lookin for some tuning suggestions

[Mephisto]

im lookin for some direction on dialing in my truck. ive got quite a few datamaster runs if anyone wants to take a look. i dont have too many mods, ultimate, 3" cat back, KB cold air kit, walbro, 160*, jabsco, tranny cooler, and all the regular tune up stuff. with my ultimate on T3-20, and 101/91 mix oct. im getting a peak of 2.3* knock at WOT and my truck feels like its running pretty strong. although my tranny shifts like shit, so that might be part of the problem, also would getting a TC lock up switch really make any difference in my ETs since i only have a stock tranny? TIA

 

[Tooky]

Neal, on my truck I always run my best times with the TCC Lockup switch. It didn't use to seem to do anything for me until I hit low 13's. I still run stock chip and otherwise my truck is the same as you except I have stock intake tube and no ultimate (obviously). When I get to the track I run a plain run with no TCC Lockup to gauge how it will perform that night. Then I throw on the TCC Lockup when I'm ready to try and run some best ETs. I can count on the switch giving me anywhere between 0.0 and 1.5 tenth improvement and 0.0 and 1.5 MPH improvement. Usually its more towards the 1.0+ gain range but occasionally I won't run any faster than I did without the switch. Whether or not that is attributed to my harder launches later in the night, remains to be seen.

I only use the TCC Lockup at the track but give it a try and see how it goes. If yours reacts like mine, the truck will really bog on the shifts (RPMs go way down) and it will feel slower as the truck actually has to re-spool at the beginning of 3rd gear, but you'll actually run faster somehow.

When was the last time you had your tranny fluid & filter changed? When they changed mine it made a big difference in the tranny.

Next thing is to try a engine tie-down strap. If you haven't tried one, you won't beleive it until you do! I tried two. First the $7.99 NAPA black Ford tailgate cable that mounted on this tiny brake bolt barely fitting back into the frame, and stretched the very first time I brake torque tested it, and second a cheap pair of purple nylon 1" wide flip-latch tiedowns I got at WalMart on clearance rack for $8.00. I put both of them on by making a little bracket to sandwich into the alternator bolt, and hooked one into that and the other end into a frame hole. Then I hooked the 2nd strap to the hook of the first one and a bottom frame hole at the other end. Anyways, with a tie down strap I immediately felt the difference even as I started the truck up and threw it in Reverse to back out of my driveway. The way the engine torques is more solid feeling, or something. When I launch, it seems to plant harder and its harder to spin the tires. And get this, before a tie down I ran a best 60' of 1.76 on 245 Sears Viper tires, with lots of 1.77 and some 1.78. I put the tiedown on and went to the track and ran a 1.68 best 60'! So I can definitely say it worked for me. I would recommend it to anyone. I have a digital camera now so I can take pictures of mine if you want to see.

The only other thing I would say is to keep using DataMaster and analyzing what's going on. Is the boost keeping close to target, should be one of the biggest factors affecting performance.

 

[Sy-1177]

I just did the tie down cable the other day myself (thanks Jesse for the how to) And I could tell a difference as well. Its amazing the little tricks we can do to get positive results! Can't wait to see what comes next!

 

[Mephisto]

thanks for the suggestions josh, i havent changed the tranny fluid since i got the truck, only cause the previous owner just got it done (i have the receipt). ive been considering a deep tranny pan, and doing a full service on the tranny, when i replace the pan. im hoping that'll help, cause right now its shifting as soft as my blazer :x
as for solid boost... for some reason i can not get solid boost at the higher altitude track, its a little better closer to sea level, but still not perfect. im gonna see if adjusting the wastegate makes a difference, since im only getting 17psi when i have the chip set to run 20.
on my next day off, ill get a TC lock up (josh can you email me that diagram you sent me awhile back on how to hook it up?), and get a engine tie down. those sound like good mods to me and i cant bitch about the price haha also i dont think having a 200lb tonneau cover and a stereo system in the truck help my times either... if i take that shit off, fix the boost problem and toss on those 2 mods, 12.999just might be a possibility

 

[Tooky]

Neal do you have a "front mount" tranny cooler? If your tranny is shifting as soft as the Blazer it sounds like maybe its on its last leg, that's how I'd feel anyways but I really don't know much about trannys at all. If you don't have any extra coolers I would at least recommend one like this Hayden unit for about $35:

 

[Syclone#1992]

2.3 degrees of knock is great at WOT. Most people seem to have more knock with those mods. It sounds like there isn't and issue with the motor at all then. I would do like Josh said and have the fluids changed and have them adjust the TV cable.

If the motor is running that good then It has to be something else. As far as boost control goes I was told that the Ultimate does not control boost, You may want to ask someother people what they are using for boost control with the Ultimate.

 

[Mephisto]

thanks for the diagram josh, one question about it though. can i ground the TCC while im waiting in the staging lanes or do i do it when im driving? i remember reading something that you hook up a switch and hit it once you get to 40mph or some crazy shit like that? :-?
also, yes i have a front mount tranny cooler B&M super cooler to be exact, and i have adjusted the TV cable several times thinkin that was the problem but it has not helped. ill go get the tranny fluid and filter changed next week, could a clogged filter possibly be the problem?

just to comment on my 2.3* of knock at WOT, i was a bit shocked to see that myself. i thought for sure my knock sensor was broken, until i tried to run T3-20 on regular 91oct, and the knock went way up. either way, i have no complaints although im highly considering an alky kit now, just so i dont have to keep blowing $4 a gallon on 101oct everytime i wanna go to the track.

 

[mrweelr]

Neal - get the SMC alky kit and don't look back. Jeremy from SD and I can help you with whatever questions you may have. I love it! Feels good knowing I can drop the hammer any time, anwhere on 91 octane and not detonate the motor to pieces...woohoo

 

[Tooky]

thanks for the diagram josh, one question about it though. can i ground the TCC while im waiting in the staging lanes or do i do it when im driving? i remember reading something that you hook up a switch and hit it once you get to 40mph or some crazy shit like that? :-?

Neal, sorry for my terribly late reply. At any rate, yes you can ground the TCC in the staging lanes. I usually do it right when I am waiting next to the burnout box, next in line to go on the track. I race and then turn it off while I'm braking after the run.

 

[rarebit]

i noticed if i lock up the t/c before i launch it takes the turbo a lot longer to spool- 2.30 60fts.i try to lock it up about 100ft out of the hole- 1.90 60 fts...maybe i need a higher stall.

 

[Tooky]

Dunno what to tell ya man, I have bone stock turbo and torque converter and chip, with 40,000 miles. I lock the TCC switch near the burnout box, before I even stop for the staging lights. I cut 1.68 60' on cheap radial tires on stock rims on 15 PSI boost with a 4 PSI launch. Either my truck is a ringer or we are doing something different??? 2.30 is really really slow. I did a 2.2 60' on the one and only time I took my FWD Cavalier to the dragstrip.