make her faster! Options

[mkernz22]

do you need a higher grade fuel at 15?

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Oct 19, 2010 - 6:38 PM

[HectortheRican]

How much will it cost?

[hokuten3]

hummm....try headers. i got the cheap ones of ebay.haha. well, they were 115 shipped, so over $100. but i feel more torque and power.

[e30og]

yea i guess im more pleased with the way the car handles, as well as the look/feel of it than the speed, even with the GT motor instead of the ST. Dont want to Fudge with the timing...too many horror stories and it doesnt sound like it would do much. motor has too many miles to risk KABOOM. I guess Ill decide if i want to look at moving to a faster 7th gen, or work with what I have. something tells me I am too attached to this car to get something else. She may be a little slow but I still love her in the end haha

thanks for all the input...this site is the most valuable resource i have for the car!

This post has been edited by e30og: Oct 19, 2010 - 10:17 PM

[4-eyed-freek]

WARNING! dont go crazy with timing on your engine i just personally watched someone f*ck there engine up less than 2 hours ago. yes its fine to do it and slight power gains will be there but dont go speed racer on it like what i saw! it really made me think twice about ever doing it on an n/a engine, but it was funny as heck to watch!

[stephen_lee]

yeah my buddy advanced mine to 30 or so by accident.. BAD knocking.

[Spider77]

Wow, 30 is really pushing it on these engines. Yeah, don't run too much or it will do some damage (sooner or later). Your not going to blow up at 5 deg, something like 20 deg with reg unlead you might have some problems.
A little tidbit about octane:
"The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. When gas ignites by compression rather than because of the spark from the spark plug, it causes knocking in the engine. Knocking can damage an engine, so it is not something you want to have happening. Lower-octane gas (like "regular" 87-octane gasoline) can handle the least amount of compression before igniting. "

[KAOS]

Wow, 30 is really pushing it on these engines. Yeah, don't run too much or it will do some damage (sooner or later). Your not going to blow up at 5 deg, something like 20 deg with reg unlead you might have some problems.
A little tidbit about octane:
"The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. When gas ignites by compression rather than because of the spark from the spark plug, it causes knocking in the engine. Knocking can damage an engine, so it is not something you want to have happening. Lower-octane gas (like "regular" 87-octane gasoline) can handle the least amount of compression before igniting. "

Since you've advanced your timing back in 2000 - have you had any "timing" related issues with the car?

As in any issues that have come up that are directly related to the advanced timing... ?

What's a timing light anyway?

Sorry bro - no offence, but if you're asking that question I REALLY hope you do more research for yourself before doing a mod like this... BE SAFE!

This post has been edited by KAOS: Oct 20, 2010 - 5:28 PM

[Spider77]

Um, I have no clue what you mean by 2000, but considering I advanced by ear at first (dont really recommend), and checked it (turns out I was at 16...not bad when aiming for 15 right?), borrowed an inductive light, and adjusted down to 15 deg. I have not had any problems. IMO the car runs better this way. But I do try to keep on top of PM's, but when I do get a spare engine (ie swap) im going to push it just cause.

[KAOS]

Um, I have no clue what you mean by 2000, but considering I advanced by ear at first (dont really recommend), and checked it (turns out I was at 16...not bad when aiming for 15 right?), borrowed an inductive light, and adjusted down to 15 deg. I have not had any problems. IMO the car runs better this way. But I do try to keep on top of PM's, but when I do get a spare engine (ie swap) im going to push it just cause.

That's my bad; in that link you posted it said, "16º BTDC: Pretty good for now. That’s what I have it set at as of December 20, 2000." and for some reason I assumed that you wrote that.

But I see now that you just said thats the article you used... sorry about that

[Spider77]

NP, i have 15deg, and have no probs

[KAOS]

NP, i have 15deg, and have no probs

and the difference is obvious and noticable, yeah?

[HectortheRican]

What's a timing light anyway?

Sorry bro - no offence, but if you're asking that question I REALLY hope you do more research for yourself before doing a mod like this... BE SAFE!

LOL don't worry, I'm not the kind to jump in without extensive research.

[e30og]

NP, i have 15deg, and have no probs

how much has mileage suffered, if any?

[Spider77]

Well, I havent really checked, it seems to last just as long as before...it just depends on the way I drive.

[Tom_SS2]

what engine is in the USDM GT a 5S-FE? the 3S-GE hits roughly 100 in third

[jcbass7]

how much do decent timing lights go for?
once i get a manual swap done, i was looking into doing some more to the engine

I got a real nice dial back one for about 60$ off of summitracing.com, I have to use it to tune/time the vette. Those older cars like that need a lot more timing TLC than any of the newer ones. Its fairly straight forward. If I ever get some free time we could probable try to do it together. (I'm in Gloucester Ma most of the time or at school in CT)

NP, i have 15deg, and have no probs

how much has mileage suffered, if any?

I get about the same mileage with my stock GT vs. the modified ST. But remember one is 1.8l and the other is 2.2, so theoretically the ST should get better mileage? Still its all wayyyy better than what I get in the vette so I have no complaints.

what engine is in the USDM GT a 5S-FE? the 3S-GE hits roughly 100 in third

Yep, USDM GT is a 5sfe

[stephen_lee]

in theory, increasing timing SHOULD help your MPG number, in practice, you won't notice a difference.

[mkernz22]

how much do decent timing lights go for?
once i get a manual swap done, i was looking into doing some more to the engine

I got a real nice dial back one for about 60$ off of summitracing.com, I have to use it to tune/time the vette. Those older cars like that need a lot more timing TLC than any of the newer ones. Its fairly straight forward. If I ever get some free time we could probable try to do it together. (I'm in Gloucester Ma most of the time or at school in CT)

Gloucester is a hike and a half from Norton! haha I'm down near Taunton and Brockton, but I don't mind driving so maybe one day in the spring we could meet up. Which would be after my manual swap