Con somebody help PLEASE!

[Stangt00]

My god damn car just does not want to run right, and it seems nobodoy can figure it out. (Sorry, this is gonna be kinda long, but I really need help here)

The car does not want to make ANY power down low till atleast 3000 rpms when it starts climbing. It all started when back in August I had the heads ported and polished with a set of comp cams. The heads were OBVIOUSLY way over ported for a N/A car, and had the swirl dams removed. Then the SHM cams that were put in when valves bent with the comp cams, were not the same specs the heads were built for. (.500 vs .550 lift and lower durations)

So, after getting tired of the way the car was running, I decided to get a set of stage 1 VT heads and stage 2 VT cams with a bullit intake. This should have fixed the problem with lack of low end performance. However, the dyno curves mirrored the curves with the previous heads and cams excpet it was higher. The car still has no low end.

Before August's fiasco, the car was running AWESOME for a bolt on car. Now, if I was to overlay then and now I can see that from the start to 3500 rpms there is a 100 ft lb loss of torque. After that, the torque peaks at the same number of 294. So, what the hell happened to all of the low end? Where the hell did it go? NOBODY CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

I was told that the new heads would have fixed the problem with the low end. IT DIDNT. The car perofrms quite a bit worse than others with comparable setups. So there has to have been something else wrong with the car.

Everything that was added/modified in August:
24lb injectors
80mm Pro-M M/A for 24lb injectors
Motorsport shorty headers
Magnaflow Catback
Bassani O/R X pipe
Heads got P&P'd
SHM cams

Now, the heads and cams were just replaced with KNOWN GOOD heads and cams. I even got the Bullit intake to make sure that the induction side was good.

I took the Pro-M out and put the C&L 80mm M/A housing back in with the factory M/A meter. Kauffmans is putting 19lb injectors back in at my request to see if they could be the problem, but I think it's a long shot.

With the exception of the headers, mid pipe and catback, everything that was changed in August has been changed again. Sure it is making more power with the new intake, heads and cams, but the car is still performing the same with no low end torque.

Last thing I can think of would be the ECM itself. The computer throws a code for pcm memory loss, and a random misfire code (probably from the cam profile), but they said that flashing with EFI solutions will cause that code.

It's a Manual trans, which was pulled apart and re-assembled in January. It has and is being dyno tuned.

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP

I just spent another $4000 dollars buying the new heads etc... with the understanding that it WOULD fix the problem. IT DIDNT. I just want to scream my F'n head off right now.

 

[2002BLGT]

coil packs or something simple not taking a crap on you ?? , fuel delivery problem , MAF voltages not right for the injector size ???????????????

 

[Stangt00]

The car is also being driven with a scan tool on it but they dont see anything. Ford couldnt find anything either prior to dropping the new heads in. I am assuming the fuel pressure is good, as they would have checked it, I think. Nobody can find what is causing the lack of low end torque. As I said, they were sure it was the heads they removed from the car that were causing the problems. New heads, same problems. WTF!

 

[Go HoTO!]

I am not close enough for you to punch me, so I will ask this question:

Just you check the fuel filter?

 

[godspeedX]

If you've gone through two sets of ported heads, and have similar results, then atleast you know it's not the cylinder heads or the motor itself. The cams and intake are good to go. Since nobody knows what the problem is, then its most likely something very specific. I know I'd be frustrated to, but don't give up on your setup though. The power HAS TO BE THERE.

This may sound dumb, but just to keep in check.

Was your 80mm Pro-m tuned for 24lb injectors?
Have you checked into any issues with your timing, via timing adjuster and dyno?
Inspect your ignition parts, spark plugs, etc.

Have you looked into having your ECU flashed? Try going to Rick Andersons, www.AndersonFordmotorsport.com to get the telephone number, and ask about the PMS and tell them about the problem your having. He's an honest guy, won't trick you into buying something you don't need.

Hope this atleast helps some, and good luck

 

[godspeedX]

PS

Don't know what kind of Ford dealership your taking your car to, but just in case, I think it's safe to say that their troubleshooting equipment is only good for factory type setups. Even though it was just a simple swap, when it comes to different air flow via ported heads, mass air meter, even TB and aftermarket intake (exclude your Bullit intake) their computers can't really tell them specifics, unless everything is stock. They can only tell you something is not right but they won't be able to tell you why.

I've had this problem before with one of the SVT dealerships, on my 02 GT and it sucks cause I had to pay them after they told me nothing that I didn't already know. Never will I go back to them again.

 

[Stangt00]

If you've gone through two sets of ported heads, and have similar results, then atleast you know it's not the cylinder heads or the motor itself. The cams and intake are good to go. Since nobody knows what the problem is, then its most likely something very specific. I know I'd be frustrated to, but don't give up on your setup though. The power HAS TO BE THERE.

This may sound dumb, but just to keep in check.

Was your 80mm Pro-m tuned for 24lb injectors?
Have you checked into any issues with your timing, via timing adjuster and dyno?
Inspect your ignition parts, spark plugs, etc.

Have you looked into having your ECU flashed? Try going to Rick Andersons, www.AndersonFordmotorsport.com to get the telephone number, and ask about the PMS and tell them about the problem your having. He's an honest guy, won't trick you into buying something you don't need.

Hope this atleast helps some, and good luck

The M/A was calibrated for the injectors
The car is being tuned on the dyno with a ECU flash
New sprak plugs were installed with the headswap, coil packs I believe were ok.

After looking at the new dyno over the prior one, I am not too upset about it. It gained 22-30 RWT throught the powerband and it lasts longer. It also picked up a solid 20 RWHP throughout the powerband as well. Turns out I only lost 20 RWT from 2500-3500 rpm, but then it is the same or more than stock. Thats all attributed to the porting and stage 2 cams I guess.

I also had a brand new set of 4.10's put in which are probably robbing a good 4 hp/tq, plus, it has been proven that higher gear ratio's have more parasitic drag. Thus I may have lost another 3 or 4 due to that. They said once the rear loosens up, I should see some more.

Right now with the correction of 4 after the gears break in, the car will be at 304/308. Still not too shabby for a N/A 4.6L. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Stangt00]

I am not close enough for you to punch me, so I will ask this question:

Just you check the fuel filter?

Fuel filter was changed at the ford dealership when I had it in for the diagnostics.

 

[mrvax]

Can you post up a dyno graph with the A/F readings and TK curve? Usually you will sack off some bottom end when you build the heads and cams for max/high rpm power. Of course you know gears will help you get to your power band quickly. What gears do you have currently?

 

[Stangt00]

I just got a look at my Dyno overlayed with the one done in Jan. It is definitely ALOT stronger than it was, 30 ft lbs through most of the torque, and 15-20 on the power.

After talking with Kauffmans, I found out that it has been proven that gears cause more parasitic drag and drop hp/tq, but pick up ET's. Anywhere from 4-10 depending on how steep the gears are. This is important because they just put in 4.10's which are also "tight" since they are new, and are probably robbing another 3-5 hp/tq.

So after seeing the graph, I cant complain at the new numbers. Their dyno reads about 10 low compared to other dyno's also. In saying that, my numbers would be 302/308 RW.

As for the driveability issues, he said he drove it for a while and there was none. So, that part is now fixed as well. I guess this actually turned out pretty well after all. Thanks for reading.

 

[Stangt00]

Well, I drove it home today and let me say, it was fun. No more driveability issues. It pulled nicely from 80mph in 5th gear. Going from 5th to 4th at 80 and flooring it was intense. It got to 110 mph with relative ease. So, I am truely happy with it now. Again, thanks for reading.

 

[pony_vert02]

Sorry I couldn't offer any advice, but was fun reading! Glad the stang is back to norm.