Okay, specs on the car are in the sig.

New plugs. gapped correctly. New Pacesetter long tubes with ORY as well. no cats, no muffler.

Issue -- at mid RPM in any gear the car bogs. It 'feels' like there is so much back pressure that the engine is dying. (I say feels like because I don't know if that is what it is, just what I sense through the car by feeling it) Brand new long tubes and ORY can't flow any more freely! The sensation is that of putting the foot to the floor but the car falling on its face, like hitting the brakes almost.

Nearing red lights, the car will rev on its own, up to almost 1500, down to 600ish, it will fluctuate like that from 20 mph to 0 mph. When I get fully stopped at a light, it idles at 850 or so. Feels normal then. When I accelerate, it does just fine in RPMs under 2300 or so, then if I don't shift it will feel like back pressure again, until I shift or floor it. If I floor it, it feels ok too. Not as much power as it should get, but not terrible either. What's going on?

At idles at red light, battery goes to edge of red line (under drive pulley), but oil pressure goes to 20 psi, but back up to 50ish when on the road at idle. Temp never gets above 190 (thermostat and programming help with that). Doesn't matter if its hot or cold outside, or if open or closed loop.

Every now and then, almost randomly, the car will completely die while coming to a stop. It will do the idle surge thing, then just turn off. It always starts right back up with the turn of the key, but it is frustrating (and embarrassing).

If I floor it, it feels ok too. Not as much power as it should get, but not terrible either. Clean air filter, no signs of blockage on the air before the intake, nor anything on the pipes from the exhaust ports on out. So.........what to do?

Guru's please help!!! I tried to list everything I could think of, to be as thorough as possible. I hope it helps, let me know if I confused you....its been known to happen!!!

 

things to look at in My opinion would be fuel preassure, FPR, or a clogged cat

 

I don't have any cats.....

What can I do to check the fuel pressure? I'm trying to stay away from paying a shop to do something...but I can if they have the specific equipment to do it.

 

for fuel preassure you need a fuel preassure gauge.. hmm. You can hook it into your fuel rail I think.. However it will cost you a little. The biggest problem would be the fact you would have to drive it and check it at the same time.. so you would have to route it inside the car.. unless it does it in neutral and park as well...

hmm... other than that not sure.. I would say it would be fuel related... It could be ignition.. but I am lost there really..

 

intake leaks vacuum or bad maf

 

so I would need a new intake? I've replaced the MAF already, I'd be willing to try another one though.....

How can I determine which one I should try?

 

Check the simple things first, like your plugs to make sure none of them are cracked.. Check your wires to see if any are burnt. Happens all the time to those who may not be all too familiar with routing wires strategically in avoiding them being burned.
Your PCM may need to relearn with the new found flow. You may have to put up with it for about a week/tank of gas/so many start cycles before it returns to normal.
If you don't already, get an O/D pulley for the alt. Your battery will die w/in a matter of a few months if you don't.
This was before the header install? You need to get the PCM scanned.
Make sure the intake elbow is seated correctly on the throttle body.

 

i bet good money its either your fuel pump or your fuel filter

 

i dont see it being fuel related because he said at wot it seems ok. But you can check it easly. Buy a fuel presure gauge from any auto parts store. Hook it up to the fuel line shard valve near the back of the intake and see what it says at idel. Then un hook the vacume line off of the FPR and see what the gauge reads.

I would check for vacume leaks or air getting in after the mass air sensor.

Try unpluging the mass air sensor. You are going to have to almost floor it to get it started but after it starts give it a few minutes for the computer to get the car running good. THen take it out on a test drive.