to 10:1 to 10.5:1. What do you have to say about this? Thanks guys.

 

Right now the engine should have 300-320hp. I'm looking for 450-500 in the end, but don't think I'll get there on this go around. What else would it need to get there?

 

Thanks,

Sam

[Guest JAMIE T]

The problem is the TPI intake. It was designed to give loads of low end grunt to move over weight Irocs and Corvettes. If you switched to a TPIS Mini Ram, it would give back the top end you desire and still keep most of the low end grunt. The MiniRam is very similar to the LT1 intake, proving it can fave plenty of torque as well as high RPM power. I think most of your parts(induction) will work with the MiniRam. Good luck!!!

[Guest Anonymous]

Enjoy the ride,for that's what matters!!!!!!!!! If more is what you need, the bank accounts the limit!! How about aftermarket aluminum heads with a smaller combustion chamber, say 68 or 64 cc's and a livelier cam? Check the spec's on the cam to be sure you get the torque and HP range you need. Balancing, roller rockers, more intake or maybe nitrous, what you need!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest the_dj]

Will the Holley Stealth Ram fit my setup? I have new Accel 24# injectors. Would I need new injectors and rails if I went with the Holley? I already have the Commander 950 and a new distributor, coil, and MSD-6AL. What NEW parts would I need to switch to the Stealth Ram, and what parts would I then have to sell? On my setup, how much power would that intake give me back?

 

Thanks,

Sam

 

PS: I originally thought the engine was an LT1...so I didn't the the Stealth Ram would fit. Now I think it might.

[denny411]

Just a thought, Check your fuel pressure. it could very easily be somthing that simple possibly a fuel filter even. I don`t want to over simplify it but there are lots of times that somthing simple is overlooked.

I had a similar problem with my truck, at around 80 mph it had plenty off power but around 95-100 it just didn`t feel like it wanted to go any more.I changed the fuel filter and now I can role along at a smooth 125 no problem Even if it doesnt work, it`s maintanance that it might have needed anyway

[Guest the_dj]

We've watched the computer and tuned it at WOT pretty well IMHO. With the Holley computer, I can watch the O2 reading and such, so I know that even at 5500 rpm I'm running a little rich where it should be. Fuel isn't the problem, at least there's not a lack of it.

 

Sam

[fl327]

thats the tpi, i think youre just about at the edge of its useful powerband, they just dont like to flow after 5k, and i think you already have the big runners and a dfi system? just be happy with it for now, a stealth ram will bolt up with a few mods though, then you have to worry about heads, camming , and a million more new things.