Sluggish performance, and burning smell.... Options

[senick]

So Sunday I was driving some country roads and opening up the throttle like I haven't done in a while, and to my dismay it just feels worse in the low revs, like the 7a is having trouble catching its stride. Also at high revs, there's a distinct burning smell coming from the engine bay that goes away with modest driving. The low power I'm thinking has a lot 9if not all) to do with my bad exhaust, but I'm wondering what would account for that smell... I know I need a new valve cover gasket and possibly injector o-rings. Any thoughts?

Update:
Replaced the PCV valve and grommet (the grommet was completely corroded), and had a shop weld the exhaust leak for $40. Now the little guy's zipping around like days of old.

This post has been edited by senick: May 10, 2011 - 6:51 PM

[d3ath2009]

exhaust would definitely cause a bad smell. My 7a has a gutted cat and a busted weld right in front of it and you can DEFINITELY smell it. smell would also be worse when you get on it, your gonna have more flowing through.

[opie_7afe]

mine feels pretty peppy in the lower rpm range but higher rpm feels more sluggish forsure and what type of smell is it..if you say its your valve cover it could be leaking onto exhaust as with higher rpm theres more pressure under the valve cover i presume...hell if your muffler is shot i got a thrush turbo muffler ready to be bolted onto stock pipe if it is cut off right after the muffler....i dont like how it sounds in higher rpm range but is a personal opinion....good luck with your 7a

[senick]

You know, I think maybe it's just the 7a coupled with an AT, but I really think it used to go better. I'm liking your theory though, it would make sense that I only smell the leak at higher pressure... Also, I'm starting to smell fuel on warm days after I shut the car off. I really need to check those injectors.

The muffler is probably fine, but I just have a leak in a pipe somewhere from bottoming out on a rock in a dirt road. Are the ST and GT exhaust any different? I'd love to pull the piping from a yard somewhere and just redo the whole thing.

[PhoenixTech]

Check the cat. could be clogged.

[Bitter]

slipping clutch?