I finally got some time to go to the track with my headers I installed spring break. The weather seemed pretty nice, it was low 80's with 55-60% humidity. I know that its not the best, but it wasn't bad at all. Some mods on my car are the AS&M headers, ORP, LT4 KM, SLP 2OTL, new O2's, and a K&N CAI. I was also running some bald Nitto drag radials. Weight was in at a hefty 3750 pounds.

The best time I could run all night was a 14.214@96.94. Sixty foot was at 2.115 and the eighth was 9.155@78.27. This seems to be the exact same times I ran without the headers and in worse weather conditions! The car definitely feels a lot faster and pulls well all the way to redline. I did let the car sit for at least an hour so the water temp was sitting at about 165 when I ran. I know the sixty isn't that great for running Nittos. I was powerbraking it and it wasn't hardly spinning. I even tried an off idle launch and it didn't seem to help.

Couple of ideas as to why maybe it isn't running as well as wanted:
1. I am hearing a slight clank coming from the drivers side valve cover. I would think maybe my rockers need to be readjusted. They are stock and as far as I know, havn't been in a long time. Could misadjusted rockers not allow me to run well?

2. After my car was warmed up the other day, I could hear a kind of wierd noise coming from my air diverter valves for the A.I.R. It was kind of a clank/ringing type noise. Could they be bad?

3. Maybe the car needs a new computer tune? It is all tuned up, I did plugs/wires last year and new O2's the day before running as well as a fuel filter. They all looked great when I did headers. I know that none of the wires are burned. The idle is smooth and it pulls up to redline very well without any hesitiations. From what I understand headers tend to make the car run really rich so maybe a tune could help?


I do have access to an Actron super scanner if that could be of any help with some readings. I was really hoping for at least high 13's!

 

:-(

 

A tune will be good for around 2 MPH on your setup, I would say. It may be worth more if you are getting a lot of false knock from headers.
Is this car an M6 or Auto?

 

more power=less traction? Your 60 seem OK, were you spinning the tires more than before?

 

It is an A4 so it should be giving a little better 60's. Even with an off-idle smash of the throttle, it doesn't really even spin the tires. I do get a little wheel hop but I'm planning on getting some LCA's soon. I do have the LT4 KM so wouldn't that take care of any false knock? Could I be losing a lot of power if my rockers need to be tightened? It was giving a pretty good clank/knocking noise from my valve cover last night when I was driving around.

 

something is wrong there. i went 13.9 @ 99 bone stock in my a4 in those weather conditions. put it on a scanner and see whats up, and pull the valve cover as well, cant hurt.

 

False knock from headers....?

 

Is it possible that you may have a few exhaust leaks?

I agree a tune can probally do you some good.

 

I would of figured that the LT4 KM would take care of any false knock. As far as the exhaust leaks go, I do not have any. The noise is clearly coming from the valve cover.

 

LT-4KM will not fix false knock from the header install.

 

on my 97 after i installed my headers. my solus was reading a max of 10.8 degrees of timing retard between 2800 rpms -5450 rpms. after my LT4 km install timing is only being pulled at max 2 degrees throughout the whole power band. you can take that for what it's worth.

 

LT4 Kms can reduce false knock, but is not guaranteed to eliminate all false knock. It's just a better filter than stock

 

The guys saying it needs a tune are hilarious. There is something wrong with your car. Your car should be trapping 103-106 w/your mods, on the stock tune. Get the car on a scanner and see what's going on w/it. Figure out what's wrong w/it before you start throwing more mods at it (ie, a tune).

 

My 95 trapped several 102s with just a flowmaster and 4.10s. Scan it.

 

Headers tend to lean out the fuel mixture, not make it richer, might be something to look at. Definately hook up a scanner to it, un-adjusted rockers can slow you down a little bit, but nothing to noticeable, esp. if it is only one or 2 of them.