why is my car so slow???

[UnderdogGN]

hi, i need some help with my car, i dont think its as fast as it should be. First of all its an '89 lx 5.0 automatic with 88,000 miles. Here are the mods: flex a lite electric fan, edelbrock water pump, march ram air, cobra intake, 65mm t-body, 75mm mass air, F303 cam, 1.6 roller rockers, new lifters, pushrods, and valvesprings, double roller timing chain, mini starter, 8mm plug wires, subframe connecters, msd 6al ignition, in-car adjustable timing, msd blaster2 coil, mac shorties, mac 2.5 h-pipe with cats, mac 3" cat back, 4:10 rear gears, auburn pro posi, 255 lph fuel pump, nitto drags, built AOD tranny w/ art carr 3000 stall. The problem is that it is a dog. It ran a 14.7 @ 92 mph. That is with a 2.1 60ft time. It barely chirps the tires if you floor it in first. Any help is appreciated!!! Id be embarrased to get beat by my dads F350 diesel! Also, how much should this car weigh? Sorry for the length of this post but i need help!!
thanks

 

[ryan218]

well to start. the 4:10 gearng is more of a burnout gear. if your looking for some more speed. try a diffrent gear in the rear. but other then that the speed for the 1/4 mile sounds right

 

[krazy4]

im thinking your car needs a tune

 

[89white50]

can you afford heads? maybe ditch the F cam, or slap on a power adder? what do you mean "built AOD" does it have a shift kit or valve body along with the stall? I would think your car should be deep in the 13's at LEAST. i would start by checking the cap& rotor, plug wires, fuel filter...have you checked the compression of your cylinders?

 

[Nopantz]

Where do you live.....depends also on air pressure and temp in the area?

 

[bill302]

i would start by pulling cel (check engine light) codes heres a link for instructions http://www.muscularmustangs.com/test1.php and post any codes recieved. then do a compression test as 89white50 said heres a link to help you do that read this article http://www.pumaracing.co.uk/comp.htm and you can buy the compression guage at wal-mart for under $15.and post test results. then if it passes compression test would give a full tune up including wires,plugs and all filters, cap, rotor and check timing we can tell you the best parts to buy at good prices on this site and also click on this link http://www.muscularmustangs.com/maintain.php perform the solving idle problems this will help with performance cleaning maf and setting tps and also has good info. on bumping timing and checking codes...this is my personal opinion and what i would do and the order i would do it in ....goodluck...

 

[UnderdogGN]

thanks for the replies!!
First of all i live in south bend indiana, and the weather is about 65 degrees right now. By built AOD i mean it has a shift kit, one piece shaft, 3000 stall (stalls at 2500 though????) boost valve and clutch kit etc.
Ok so basically you guys think it needs a tune?? That might be the problem because the car recently came out of storage, it was stored for 6 years. I dont have any money left for heads/power adder as of right now because i just had the transmission work done. I will post results of the codes and stuff as soon as i get to it.
thanks alot!
keep the ideas coming

 

[Strype]

After being stored for 6 years, did you change all the fluid? Gas/Oil/Antifreeze I'd even go Tranny fluid.

Was the car stored in a heated area? Did it get into freezing temperatures quite a bit?

Does it have any high pitched squeeling sounds under the hood... check vacuum lines/TB & Intake gaskets for rot.

 

[90mustangGT]

That's down right embarrasing. Something is very wrong. One thing I can see right off the top is the HEADS. But even with those stock restrictor plates, I still think it should run a little better than that. 92mph tells me that the car has no top end, and a 2.1 60ft and with auto/stall/traction mods tells me there isn't much down low. Check the computer for codes and then check the cylinders for compression and leakdown if you can.

 

[DMAN302]

more inclined to blame the poor combination of parts...stock heads with an F cam is not a great combo..combine that with an AOD and tall gear. Swap heads or back to a more power range freindly cam.

 

[UnderdogGN]

ok well the car was stored in a heated garage so it never got below 50 degrees. yes i changed the oil, gas, trans fluid, etc. Well i was planning on buying some AFR or trickflow heads soon to match the cam but i am out of money right now. But still i know the car should be faster than a 14.7. Ok so first i should check for codes then a compression test??
thanks

 

[5.0nmalecek]

I think you're right you should be getting a lot better times than that. And it's probably something else other than your mods check all the sensors like maf and stuff, pull your codes i think someone else said it too. that time is close to stock. my STOCK 1990 lx 5.0 AOD is supposed to run a 14.9

 

[Kdubslugga]

Yeah somethings wrong a 92 trap speed sucks and a 3000 stall only getting you 14.7s isnt right at all, id look at a piston not firing or something

 

[gruvee87vertgt]

just a thought, maybe you outgrew your mods??

 

[Aliate X]

Youre running an F cam with stock heads...thats your problem. 4.10s are fine.

 

[MustangGT92]

i think that it maybe in your timing.....or even your throttle...if you advance either to much or not enough effects performance....also i think the f cam might be a little to big for the automatic....i would also check on getting heads...thats my next project....

 

[lang williams]

My bud had this same prob with his e cam...car didn't pull as hard as he thought it should, an powered up too late....he advanced his cam 4 degrees and took bout a sec off his qtr mile

 

[Synned]

Clean the MAF? Quick try.

 

[UnderdogGN]

yes i know the F-cam with stock heads is terrible. Im saving up for heads right now i cant wait to get those put on and rip!! anyway, a few things ive noticed that might help out.... when i would stage up at the line, i wasnt using all of the converter. I was only getting the rpms up to about 2000 and then taking off. Another thing is i think i was shifting way too late. I was shifting it at about 6100 rpms. The way that the car is set up now the powerband is only from 3000-5500 correct? One more thing is the in-car timing control....i had it cranked all the way. Ive actually heard that too much timing can slow you down???

 

[Strype]

My friend runs an fcam with 95 stock heads and runs an 8.9 in the 1/8. I could get that car an 8.7-8.8 considering this is his first 5 speed.

...Not that I'm taking up for the setup- it's not a good setup.

I'd say either major vacuum leak, running off 7 pistons due to bad fire, or just plain ol' lack of resources (ie: stock fan/water thru the TB/Valve cover to TB heating/stock filter/air baffle/timing). I'd spend a weekend on that car for sure