Power loss in high mileage car?

ES · 01-24-2004, 01:08 PM

Any guess to how much drive train power loss I have with my 130,000 mile engine & transmission?
The compression was in the 150 area.
My goal is to have a high 11 sec street car.
I have ran 108MPH @ 20-21psi with out locking the convertor and I did not have the CAS IC.
I run alky and mix in some xylene for safety.
I know that it can be done with a lower milage drive train but wonder if it can be done with mine.

Steve Wood · 01-24-2004, 04:23 PM

A leak down test would be more meaningful, I think to determine valve and ring seal.

That is not a lot of miles for our engines, and, I would think high 11s are there.

Some mildly ported heads will help a lot, if you don't have them...particularly if you want to run 11s on alky.

Supersix · 01-24-2004, 05:00 PM

Valve springs and seals if you haven't replaced them yet - I'm sure they're a bit worn after 130k.

ILBCNU6 · 01-24-2004, 05:08 PM

You've got most of the right stuff to run your goals. A stock engine has done it but with a lot more Turbo, Janis Tranny and Precision Ind. Vigilanti torque convertor. About the same mileage as yours but everything is tuned to the tee. Gene

ES · 01-24-2004, 05:11 PM

Valve springs, seals, and timing chain done.
How do you tell if the cam lobes are worn?

Steve Wood · 01-24-2004, 06:32 PM

Pull the lifters and examine the bottom-they should still be convex. You can look down at the lobe as well with the lifter out for an unusual wear pattern.

It should not take much to go 11s on a 49---either race gas or alky as you have a good ic to begin with.

You should be able to pull mid 11s on race gas and high 11s on alky. How you determine street car is debatable, I guess, but, you won't find much driving around on the street that will run 11s in a n.a. car unless it has a swig of juice, perhaps.

01-24-2004, 01:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
ES Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: tx Posts: 1,611	Power loss in high mileage car? Any guess to how much drive train power loss I have with my 130,000 mile engine & transmission? The compression was in the 150 area. My goal is to have a high 11 sec street car. I have ran 108MPH @ 20-21psi with out locking the convertor and I did not have the CAS IC. I run alky and mix in some xylene for safety. I know that it can be done with a lower milage drive train but wonder if it can be done with mine. __________________ 86 GN 98 - Regal GS 69 - 442

01-24-2004, 04:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Steve Wood Scam Detector Enabled Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: East of Eden, Texas Posts: 41,388	A leak down test would be more meaningful, I think to determine valve and ring seal. That is not a lot of miles for our engines, and, I would think high 11s are there. Some mildly ported heads will help a lot, if you don't have them...particularly if you want to run 11s on alky. __________________ ------------------ A proud member of Stonewallers Against Bogus Technology Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear. Thomas Jefferson . www.vortexbuicks-etc.com

01-24-2004, 05:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Supersix IHADAV8 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tampa FL USA Posts: 1,039	Valve springs and seals if you haven't replaced them yet - I'm sure they're a bit worn after 130k. __________________ The Bastard Child Buick Message Board '87 T, T-tops, Blues, JT Chip, 307FP, Cold Air Kit, 3.5" MAF/Trans+, 130k '92 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe - 94k

01-24-2004, 05:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
ES Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: tx Posts: 1,611	Valve springs, seals, and timing chain done. How do you tell if the cam lobes are worn? __________________ 86 GN 98 - Regal GS 69 - 442

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01-24-2004, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
ILBCNU6 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Hope, MN. US Posts: 682	You've got most of the right stuff to run your goals. A stock engine has done it but with a lot more Turbo, Janis Tranny and Precision Ind. Vigilanti torque convertor. About the same mileage as yours but everything is tuned to the tee. Gene

01-24-2004, 06:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Steve Wood Scam Detector Enabled Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: East of Eden, Texas Posts: 41,388	Pull the lifters and examine the bottom-they should still be convex. You can look down at the lobe as well with the lifter out for an unusual wear pattern. It should not take much to go 11s on a 49---either race gas or alky as you have a good ic to begin with. You should be able to pull mid 11s on race gas and high 11s on alky. How you determine street car is debatable, I guess, but, you won't find much driving around on the street that will run 11s in a n.a. car unless it has a swig of juice, perhaps.