[Shotimes] What causes power loss?

[Ron Porter]

A few thoughts off the top of my head:

You have different tires than in 1997. If the new ones bit better, that
makes a difference (I could see this going between my older a/s winter tires
and the stickier summer tires).

By the lower airbox, did you cut it out so it's open to the engine
compartment?? Why???? Pulling the silencer unit out of the fender and
dropping in a K&N panel (well, even using a clean stock paper filter) will
give you all the air you need using a stock airbox......without sucking in
hot engine compartment air.

The catback alone really doesn't do much. A good Y-pipe is the big help.

IMHO, pull off the 73mm MAF, the chip, reinstall a full stock airbox, and
retry the stock setup. I'm not the expert, but 73mm MAFs and Hypertech chips
have never been a hot setup when run alone, and you have them together. 

I'll bet the car runs better!!

Ron Porter 


-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Christian Kesselring
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2003 5:45 PM
To: shotimes@autox.team.net
Subject: [Shotimes] What causes power loss?


I have been meaning to ask a few questions to the list for a while now, so
here is the first.  When I first got my SHO, back in 1997, it was a very
strong runner.  I learned that if I dumped the clutch at anything over
2500rpm, the tires could spin and smoke for a while before hooking up, and
it was just very fast overall.  Now, six years and 50K miles later (My god,
has it been that long?), it just doesn't seem as strong, despite the
upgrades over time: deletion of the lower air box, addition of a K&N panel,
73mm MAF, Hypertech chip and cat-back exhaust.  Last year, before the MAF
upgrade, I had it dynoed and it hit stock wheel hp and tq only with the chip
installed, and had a very jagged curve.  What causes this type of
degenerative power loss?  Can I ever hope to get it back?  I am thinking a
shim adjustment and possibly timing belt replacement could be in order.
Last time the valve lash was done is questionable, timing belt was 30K miles
ago.  Plugs and wires have about 40K miles on them.  When I checked vacuum
at the intake, it looked good other than a minor high rpm wiggle that could
be weak valve springs (I think).  I hope there are some good suggestions on
this.  Otherwise, on a college student's budget I think I will just have to
prolong the car's waning life long enough until we can afford another car.

Christian Kesselring
'92 SHO 128k
'02 PT Cruiser 28k
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