Something is Wrong

[340.29m/s]

I have a friend that has a nice Foxbody 5.0 that he has done a lot of work to.

He has some high RPM cams, Edelbrock intake manifold, 306 block with forged internals, new "racing" AOD w/ 3200rpm stall, etc.

I noticed he had some CAI that looked TINY, but I also noticed that other faster 5.0's also had it.

Now here is the kicker, he went to the track to race in his performance shop's drag series and could not get better than a 14.3 at less than 100 mph!

I am pretty sure he still has stock 19 lbs injectors (I assume this is bad), he has the stock GT Headers, stock fuel pump, but he does have an upgraded ignition system. (Forgot the name, it's a red box... everyone has it)

His mechanic told him that he was tired of looking at the car and just wanted him to slap nitrous on it and call it a day. What do you guys think I should tell him to try before he goes off and blows up his engine running a big shot with stock injectors?

Short Version:
What needs to be done to stock pieces to be able to make power. (Upgrade MAF or just try cleaning it, etc)

Thanks in advance, sorry for the post not being well put together.

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

stock heads?
They wont pull much air anyways if so.

 

[340.29m/s]

stock heads?
They wont pull much air anyways if so.

I regretfully do not know everything he has done to the engine, supposedly he has the entire engine setup with edelbrock stuff

If he does have stock heads, that is probably a big reason... right?

If he has aftermarket, what else could be the problem?


edit: I also forgot to mention that he has 3.73's

 

[cjman15]

get some headers

 

[cjman15]

and fuel pump if you want nitrous

 

[millhouse]

With a good tune, he shouldnt have any problems running nitrous...espicially if it's a recent rebuild.

 

[340.29m/s]

With a good tune, he shouldnt have any problems running nitrous...espicially if it's a recent rebuild.

He really wants to stay NA/not spraying, his mechanic is just trying to take the easy way out.

He has dropped atleast 7 grand in his car, shouldn't it be running faster than a 14.3?

I just confirmed that he has aftermarket heads.

 

[340.29m/s]

get some headers

What are some good headers to get? The GT came with headers stock, didn't it.... I assume these are junk also though.

 

[MuSTaNGPLaYR]

Mac, BBk....See if he has stock heads on that thing. That would be hurting him very badly. And def. get a fuel pump

 

[340.29m/s]

He has aftermarket heads...

So a fuel pump is needed but not injectors?

 

[DMAN302]

Why is a grown man being told what to do by his "mechanic"?? Sounds like his "mechanic" is responsible for his poor times and MPH. Anyone who drives a moded 12+ yr old car should spend his time and money on a mechanics class and a haynes manual. Having an engine builder put your mill together is another story altogether, general maintenance is easily learned and done on these cars, this site inparticular has taught me more than I ever expected to learn.

 

[Matts89LX5.0]

I have a friend that has a nice Foxbody 5.0 that he has done a lot of work to.

He has some high RPM cams, Edelbrock intake manifold, 306 block with forged internals, new "racing" AOD w/ 3200rpm stall, etc.

I noticed he had some CAI that looked TINY, but I also noticed that other faster 5.0's also had it.

Now here is the kicker, he went to the track to race in his performance shop's drag series and could not get better than a 14.3 at less than 100 mph!

I am pretty sure he still has stock 19 lbs injectors (I assume this is bad), he has the stock GT Headers, stock fuel pump, but he does have an upgraded ignition system. (Forgot the name, it's a red box... everyone has it)

His mechanic told him that he was tired of looking at the car and just wanted him to slap nitrous on it and call it a day. What do you guys think I should tell him to try before he goes off and blows up his engine running a big shot with stock injectors?

Short Version:
What needs to be done to stock pieces to be able to make power. (Upgrade MAF or just try cleaning it, etc)

Thanks in advance, sorry for the post not being well put together.

If he has over $7K in it and with a worked 306 and only 14.3?? something is wrong. If the injectors are orange, they are stock. Upgrade the fuel system with 24# and definitely take off those headers and put some aftermarket ones on. I would assume the rest of the exhaust is aftermarket as well. If the car has heads, it should be faster than 14.3, maybe he needs more driving practice.

 

[340.29m/s]

Why is a grown man being told what to do by his "mechanic"?? Sounds like his "mechanic" is responsible for his poor times and MPH. Anyone who drives a moded 12+ yr old car should spend his time and money on a mechanics class and a haynes manual. Having an engine builder put your mill together is another story altogether, general maintenance is easily learned and done on these cars, this site inparticular has taught me more than I ever expected to learn.

I completely agree, I was about to type "mechanic" instead of mechanic... but I figured you guys didn't wanna about what I think of his "mechanic"

Personally, I think his mechanic is too busy working on other cars to care about his. (This guy DOES have other people running in the 11's and 12's but i think he does it all with nitrous)

 

[340.29m/s]

If he has over $7K in it and with a worked 306 and only 14.3?? something is wrong. If the injectors are orange, they are stock. Upgrade the fuel system with 24# and definitely take off those headers and put some aftermarket ones on. I would assume the rest of the exhaust is aftermarket as well. If the car has heads, it should be faster than 14.3, maybe he needs more driving practice.

7k and a 14.3 is exactly why I posted this, I kinda feel bad for him.

He definitely has stock injectors (he does not take the time to come to forums and read up on stuff, he just listens to what other tell him. I assume his mechanic "forgot" to tell him about injectors/fuel pumps)

One other note: his car has never been dynoed or dyno tuned.. This is a BIG deal in the 99+ area but is it as big with the 5.0's? I would think he would need a new tune with all of those mods and a new block.

 

[347 Special]

Your mech. sucks!!!!!!!!!! end of story. What mech. gets tired of your car, he's frustraited cause he does not know whats up w/ your ride(word might get around that you spent soooo much $$$ and are SLOW and that makes the MECHANIC look bad. So to make HIM look better he wants to hook up the juice.) Get a MAF, what ive read on this site the 19#'s should hold up to 400hp. TB - if yours is stock and get a chip/dyno. good luck.

PS i spent over 3000 on my 347 at a SPEED SHOP here in Vegas and it blew after 1-1/2 miles so i feel for him.

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

get rid of that aod, thats your problem.
get exhaust, tbody, injectors and mass air meter.
remember, velocity is key, but too much will result in loss of power, you understand?

 

[340.29m/s]

First off, it isnt my car....

Second, his mechanic (at a local speed shop) also told him to ditch the AOD. Is this REALLY slowing him down that much? It is not stock, it shifts hard and very fast.

He has mid pipe and catback, I guess he needs headers.
He has throttle body but needs injectors and I assume a new MAF.

 

[340.29m/s]

So here's the list so far... (correct me if I am wrong)

24 lb injectors (fuel pump also?)
Headers (LT's?)
MAF
Find someone to tune (his mech definitely does not know how to tune the ECU)

anything else?

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

aod's are slow, even when you do work on them people still hate them

 

[340.29m/s]

aod's are slow, even when you do work on them people still hate them

Ok, I was not too sure about this. His mechanic said that he could be around a 12.4 if he would take out the AOD and put in a 5 speed.

Would it really go from a 14.3 to a 12.4 with a 5-speed?