Maybe you guys can help me out. This past summer I bought a 89 Formula 350 with the mods listed below. The car runs really well but I know there is a lot more left in it. The previous owner said the car was never tuned after the mods and is probably running pretty rich due to the new injectors. I took the car to the track once and ran a 13.80@98. I know this is really low for the mods I have on the car. My question is, where is the missing power? Tuning or a poor matched list of mods? Other? What do you think?


MODS:

TPIS air foil, K&N filter,MSD blaster coil, wires, Accell Ignition module, 24# injectors, Vortech heads, 214/220 452/465 cam, 1.6 rr's, TPIS base intake manifold, SLP 1 3/4 headers, offroad pipe, flowmaster single chamber muffler, TCI 2000 stall converter, B&M shift kit and trans cooler.

 

I'm going to say tune.

Only if everythign else mechanically and electrically is correct.

Parts u list make a good setup for a quick driver

Go thru everything and check it out. If everything looks/works ok, then go to the PROM board here and start working on learning how to do your own tuning.

later
Jeremy

 

okay here's your problem

YOU OWN A TPI

WAKE UP PEOPLE the technologly was out dated before they put it on the market, you might as well have bought a crossfire vette!

sell it and put the money into you're fouth gen

also before you sell it.... light it on fire so you wont ruin someone elses life bye giving them a slow POS that you can toss money at until it hurts, AND YOU'LL STILL RUN 14'S

 

I would say do some tuning also.

What rear end gears are in that? That ET is not all that bad, just your MPH is a little low for the mods.....

 

Gee, did I hit a sore spot or something? Don't take my post so personally BTW, it ran a 13 not a 14

I did not buy this car w/ the intention of making it fast, it just came w/ the mods and I'm trying to maximize what it has. I love these cars and this one was in such great shape I could not resist.

It still has the stock gear, maybe I should look into a 3.73? Does everyone do their own tuning or is there a place that anyone would recommend?

Thanks for the replys!

 

Don't worry, if you noticed the jerkoff is banned

 

You don't mention if you've done a full mechanical tune / check-up. I mean plugs, wires, dizzy cap and rotor. How many miles on the car? Compression check, any smoke? Old O2 sensor? Base timing and fuel pressure? You're time and ET aren't bad, but there is more in there. One of our local guys just ran a 12.99x in a bolt-on Formula 350. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/orga...ock-350-a.html

Check the mechanical state of things, THEN get a chip tune. You should be smiling big.

 

Yeah, definately need a tune. Since you have the Speed Density (MAP) you will want to have a tune done since it is going to be more sensitive to the modifications, but after that the car should run even better. I don't believe you have 3.73's from the factory, but at best 3.27's.

 

I have not done a tune up on the car only because all the plugs/wires cap rotor were done not too long before I purchased the vehicle. I'll go ahead and replace it all again this winter just to be sure though. I'm not sure how old the O2 is but I'll replace that too while I'm at it. Now I do not get any smoke on cold start up but when I start it up after driving it a while I do get some white smoke on if it sits for about 1/2 hr or so. Not sure what could cause this. Not sure what the timing is set at nor the fuel pressure, I'll have to find out.

I saw that post and those are what's making me wonder why mine is so much slower considering the mods.

 

Your 89 should be MAF, attached to the air snorkle on the radiator cover.

If 9-bolt, you should have the 3.27 gears with auto tranny, there should be a tag attached to the diff cover telling you so.

You absolutely must check base timing, and the injector constant must be changed in the chip for the larger injectors.

No need to replace plugs, wires, etc out-right, check them first. Get a fuel pressure gauge, may be able to borrow free from a good auto-parts store. Do replace the fuel filter if you don't know how long it's been on.
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Don't worry about Larry's times. His car is a freak!

 

Wheel spin, what should my base timing and fuel pressure be set at? I'll take the car over to my buddys house and we can check it there.

Thanks!

 

Base timing should be set at 6 deg. Fuel pressure should be 43.5 psi with the engine running and the vacuum hose disconnected from the Fuel Pressure Regulator.