so slow...

[ArcticFuryLT1]

so i took my girlfriends car to the track for the first time last night...its a bone stock 99 3.8L camaro with an automatic. the best time i could pull from it was a 16.8 @ 83 mph. i was launching the car at 1800 rpms with no traction problems. the track is LACR and is about 2,000ft above sea level. i was hoping the car would run high 15's, low 16's...do you guys think theres a problem with the car? maybe im doing something wrong? or does this ET sound about right?

[dreaded_hope]

Re: so slow...

I know what you mean about elevation, up here it's 2200 ft. If you correct your time for the 2000 ft elevation your time works out to roughly a 16.41, which still does seem pretty slow. However this could be a number of things. When I first ran my car at the track it seemed fairly slow too, so I changed the plugs and wires and next time out dropped .2 consistantly off my et.

I'd say start with a tune up, change your filters (fuel/air), wires/plugs, and run some carb cleaner through the throttlebody to get rid of any gunk built up in there. As far as launching you sound like you've got the right idea, if you're getting no tire spin with that high rpm of a launch then it's probably the best you're going to get with a stock setup.

Also auto's came with 2 different types of gears, open 3.08's, or 3.42's with a limted slip diff. The 3.42 setup will run much better times, people on this board have said a half second better on an otherwise stock car isn't out of the ordinary. By the times you're putting down it sounds like you've probably got the 3.08 gears like me.

[ArcticFuryLT1]

Re: so slow...

how can you distinguish between which cars have the 3.08's and 3.42's? i think it probably does need a good tune up...she bought the car from a dealership a couple weeks ago and we havnt touched anything on it yet...

[vanbibber]

Re: so slow...

GU4=3.08
GU6=3.42

its in the rpo code that are either on the sticker in door jamb or in the glove box

[andrew.brandon]

Re: so slow...

can you post the whole slip? need a format?


60'
330'
1/8
mph
1/4
mph

[Fbody3400]

Re: so slow...

Also auto's came with 2 different types of gears, open 3.08's, or 3.42's with a limted slip diff. The 3.42 setup will run much better times, people on this board have said a half second better on an otherwise stock car isn't out of the ordinary. By the times you're putting down it sounds like you've probably got the 3.08 gears like me.

Not all cars that came with 3.42s came with LSD.

[2K3800CAMARO]

Re: so slow...

I have the 2K 5Spd and it ran 15.2-15.4 with flowmaster and a K&N filter (i think might be that auto tranny ! ) , plus what was your reaction time ?

[dreaded_hope]

Re: so slow...

How would you get open 3.42's? With the 3.8 auto's it's either open 3.08's or with the performance package you get your 3.42's among other things which you had to also get lsd, better rubber, dual outlet exhaust, and a better steering ratio. I even have a a few different year dealership brouchures which indicate the only way you get 3.42's on a 6 is with the perf. package, which requires you get an lsd to go with them. Where have you heard of 3.8 cars coming equipped with open 3.42's?

[shenanigans]

Re: so slow...

its not common but there were a decent amount of regualr auto 3.8Ls with 3.42s and open diff.

[vanbibber]

Re: so slow...

plus what was your reaction time ?

RT's have nothing to do with his times.

[Fbody3400]

Re: so slow...

its not common but there were a decent amount of regualr auto 3.8Ls with 3.42s and open diff.

ouch. ;)

[12secondv6]

Re: so slow...

True, there are A4's with 3:42's and no LSD in them.

Back to the topic.... mileage? Last tune up? What do bone stock ls1's etc run up there?

Give us more info

[2K3800CAMARO]

Re: so slow...

I was just wondering what the R/T , the 1/8th , 1000' was just to seee :)

[$*Blake*$]

Re: so slow...

i dont have the y87 package and i have 3.42's stock. GU6 RPO code on the door

[ArticRider]

Re: so slow...

Possibly something is wrong with the car or maybe it just needs a tune-up?

I ran a 15.8 my first time out with 3.08 open diffy, no powerbraking/launch, and it's 200 lbs overweight(convertible). It's a 2001 3.8L. I thought I would not be able to get into the 15's, but now I know it's definitely possible, even for a nearly stock(I only a whisper lid, holley air filter, dynomax super turbo muffler, and a strut tower bar) heavy convertible with no Y87 perks. And my Nittos that were on at the time weren't exactly in the best condition either...

Good luck on the search!