Rare moment

[willwren]

Driving to work this morning, I did a quick WOT run to establish my WOT AFR in an effort to dial it down from 'track rich' (due to an offline coversation between myself and 2000silverbullet).

So I'm driving along, nice and relaxed, pedal mashed to the firewall at 6:30am about a mile from work, watching the wideband O2 gauge down by my right knee (in the knee pod for those that know it, along with my full-scale boost gauge). The car shuddered as it hit second gear, and cleanly ripped any hint of what we would call traction completely loose from the clean dry asphalt paving. A beautiful cloud of expensive rubber smoke clouded my vision to the rear.

This is the first time I can recall with my relatively de-tuned and large 2.5" pulley that I've broken second gear loose with these particular tires. I'm running Toyo T1R's in 255 width.

Other than a couple quirks, the car is running pretty well.

(Paul, I'm running 10.3 to 10.5 on the fat end.....think I'll come down a couple clicks in my WOT range)

[2000Silverbullet]

Impressive lack of traction and excess of torque.

Ya that is a tad rich. I'm in the 10.9 range and I'm running rich with the 3.4". I think it would run leaner if I pullied back down to the 3.1" I was running before. The heat wave is over and we had our first rain today. The temp has dropped from 80 to 60 overnight. I don't need the water injection anymore this year so I'll probably drain and purge it until next summer.

[willwren]

I might attribute this recent gain in power and performance to a couple un-posted mods from the last week.

We're due for our first fall rain this weekend. I have some work to get done on the cars before it starts, then I'll focus on Matt's supercharger while it rains.

[2000Silverbullet]

....ya I told you it makes a difference of at least 10 hp with these engines. They need to breathe.

[00Beast]

I might attribute this recent gain in power and performance to a couple un-posted mods from the last week.

Well? When will they be posted? Can't keep us all in suspense!!

[willwren]

One was in prep for the intercooler Revision B, the other was out of necessity. One will be revealed after further testing, the other won't. The one I believe gained me the most is the one to be revealed.

By now you already know that when I try something, I test it fully before posting it publicly. But I can tell you that it was in prep for the intercooler work due to start (again) soon, and the gains were a total surprise.

[00Beast]

Ok. I guess I can wait...

[Sadden]

I cant :(

[willwren]

Keep in mind, there are some things (very few) that add power based on a percentage of existing power. What I did wasn't for that reason, but after the results and a bit of research, I think I found my answer (2-4% gain). On a bone-stock car, particularly without a supercharger, it might not be a noticeable gain at all. Maybe not even on a mildly-modded L67, so don't get too excited just yet.

[2000Silverbullet]

It's unfortunate that you didn't make each change independent of each other so you could more specifically say which one truly made the largest improvement.

[dpcookson]

I have a hunch for one possibility ............

I guess I should admit that the whine overwhelmed the rattling sound from my 3rd cat blowing it's guts out, and rattling them around inside the thing. I'm getting sick of blowing out converters on this thing.

Really a shame you can't gut that cat! Whoops forgot I could get fined for just uttering those words!

[willwren]

I can tell you that had next to nothing to do with it. I have an electric cutout right before the cat, so I know what running catless does for this car, which is next to nothing (about .2 on the quarter).

[BonneMe]

Where does wide rubber hit on a 92-99? I wouldn't be surprised that with some wider wheels and a new offset, going 265 wouldn't be out of the question, OEM H body wheels are seriously inboard from the fenders.

First time getting 255 T1r's free in 2nd in a "conservative" setup? Weak (I kid, i kid..)

However... sounds like a good excuse to go to R888's

[willwren]

That would be pushing it on stock wheels. Right now I rub slightly at full lock, both sides. And I mis-spoke. I have 245's, not 255's.

[2000Silverbullet]

The 255's on the 94 were OK and only rubbed during extremely hard turns at full lock and then only enough to lightly mark a 1"x2" black mark on the inside wheel well.

[00Beast]

Where does wide rubber hit on a 92-99? I wouldn't be surprised that with some wider wheels and a new offset, going 265 wouldn't be out of the question, OEM H body wheels are seriously inboard from the fenders.

That would be pushing it on stock wheels. Right now I rub slightly at full lock, both sides. And I mis-spoke. I have 245's, not 255's.

Jason was implying that it would take new wheels.

[willwren]

And wider wheels are heavier, which kinda defeats the whole purpose. I'm as wide as I can practically go with my relatively lightweight stock wheels.

[BonneMe]

Just for discussion/brainstorming here.. Only 95naSTA has really played with offsets and sizing.

A good aftermarket wheel can be lighter than the stockers, especially if sticking to a 16" size. The $95/wheel cheapies at discount tire aren't going to fall in this category, but some cast, and most Forged will definitely be lighter, but then you're looking probably around $200/wheel and up, not the cheapest, but definitely stronger and lighter.

Stock is 16x7 or 7x5? a 16x8 with a more positive offset would push the rubber out towards the fender more, and away from the inner fender rubbing, you'd get a better sidewall profile, and Overall steering feedback would go up as well as a byproduct. Spacers might work as well, but aren't as optimal as an aftermarket wheel.

I'm really curious as to what's possible now...

[repinS]

My Mustang wheels, 17x8 with +45 offset and 235/55/17 - slightly larger than stock diameter (but cancels out existing speedometer inaccuracies!) has a slight rub on the sides of the inner fender liner at full lock.

Nothing major that I've worried about.

[willwren]

Jason's post above brings up another interesting point. The last thing I need on the Zilla is more steering feedback. It's already almost too much with the LSD. Which brings up another point. When 2nd broke loose, it was both wheels.

I should try it again this morning.