The Achieva lives again!

[Robert Swartz]

Since the other thread is starting to get really long. Decided to start a new one going forward.

After a long hot day, Saturday. We finally solved the problem. It was not what we had believed it was. Turned out a wire into the control module had been scived for a connection to an alarm the previous owers had installed. As best we could surmise, from removing the connection, numerous times due to checking the plugs, packs and housing.

Anyway, this wire had pulled back into the connector. We ended up pulling the wire out, cutting it, reinstalling it and putting a connector back in. Voila, the car was running on 4 cylinders, once again.

We proceeded to get the tach, water temp gage and fan controler wired in. Still have some trouble with the fan control. We'll get the bugs out. Today, I'm going to get things cleaned up and work on some brackets to stabilise things.

[Robert Swartz]

Hopefully, the electrical gremlins may be tamed. It's back to the (local dump) track this weekend. Try a couple different things and see what kind of times the little beast turns.

Even though we need it, rain may alter these plans.

[Robert Swartz]

Finally got the car back to the track.

The day started with some promise. First pass out of the gate, well. I was terribly late on the tree, probably left on the third green! Time was a gain, an 11.43. So we're still 1.5+ seconds off the EF/SA 1/8 index of 9.85.

After that, I had a case of redliteitus. made two more practice passes and the eliminator. Red lit on all of them. Car then settled into the 11.50's, in the same range of our best pass the first time out. Truth is, we really haven't done that much to the car. Other than tune up parts and the cold air intake. It was warm and humidity in the 60%+ range, that's enough to affect a little motor with next to no hp.

On a side note, on the second practice pass. I experienced something I never expected from an FI engine. About 15 or so feet out of gate, the car stumbled or bogged? It immediately picked up. It killed the et but the car was only 1mph off it's current norm. It went 59 mph, every other run has been right at 60. It does occasionally have a stutter on start up that I have yet to solve. Here again, it's only right at start up and once it throws it's fit, it idles and runs fine. It's thrown no codes to give me an indication of what it is. Something else to work on.

When you show up at the track early. Sometimes you get to see some interesting things. We got to watch them clean the track.

[goinbroke2]

Awesome! Love the posts, keep them coming.
Cool to watch a car slowly drop the et with piece by piece mods.

[Sean Marconette]

Robert,

Are you at min weight for your class, or close to it? It is quite an accomplishment to get a car to run the index and less. Its also not just throwing go fast parts at it to make it go.

Sean

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Sean Marconette

Robert,

Are you at min weight for your class, or close to it? It is quite an accomplishment to get a car to run the index and less. Its also not just throwing go fast parts at it to make it go.

Sean

No Sean. Weightwise, at present, we're heavy. At the E break, the car fits at 2870. That is roughly the dry weight of the car, add a couple hundred pounds with me in it. I'm realistic, without a lot of work, we're not going to get there.

Right now, we're just baby stepping. Learning what we can about the car. Trust me on this one, for stock, there aren't a lot of go fast parts to throw at this car. I'm just enjoying the challenge for the moment.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

No Sean. Weightwise, at present, we're heavy. At the E break, the car fits at 2870. That is roughly the dry weight of the car, add a couple hundred pounds with me in it. I'm realistic, without a lot of work, we're not going to get there.

Right now, we're just baby stepping. Learning what we can about the car. Trust me on this one, for stock, there aren't a lot of go fast parts to throw at this car. I'm just enjoying the challenge for the moment.

If you are using a stock ECU no matter how many parts you throw at it. It will adjust itself away from where you want to go.
Next time at the track. try disconnecting the battery for 2 minutes in the staging lanes. then go run without a burn out. I'm not familiar with GM stuff (maybe you GM guys can kick in) but on a Mopar it makes a world of difference.
One big problem you are going to face with that combo is that years ago. GM made up specs as they went along, they had quite a racing program. They used a lot of "one of" custom parts. In the whole driveline. (thats one reason why I laugh at those crying about the DPs and CJ's. Because those parts were only available to a few.
Back in the 90's the Quad 4 was almost as good as the turbo dodges (before the dodges got hp). I believe the Quad 4 was 175 hp.

[Tod Lane]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

No Sean. Weightwise, at present, we're heavy. At the E break, the car fits at 2870. That is roughly the dry weight of the car, add a couple hundred pounds with me in it. I'm realistic, without a lot of work, we're not going to get there.

Right now, we're just baby stepping. Learning what we can about the car. Trust me on this one, for stock, there aren't a lot of go fast parts to throw at this car. I'm just enjoying the challenge for the moment.

I am thinking we can find a 100 pounds or so fairly easy...
The thing still has the spare and jack in it. The complete exhaust system besides being restrictive weighs something. The A/C Comp can come off, that might be the biggest single reduction.

Trunk mats and hood insulation is a little more. Speakers can come out

Beyond that it gets tougher.

I don't know if the rule of thumb we used to use where 100 lbs equal a tenth still holds with this type of car or not.

[Ed Wright]

100 lbs is not a tenth on higher HP faster cars, but in this case I would expect so.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by art leong

If you are using a stock ECU no matter how many parts you throw at it. It will adjust itself away from where you want to go.
Next time at the track. try disconnecting the battery for 2 minutes in the staging lanes. then go run without a burn out. I'm not familiar with GM stuff (maybe you GM guys can kick in) but on a Mopar it makes a world of difference.
One big problem you are going to face with that combo is that years ago. GM made up specs as they went along, they had quite a racing program. They used a lot of "one of" custom parts. In the whole driveline. (thats one reason why I laugh at those crying about the DPs and CJ's. Because those parts were only available to a few.
Back in the 90's the Quad 4 was almost as good as the turbo dodges (before the dodges got hp). I believe the Quad 4 was 175 hp.

Art,

To add, not only a lot of different specs, there are quite a few versions of these engines as well. This one is rated at 150hp. From what I've garnered information wise, this model has the worst stock intake of the many different versions.

For now it's mainly a toy. Just throwing some basic things at it, see what we can wring out of it. I may try that, unhook the battery for a couple minutes then make a pass. Kinda have to laugh, we still have the stock street tires on the car. Haven't even bothered with attempting a burn out. To be honest, how do you do a burnout with a FWD car? Do you plumb a line lok into the rear wheels or just set the parking break? I've never tried yet.