Low end torque

[wiserocz]

Okay so I've done the usual tune-up and such but coming from a 92 Olds Achieva SC with a 3300 I feel like I have to floor it to get some torque. I realize that a 3400 DOHC will start to pull after 3000RPM but I'm looking to get a bit more lower end torque. Just in case you were wondering its a 96 Monte Z34. Maybe there is a way to rev faster to 3000? How about these trannys do they put up with this high RPM stuff? I feel like I have to beat it to death to get her to go, maybe it just takes time to get used to the car.

[SappySE107]

RE: Low end torque

Well...good luck. The 96 intakes were made for less low end, more top end. The stock 96 cam timing, again, biased for top end. The trans, well, it doesn't like high RPM either so say thanks to GM for that smart move. Only the 97s had the 4T65-E option that im aware of and they are supposed to take the power better.

So, what can you do? Change the cam timing to bias towards low end, and see how that goes. A supercharger would build up your low end as well. Otherwise, its custom parts or revert to 91-95 intake manifolds and then probably deal with the computer programming to help with the changes.

Stick to the iroc for your low end, its much easier.

[TheProfessor]

RE: Low end torque

welcome to the DOHC world thats the way they are
some worse than others but i agree with ben about the iroc

[wiserocz]

Well that makes no sense to take torque out. I wonder what purpose they had for making a change... I am thinking about a MagnaFlow muffler and a stainless exhaust. If I can get more torque maybe I can make it spin easier up to where the torque is.

Today just for fun on the way to work I did my best to keep it shifting around 4500 and felt the punch. I think one of these days I would like to drive a pre 96 DOHC just to see the difference. We'll see what I feel like come spring maybe I'll be looking at a supercharged L67. I hate the body style of the current Montes, I will take a close look at this years front end restyle though.

[dohcfiend]

i would suggest a 3k stall converter if you are working with an auto. that should get you to 3000 quicker. other than that do the 3.73 fdr conversion. or do both and you are guarenteed to get to 3 grand quicker. 1 warning though the bushing failed on my stall the 1st time i put it in and i had to get another bushing put in(to replace the bushing i had to pull the motor right back out). so far so good now though.

[Anonymous]

I'll trade you my 92 intake manifolds for your 96s, you will get much better low end, and I get what I want-high end. PM me if you are interested.

[wiserocz]

BTW I think I spoke too soon on the 06 Monte here's the link for all of you who don't follow GMI....

http://www.chevrolet.com/montecarlo06/

Aaron-I think I'll try and work with what I got. After some thought, I really think there is another way to generate some low end without totally sacrificing the high end.

Dohcfiend-Have you had you setup dynoed? It would be interesting to know some HP numbers and see where that HP falls in at the wheels compared to some of the other LQ1s. If what you have works then maybe I can learn from that.

[Anonymous]

Fine. That's cool, I'm trying to stop the tempation of messing with the Z34s anyway.

But the 92 intakes don't totally sacrifice high end, mine still pulls right to 7, and is an all high end motor. I just wanted more high end, and less low end.

Good luck, cuz that motor is never going to have low end without a blower or a turbo from a Geo Metro.

[dohcfiend]

the stall and fdr don't give you any tq they just allow you engine to get to it's powerband quicker. they do make torque for your engine though, it comes in a 10lb bottle

if you have the dough you could have your cams redone for better torque as to the exact specs, i don't know but it can be done i guess. just depends on your budget b/c i have a few ideas. headers=torque, displacement=tq bore and stroke the motor, different cam timing=torque, if having your cams reground isn't your thing, perhaps you could try to swap in some older cam boxes i heard a rumor the 94-95 cams were best for torque, aaron is right though the 96-97 intakes were designed for hp but i think it could be modified for hp by changing the dimensions on your tb neck.

from what i heard velocity on your incoming intake charge is the key to torque, i think if the stock tb neck were shortened it might increase intake velocity. i could be wrong though. tq will come at a price though, your hp will take a hit.

after i have my new tb and tb neck back i plan on having it dynoed and i will post the dyno sheet. but i am going for top end my tb and neck will be bigger. if u like i could sell you the neck and tb when i get it back and u could experiment my idea on them.

[ez112]

94-95 cams fit in a 96/97?

[SappySE107]

I dunno but they changed the lifters so I wouldn't be getting the cams without the mindset of it being an experiment. The cam carriers could be swapped but dropping the cams into the 96 carrier...no idea.

I also am not sure that extent is worthwhile. Until we know the whole story on the 96 cam specs, we only know the timing changed. If that is the case, you can just change the 96 cam timing and get the same results if it is just a timing change.

[dohcfiend]

aww crap, i forgot about the lifters being smaller. sorry about that.

[ez112]

No problem. Yeah I think I'd stick to the idea of totally swapping in the cam carriers, because it would be a little easier

The idea would be cool though if it worked out. I know manual Ford Taurus SHO's swap in their automatic counterpart's engine (manual gets winpier 3.0 engine, auto's get better 3.2) into their manual, BUT swap in the 3.0 cams, and from what I hear they're looking at mid 14's.

That would be awesome if that was something that could be done with the 3.4

[Gemmer]

the stall and fdr don't give you any tq they just allow you engine to get to it's powerband quicker.

maybe my math is bad, but wouldnt the 3.73 up your mechanical torque by like 44ish ft/lbs@5000RPM?

Well that makes no sense to take torque out.

I dont think we or GM did anything to take torque out, they just moved it up. Its not really worse, its just different....although are cars are a little heavy...

[dohcfiend]

ez112, i would think you could swap carriers pretty easily between 91-93 and 94-95. i think there is a slight difference in cam specs. i would only do if i could score the carriers real cheap though. it will be a pain with the timing belt and all.

i wasn't aware different gears added/subtracted torque. if that is so 44ft/lbs DAMN!!!!!!!!! that is alot. i'll second that too heavy. i didn't think the tq numbers were bad either almost as much as hp. that is the way all the gm motors are going now. some are even equal in hp and tq.

can u explain that a little? when you say "mechanical" torque is that the same as deriving torque from modding your car or a different term altogether? i thought the different gears just allowed the engine to get to the desired rpm faster.