Wangan Master
07-30-2005, 10:31 AM
I live in Fort Collins, which is the home of CSU and many college Students with tuners. I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix SE that has a 3.1L V6. I am working on an engine swap to the super charged 3.8L GM engine so I didnt want to spend a lot of money on the 3.1, so I bought an AEM ECU and Dyno tuned the 3.1L to 145 hp at the wheels and 315 ft/lb of torque (I know that these numbers are still pretty low, but that is a bone stock engine). Even though my car is an automatic I know a couple tricks to help me stay in my power band.
On Friday and Saturday nights there are quite a few cars, and a couple of trucks roaming around lookin to show how quick they are off the light. Last night I showed a few civics, with very loud (and very ineffictive) mufflers, not to judge a book by its cover. Then I lined up next to a WRX, and I'm not afraid of a challange, even if I think I have no chance, so when he spooled up his turbo, I said why not.
We were on College Ave, and this section of College has 3 lanes headed in each direction, we were headed north into town and I was in the far right lane and the WRX was in the center lane and in the left lane a SRT-4 stopped. He wanted to play too, so again why not.
The other lights turned yellow, I raised my RPMs to 2000. The other lighs turned red, I raised my RPMs to converter stall speed, 3000. Our light turned green and I put the pedal to the floor let go of the brake pedal, my traction control was off so my tires spun, but not much, just a quick chirp. I have no idea what the SRT-4 did but it didnt leave the light with us. I had the WRX off the line, (gotta love that turbo lag) but not by much at all, his front tires were at my door. At 4500 RPM I went into 2ed gear that is when the WRX, Still in 1st, put his bumper in front of mine. When he cluched to shift into 2nd (I was already there) I put my bumper back where it belonged, ahead of his. But that was short lived, only until he got back into the throttle.
In second is where he pulled foward, but not as strong as I expected, I was still in there, my front wheel was almost even with is back wheel, not great, but could have been worse. At 3500 RPM in 2nd my car gets its balls back and this is when I walked my way back infront of the WRX. Just as we were even I was at 5500 RPM and had to go into 3rd gear, and so did he. That is where he got me.
As much as I love her she has no push in 3rd so the WRX easily left me. I know my cars limits and usually when I reach them who ever is behind me has no chance of catching up. Its things like this that make me want to boost the HP, I know that is why I have nothing in 3rd gear. But soon that will all change. I already have the engine that is going to replace the 3.1L.
On Friday and Saturday nights there are quite a few cars, and a couple of trucks roaming around lookin to show how quick they are off the light. Last night I showed a few civics, with very loud (and very ineffictive) mufflers, not to judge a book by its cover. Then I lined up next to a WRX, and I'm not afraid of a challange, even if I think I have no chance, so when he spooled up his turbo, I said why not.
We were on College Ave, and this section of College has 3 lanes headed in each direction, we were headed north into town and I was in the far right lane and the WRX was in the center lane and in the left lane a SRT-4 stopped. He wanted to play too, so again why not.
The other lights turned yellow, I raised my RPMs to 2000. The other lighs turned red, I raised my RPMs to converter stall speed, 3000. Our light turned green and I put the pedal to the floor let go of the brake pedal, my traction control was off so my tires spun, but not much, just a quick chirp. I have no idea what the SRT-4 did but it didnt leave the light with us. I had the WRX off the line, (gotta love that turbo lag) but not by much at all, his front tires were at my door. At 4500 RPM I went into 2ed gear that is when the WRX, Still in 1st, put his bumper in front of mine. When he cluched to shift into 2nd (I was already there) I put my bumper back where it belonged, ahead of his. But that was short lived, only until he got back into the throttle.
In second is where he pulled foward, but not as strong as I expected, I was still in there, my front wheel was almost even with is back wheel, not great, but could have been worse. At 3500 RPM in 2nd my car gets its balls back and this is when I walked my way back infront of the WRX. Just as we were even I was at 5500 RPM and had to go into 3rd gear, and so did he. That is where he got me.
As much as I love her she has no push in 3rd so the WRX easily left me. I know my cars limits and usually when I reach them who ever is behind me has no chance of catching up. Its things like this that make me want to boost the HP, I know that is why I have nothing in 3rd gear. But soon that will all change. I already have the engine that is going to replace the 3.1L.