Just to make sure, we re-adjusted the rockers at the shop after a few pulls. The tuner also adjusted the TPS. O2's are fairly new, but I did drive the car to the shop running way rich. However, no codes have been set. MAF is also fairly new and no code for it. Opti is definately on right, or it wouldn't run as good as it does. And like I said, wires are brand new. I keep telling myself, there has to be something wrong. I just don't know of anything else it can be. It's not like the car runs bad. It actually runs very good. Just not making the power it should..
One thing I was concerned about, the intake gasket did cover some of the portwork on the heads. I was afraid this may mess up the flow. I emailed Lloyd about it, and he said don't worry about it.

 

You know what might be a good test?
Put a vacuum gauge on there, the way the needle moves could help
identify the issue.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...cuum-Gauge.jpg

 

And it could be a stingy dyno too! That plus a simple problem could be several HP on a dyno.

 

Well, I decided I'd go for a ride in the Z. I filled it up with gas and started down the road. I thought I heard something funny from the engine so I went back home and listened to it. At idle it sounds fine, but if you give it some steady throttle, it sounds like I have a rod knocking. It's very pronounced. Much louder than a loose rocker. I just did all of this work and now I may have to rebuild it. I'm all out of money and spent my vacation time working on this. I don't know what to do.

 

I'm sorry to hear that. What were you revving the car too? What was the tuners desired a/f he had the car at? Even if the motor was in an early "spun rod" stage, I don't think it would have been down on power. Drain the oil and check for metal. Good luck.

 

Didn't rev the car hard at all today. Yesterday on the dyno, we did 13 pulls and revved it to 6500. I believe the AF was about 13.1. Before doing the heads and cam, I cut open the oil filter I was using. Not a trace of metal in it.

 

Just fyi you'll see more power in the 12.6-12.8 a/f range. I picked up 30 rwhp by getting my a/f right.

 

It sucks when things don't work out .
What I would do:
1)Do a compression check and document your results.
2)Do a leakage teat and document the results.

If you have a problem in either area I would pull the heads back off and have them re-checked. Some thing could be wrong with them, minor mistake maby. Also check the deck of your block to be sure it's flat. I say this because you siad the valves where set correctly and double checked.

If this is not a problem then:

3) Pull the intake and check your lifters.

I didn't see what kind of lifters you had, but if they are hydraulic you may have had one come appart. This will have a very noticeable rapid thunk sound. Check this by pulling off the intake. I had one of the old POS comp type-r lifters come appart and it sounded way worse than it was.

Good luck with your car, I hope it's not a major problem.

 

The lifters are brand new factory replacement style comp 850-16's. I knew not to get the comp r's. I'm definately going to do a compression check. Hopefully the noise isn't what I think it is.

 

Because it's new doesn't mean it's right . Before you decide to pull the motor and start pulling out the hedders, wires, rad & coolant ect... it would at least be worth a look.
If you spun a berring the car does not have long to live... maby minuites, maby hours. Your results may vary .

 

The oil pressure is still the same as it has been ever since I put this engine in. It doesn't drop below 20 psi hot. I'm hoping it's something simple. but knowing my luck, it's not. I'll be posting the dyno graphs in just a moment.

 

Here is the first dyno run without any tuning except turning the injectors down.

Here is the best dyno of the day.

And here is the last dyno of the day. I'm not sure what the spike is.


I also remember him saying that adding fuel was actually causing me to lose power. That's probably why the AF ratio is where it is. Okay, post your opinions. What's wrong with my car.

 

your graph doesnt give ME any clues. YOu could try another dyno and if thats also low (or if you have other reason to believe its low on power) try cleaning the injectors. Check your headers to see if one or some of them glow when the car is revved. I had a bad opti with low miles that ran really damn smooth. Its hard to tell when you have a big cam, and i gained a tonne of power after putting a brand new one in there.

Injectors, could still be electrical, scan for what the sensors are saying (could lead you t find a vaccuum leak or soemthing). It wont hurt to confirm that all the plug wires are connected to the correct cylinders, or that the injectors wires are connected to the right injectors.

It has to be something with how the car was put back together, cuz you made good power with the hotcam (assuming that was on the same dyno).

 

The injectors are brand new. All plug wires are connected to the correct cylinders. Yes, it is the same dyno, but I did have 1.7rr and some crappy ported heads with the hotcam. Others I know have been on this dyno with the same results as other dynos, so I don't think this particular dyno is the problem. The tuner checked the temp of the headers while we were at the shop. All came in close to each other.

 

Maby the tuner is right... maby that is all it has.